It all started on the 14th of November 2016 when I saw my call up letter. I was in my house with my mum and checked the call up letter and saw
State of deployment: Adamawa.
Address: Unity grammar school karaye, Kano st.
I was actually eating when I saw this. Once i saw the address, I dropped my spoon and did not feel like eating anymore.
My mum asked me what happened and I just showed her the letter. She was shocked as well and she said and I quote "ugwu hausa"(meaning North in Igbo language) .
The reason why she was shocked was because we (my mum and I) thought that I would be getting Abuja since I am a Foreign student and all that.
I have also visualized Abuja in my mind and how I would put on my A game while coming out of the Domestic wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport with my swag and all.
I quickly went to Twitter because Nysc was trending to see if anyone was in the same boat as me. Every tweet was Lagos, Abuja and other states but not one tweet on Adamawa.
I quickly checked the map of Nigeria to find out where Adamawa is on the map because I knew Adamawa was in the north but i dont know its exact location and its neighbouring states. I saw that Adamawa was the last state before you get in to Cameroon.
I called a flight agent to arrange a ticket for me to Adamawa. Immediately I dropped the phone, I went to Facebook to see where my friends were posted. As I was about exiting facebook, I saw someone that posted Adamawa but camping in kano.
At first,I did not understand until I went back to my call up letter and saw Kano st. This was when I knew I would be camping in Kano as well. I quickly called the agent and told her that I don't need a ticket to Adamawa but Kano.
After this. I quickly rushed down to the market to buy some stuff that would be needed in the orientation camp since I need to be in Kano before or on Thursday which is just three days away. I got all my stuff and the next day which is a Tuesday, My agent called and said she has a ticket for Kano on Thursday Morning by 11. I quickly thanked her and patiently waited for Thursday.
Thursday finally came and I got to the Domestic wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport very early. After check in and all other necessary procedures, I proceded to the departure area where I waited for my flight. The flight was delayed until 1:30pm before it left. The route was Kano via Abuja so we left for Abuja. When we got to Abuja, some passengers dropped and then the plane was refilled and also more passengers boarded from Abuja and we took off for Kano.
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| While waiting for the plane to be refilled at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja |
While I was seated inside the plane, I realised that almost everyone inside were all young and all going to Kano. I quickly concluded that we are all prospective Corp members and since we are all going to Kano, it would be a good idea to start making friends as soon as possible.
After Fifteen minutes, an announcement came from the cockpit and the content of the message was that everyone should be seated that the plane is ready to land. I quickly looked out from the window in the plane and all I could see was just sand. I was disappointed.There were no skyscrapers, no beautiful houses, just sand. I was perplexed and the next question that came into my mind was "Are there no houses in Kano"?
The plane landed and the next information from the cockpit was "Welcome to Mallam Aminu Kano International airport". Immediately I alighted from the plane, A heat wave quickly engulfed me. I looked around and I did not feel as if I was in an airport not to even talk of an International Airport.
The runway was deserted and the buildings in the airport looked so small. I followed the people making their way to a building with the name Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport written in Bold letters. When we got inside the structure, Our passport was checked and then we made our way to the baggage reclaim area we patiently waited for our luggage at the baggage carousel.
After about thirty minutes of waiting at the baggage carousel, I finally saw my luggage and picked it up and made my way to the arrival area.
On getting to the arrival area, I saw many young people. Some were making calls, probably calling their family and loved ones to tell them they have arrived while the rest gathered around a lady who was putting on the Nysc Uniform. I quickly went to the the lady putting on Nysc Uniform.
I am part of the NCCF(Nigerian Christian Corpers Fellowship) the lady said and I am here to assist you get to your location. I was relieved. The lady quickly said that there are two camps, one for those that their orientation camp is Kano and those that are Adamawa but camping in kano. She quickly separated us. Those that are Adamawa on my right and those for Kano on my left.
After separating us, the lady went in search of cabs. The cabs take four passengers. I was in a cab with two other guys and a female.
In the next part, I will be talking about my journey from the airport to the camp and the orientation course. Stay tuned.
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