The Japa syndrome has taken over the leftover space in the mind of an average Nigerian youth. This syndrome of seeking greener pastures around the world, especially in Europe and America has made many promising young countrymen and women embark on a journey with no idea of what life holds for them in their new aspiring abode.
In 2003, I made efforts to Japa as well. During this period, it was a lot easier to make such a move as the finances needed were not high but difficult to come by. I had just graduated from the university and was looking for a well-paying job that wouldn't come because I was not connected to the high and mighty even though I was qualified.
My first move was to acquire a passport. On the fateful day that I went to apply for a passport, what I saw made me know that many other Nigerian youths were thinking just the way I was. There was a very large crowd of able-bodied men and women who were also applying for the Nigerian passport. Good enough, my passport was delivered to me about a month after my application. I was glad to finally have the Nigerian passport, it was an indication that I could be leaving the Nigerian border anytime soon.
I gathered some money, enough to see me through the visa application process. Just then, the visa office was moved to the Federal Capital city of Abuja. Since I hadn't been to the north before, I decided to board a plane so that I could meet up and return to work to avoid being sanctioned for absenteeism. Through a friend, I booked a ticket and joined the famous Lufthansa Airline to Abuja. It was my first time traveling by airplane.
At first, when we were boarding, I loved the sight of the huge plane and the caliber of people who were going to be flying with me in the same carrier. Right behind me was my hostel governor during my university days.
Hey man. What's up?
Adjei tapped me from behind. On seeing him, I jumped and we had a warm hug then we boarded.
Don't tell me you have been in Lagos all this while.
I asked, knowing that he was from the middle belt.
My brother, where can we not go or live? I came to officiate one match at Onikan Stadium.
It didn't occur to me that Adjei just said that. What the heck does he mean? A lot of questions arose in my heart.
You mean you are a referee? A football referee?
He looked at me and said
My brother, anything to keep body and soul together. In this obodo Nigeria, if you do not have a side hustle, you may find it hard to break through.
Now, I understood where he was coming from. Officiating soccer games has since been a side hustle for him and he gets paid for it. I had to tell him my purpose of traveling to Abuja and whatnot.
Well, it's my first time flying. I already have butterflies in my stomach.
Adjei was two rolls behind me. Our conversation ended before the plane ignition came on. A female voice said from the cockpit:
Put on your seat belt and be ready to voyage.
We started floating in the air. Believe me, that was the most amazing part of the flight. We got into the sky and I couldn't see anything except the clouds again. Then, a shaking ensued. The plane started to jerk. It felt like there were potholes in the clouds. This was my first time and the only thing that came to my mind at that moment was the scene from a movie that I had watched where an airplane got lost due to bad weather. This couldn't be happening to me. All I did was close my eyes. Each time I opened my eyes, I saw fear in the eyes of other passengers.
In fear of a plane crash, I started to sweat profusely. At that instance, I started to think of those big dreams and goals I had written down to accomplish.
Is this how all my dreams will end?
My heart was already in my mouth. For one straight hour, I was half-dead. I journeyed back and forth from death to life.
After a while, everything became normal. I looked back and my eyes caught Adjei smiling. He certainly enjoyed the ride. He gave me a thumb-up. I looked forward and saw all these folks who were dead frightened like me, resting their heads against their seats.
We landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, with pounding in my chest as I exchanged phone contacts with my friend, Adjei.
When we landed, I swore never to return to Lagos on a plane. Traveling on the bus was what I was used to and this new direction of boarding a plane was not certainly for me, it was simply a burden.
At the end of the day, I was not offered a visa to America. The experience I had that day killed my dream of seeking greener pastures abroad.