My Life-Changing Trip to the Yobe State Capital in 2021 (Part I)

I received a certificate of recognition, a compendium, and a token of money

After a long wait, my article titled “Ideas that Explore Modern Techniques to Improve Agriculture in Yobe State” was finally chosen as one of the best entries in the first-ever Yobe State Scholarship Board Annual Essay Competition 2021. I was invited to the ceremony for my published article in the YSSB Compendium of Selected Essays. As I awoke early in the morning to prepare for my journey to Damaturu, Zaria was still asleep and the only sounds that filled the air were the barking of dogs, the chirping of bugs, and the tweets of birds in the distance. As I left my student apartment, the streets were dark, silent, and cold. I stopped on the road and flagged down a passing Keke Napep. After the driver pulled over, I entered the tricycle and was taken to the Kwangila Bus Stop. Typically, only one car makes the journey early in the morning from Zaria to Damaturu. Even though I woke up and arrived at the bus stop early, I was unable to board the lone car. I was disappointed and considered rescheduling my trip for the next morning. However, with the circumstances in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, I had no choice but to take a bus to Kano and then another to Damaturu.

A screenshot of my article from the compendium

I entered the Kwangila bus station and boarded the Kano bus, as the Damaturu bus is usually found outside on the street. The driver was far too old. I questioned myself “can this elderly man drive us to Kano?” He drove at an average speed of 70-80 kilometers per hour (km/h), increasing to 100 km/h when we reached a road diversion where Julius Berger was undergoing construction. No one dared to criticize his sluggish speed, which, considering his age, may put him under stress. A few kilometers into Kano, our car was caught in traffic caused by long-vehicle (trailer) drivers.

As our trip came to a halt, we met multiple passengers who stated that the traffic jam was caused by a conflict between the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) and the long-vehicle drivers. Others believed that the impasse was caused by Customs officers who had seized the battery of one of the long vehicles for not paying the normal bribe on the highway. In any case, we spent more than an hour waiting for the road to open and another hour trying to dodge the traffic jam. 

I felt relieved once we successfully dodged the location. We were immediately taken to the Unguwa Uku Motor Park, where I later boarded a vehicle bound for Damaturu. The driver looked to be in his forties or older, with a vibrant and cheerful demeanor, which made us enthusiastic about the trip ahead. However, our enthusiasm was short-lived as the car suddenly experienced problems and stopped 30 minutes away from Wudil Local Government in Kano State. The driver inspected the car engine and informed us that he had to go back to Wudil to bring artisanal machinists. Undoubtedly, we were extremely upset by this new glitch.

We all stood helplessly under the scorching sun. The heat was blistering, and three of us began looking for the nearest tree to sit under. Along the Kano-Damaturu highway, we sought refuge under a huge tree and were soothed by its cool air. The other males joined us after a few minutes, but the four female passengers stayed in the car regardless of the intensity of the heat. 

As we waited for the driver to come back, we talked about how commercial car drivers often neglect to check the condition of their vehicles before starting a trip. We agreed that if drivers took the time to thoroughly inspect their vehicles before setting off, there would be fewer accidents and mechanical issues.

After an hour, the driver returned with two artisanal mechanical engineers who fixed the car. We were able to continue the journey at an average speed of 120-140 kilometers per hour (km/h).

The story will be continued in Part II, which will be published next week.