LamikayTy

I should probably turn this into a blog about danfo’s. I cant help it!
My transition from the mainland to the island (in search of greener pastures) brings with it the annoying but unavoidable traffic jams. I rush out of the house early enough to escape it in the mornings but what can I do to avoid it going home?
Somedays I manage to get a ‘good’ bus with a bit of upholstery to serve as a shock absorber between my bum and the hard wooden horrible benches which have been fitted most likely by a carpenter replacing the ‘chairs’ the bus came in and in a bid to cram as many cash paying passengers into the danfo.
God be praised when I get a window seat or a seat by the edge that has a window! (not when its raining though) At least I can get to breathe a bit of fresh air! Though yesterday, the danfo I was in was besides one fume-belching molue.
Anyway, the air from the window serves as a welcome respite from the hot air recycling inside of the danfo. Its horrible when I’m wedged between two plump people. The sweat from their bodies seep through ones clothes and you cant do anything except move forward and get an aching back from not being able to rest your back. Or wide-shouldered people, or bony people. Its sheer joy when everyone on the row is sized: extra small or Small. There is then enough space!
My legs are usually cramped cos the space between 2 seats is too small and i’m not a tall person at all o! wetin people like Olajuwon go do? (go buy their own moto abi?)
Anyway, I started out taking a book with me to read to take my mind off the road and traffic and onto loftier ideals and sometimes fantasies. These days however I discover that I leave the office later so by the time I’m in a danfo, its almost impossible to read. the conductors put on their inside lights only to collect money. (though one kind conductor left it on for me once).
Everyone is usually tired, on tenterhooks and ready to flare up at the slightest provocation. Most times I usually switch off and sometimes ‘watch drama’ that often starts while waiting out the go-slow.
Sitting waiting for the bus to fill up this morning, I took a good look round and simply concluded that Nigerians are a resilient people or we are just carefree.

Couldn’t we react to the horrible state of public transport? Can’t we boycott buses? Where are the ‘people’ in authority who make and enforce standards for various vehicles on our roads? Its sad that we are used to a mess and call it the norm. The sad thing is everyone is so preoccupied with their own lives that a collective will is lacking.
Meanwhile, the solution usually proferred is buy a car! Does this actually solve anything? or is it just an escape route? Too many questions that require lasting solutions….
Just a few of my thoughts.

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