This Corper got lost in Kano due to language barriers... and Here is what saved him?

This 25-year-old corps-member totally lost his way to Kano, experienced some culture shock, and ended up taking several buses and keke just to get to his place of service. Now, he is four months away from finishing his service year. Here is what he has to say about his travel mistakes, regrets, and how he might eventually miss out on the government’s new ₦70,000 minimum wage

Every week on Miles and Moments, we share traveler stories to understand how far people have journeyed and the cultural shocks they’ve experienced along the way. There’s always something to learn from each story. Share your story!

When Ade* was posted to Kano for his NYSC, he was faced with a tough choice: either wait for the next batch or make the trip immediately. The last thing he expected was for his journey to be filled with drama.

The 25-year-old shares how he navigated his first trip to Kano—a place he swore he’d never visit again—only to now find himself wanting to return.

What’s Your Earliest Memory of Travel?

I’m from Abia State and used to travel every two years, which gradually became four times a year. I’m from a city called Abiriba, popularly known as “Small London.” We have an event called Ime Uche—a traditional retirement ceremony. It’s a big event where uncles from across the world come back with gifts, sometimes bringing their children along. I always looked forward to seeing my cousins and nieces. I vividly remember that whenever I saw luxury buses on the road in Lagos, whether I was going to school or anywhere else, I’d start counting down the days until my next trip to the East.

How Did Your Trip Go from Every 2 Years to More Than Twice a Year?

I studied at Abia State University, while my parents lived in Lagos. In my first two years of school, I often traveled home because the prices were much more affordable than they are now. My parents always traveled with Chisco, which was like our family bus. It was a luxury bus, and we could get a seat for ₦10,000 to ₦15,000 compared to what it costs today.

So whenever we were on break from school, guess who always had his bag packed and was ready to leave? That was me. However, by my third year, I significantly reduced how often I traveled home—I guess I became a “big boy.” But that’s a story for another day.

Why Not Take a Flight?

It’s only those who have money who can afford to fly. Back then, Goodluck Jonathan was in power, and Nigerians were going through a lot. Then Buhari took over, and even getting transport fare was still pretty hard. Recently, I made a trip to Kano and got lost.

How Did Kano Happen?

After my university days, we all had to do the mandatory NYSC service—to serve our motherland, I guess. I waited a year hoping to work my service placement through a connection, but that never came through. And let’s not even talk about how long it took to complete my university clearance. Since my connection kept failing, I finally decided to go with the next batch. NYSC showed me they were in control and posted me to Kano.

Lmao, So How Did You Handle the Trip?

First of all, my family was really anxious about me going to Kano for service. We all know the stories about what’s happening on Nigerian roads.

I had never been to Kano before, and while I did have cash for a flight, the posting was sudden. Booking a flight for the next day would have been expensive, so I chose a road trip, thinking it would be fun. I divided my trip, first heading to Abuja and then to Kano. The trip to Abuja was good, except that my bus got delayed on the Kogi-Lokoja express road, which was concerning since there were reports of Fulani gunmen causing disturbances in the area at the time.

Ha!

So, the vehicle’s tire got damaged, and we managed to keep going for a while, but then another tire gave out. It was late, and although the driver didn’t seem bothered, you could feel the tension in the air. To be honest, I wasn’t scared—maybe because I’ve been through worse on previous road trips. Plus, I needed to keep my cool for the sake of the girl I had just met, who was my seat partner. She was traveling to Abuja and was lucky enough to get posted there. We both felt anxious, but I had to stay calm, give her hope, and, well, I also wanted to get her number, so I had to maintain my composure.

Ehen ehen, Nice. What Happened Next?

We were transferred to another vehicle that took us to Abuja and dropped us off at the park. I had a friend in Abuja, so I took an Uber to his place.

So How Did You Get to Kano?

First, I started having issues with the language barrier at the park in Abuja. I took a Bolt to get there, but once I arrived, I ran into problems. Everyone was speaking Hausa, and I struggled to communicate. Luckily, I found someone who pointed me to a bus going to Kano.

On the way to Kano, our vehicle broke down right before we entered the city, and that’s when the real drama began. The only person who spoke English was my seat partner on the bus.

Lol

So, the driver did his best, but nothing worked. It was around 6 p.m., and it seemed like these guys were way too comfortable with the situation. The driver, who didn’t understand English, wasn’t making any effort to fix the problem. He just sat down somewhere, watching. We were all confused. Luckily, one of the driver’s friends came along and towed our vehicle into Kano, slowly but surely, until we arrived at the park. Any small thing on the expressway, and the rope would cut, but we eventually made it.

Thank God! How Did You Find Your Way to the Camp?

It was a new city, so I got scammed right away. I paid ₦700 to someone who carried my things from the park to where I could get a keke—and that was just the next street! It took a lot of effort and frustration to explain where I was going. The camp was located at Karaye, so I needed to get to a park and then catch a bus to Karaye. The real confusion started between the first park and the next one where I’d catch the vehicle to Karaye.

How Come?

I arrived at the NYSC camp at 12 a.m., and at that time, there was an event going on in Kano with stories of thefts and people stealing stuff all around the city. Imagine me, someone who had never been to Kano before, trying to find my way in the middle of all this. I struggled to get a keke to the park where I needed a vehicle to Karaye. Because of the language barrier, I was explaining my destination using words like “Karaye,” “NYSC,” and “corps members.” It was really risky; I could have easily gotten lost or worse. After going around the city in about five different kekes—when one could have taken me directly to my destination—I was lucky to meet someone who was heading in the same direction. He spoke Hausa and was traveling down from Adamawa.

That’s a Long One! What Was Your Biggest Shock?

My biggest shock was seeing people entering the trunk of a vehicle! We were using this Mitsubishi vehicle with a large trunk, and people were actually paying to sit in there. I couldn’t believe it.

Ha!

So, I think the price varies. The front seats take two passengers, the back seats take four, and then the trunk takes three people. The luggage is packed on top of the vehicle. It was a big shock for me. It also pains me that I may eventually miss out on the FG increment in allowance.

Interesting! Do You Plan to Travel to Kano in the Future?

Even with this experience, I still want to travel to Kano. I made friends there, and I’m excited about going back to visit the city.

If you’re interested in sharing your travel experiences, this is a good place to start. Share your experiences

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