Saturday in Sokoto

Enjoying a Saturday with no workshop. After being awakened around 6 am by a group of people loudly arguing about something in the parking lot as they prepared to leave, I finally got up around nine, did my laundry (by hand) and piddled.


After chatting with my dear cousin on Skype, I decided to walk to the market stand just outside the gate for some snacks--a few packs of groundnuts, some HobNobs and ginger drink.  I stopped by reception to get a key for the wireless network and when I returned to my room my room key didn't work! Hmm. After two trips back and forth the glitch was resolved.


Now at the end of this stimulating day, I've settled in by watching  the Shrek trilogy. Whoo Hoo!

On the Road Again--Flying from Gombe

As I was planning my move from Bauchi to Sokoto, I was informed that I didn't have to make the 3-4 hour drive to the Kano airport.  Instead , I could fly from Gombe, whose airport was just an hour from Bauchi. Now Bauchi is much larger than Gombe, but doesn't have a commercial airport.  As a matter of fact, Gombe was part of Bauchi state until 1996 when it was divided out to become an independent state.  It seems that Gombe is a center of commerce and business travel sustains the airport. 

I asked about making reservations and was told not to worry. My ticket could be purchased at the airport.  It helps, though, to know someone who knows someone. The admin asst made a phone call and when my colleague and I got to the airport we showed ID and were directed to an office where an agent was paid (cash only!) and he wrote (yes, hand wrote) my ticket.  The 1:00 Air Nigeria flight to Abuja landed in Gombe around 2:30.  I joined the line of women for the final security check before going out onto the tarmac and identifying my luggage so that it could be put on the plane.

We took of a little after 3.  The flight had been delayed by the high winds of the Harmattan. After landed in Abuja, there was about a 45 minute ride to the Chida hotel where I had to spend the night because there are no late afternoon flights to Sokoto.  


I traveled with a colleague who was returning to Bauchi the next day.  We were out early the next morning in order to go to the Sheraton to buy tickets for our flights.  Unfortunately the airline he needed to take back to Bauchi did not have an office in the hotel.  There was plenty of time to get to the airport.


I was on my own to travel to Sokoto, with one big problem--my luggage was overweight. I was traveling with books and files and "stuff" to sustain me for the  six weeks or so.  What wasn't an issue in Gombe because two of us were traveling, was going to cost me around 8,000 Naira-- or about 6,000 more than I had to pay.  With a little negotiation and shifting, I carried on one bag and paid a reduced rate for the other. The flight departed about two hours after the scheduled departure time.

Leave the Office by 5p.m.

Though it is the state capital, in many ways Bauchi is a small town.  It has many of the problems that plague areas where there are glaring gaps between the haves and have-nots; an undereducated, idle youth population –and more including intolerance based on a number of factors-religious, gender, tribal, socio-economic standing, among others. Bit by bit, I am learning more about the complexities of the society.  In the process, I try to adhere to the guidelines of the organization to avoid conflict and be secure.

One of those rules is the office should close and all projects vehicles should be back in place by that time. Of course, the nature of this work does not support a regular, Mon-Friday, 8-5 schedule. We have worked late and on weekends.  During the holidays, someone from another project was carjacked while entering the gates to his residence.  We were reminded, and behavior changed-- at least for a while. 

Last Friday, our IT guy closed up just after 7 and headed home. As he approached the guarded gate to his home, he was waylaid by a group of young men. Laptop, phones, car- stolen.  He was roughed up, though thankfully not seriously injured.  The office now closes at 5 sharp.  The driver comes to my office around 4:30 to speed up my packing so he can be back at the compound by 5. 

Pictures from Sallah and the Durbar in Kano

The Nigerian Crew at our first Durbar.

Yes, these are some of the pictures I promised two months ago. You are welcome!

The two-tuffed head gear identifies members of the royal family.

The pagentry begins.

The grand entrance of the Emir, complete with a huge twirling and swaying orange umbrella. Watch out New Orleans!

The Invitation (We sat in the elevated Section A)

A Battery for my Laptop

Regular power is not guaranteed .NEPA (the Nigerian power company) is frequently spoken of in less than respectful terms. Being the richest country on the continent does not mean that adequate infrastructures exist to provide a basic like regular electricity that is taken for granted at home. Sure, we have our flashlights, candles and lamps ready in the event a hurricane blows through and there are the occasional brown-outs during the more intense months of summer, but here almost every home and business of moderate size has a generator for when the power fails.  

The regularity of this failure varies—8-10 times a day, all day, night, week (you choose). Even when we were on Victoria Island in Lagos, one of the more recent developments in the country, and in the Federal Capital of Abuja, there are power disruptions.  Can you imagine the frustration of not having a functioning laptop battery under those circumstances? Working on a document (power on! power off!). I was reminded the hard way to save, save, save! Skyping with my family; FB; Twitter; blogging; email- (power on! power off!) You get the picture.

I thought my ancient laptop might get fried in the process, but it has served me well. Trying to find a replacement here either through electronics suppliers or online didn’t work.  Aha! I thought. Consultants come this way from various parts of the states on a regular basis. Maybe I could have one ‘pony expressed’ to me. After two attempts, it worked. My son shipped it to one of the people coming over who had kindly consented to bring it for me. (Sending items from the states via mail or FedEx is fairly expensive).

The power just went off again.  Though the generator will come on momentarily, I am happily working despite the darkness. Sometimes it’s just the little things…