This is the travel story of someone who had experienced Nigeria when it still had a strong standard of living, and who still travels now, witnessing how much has changed over time. Before diving in, have you traveled within Nigeria back in 2009? If so, share your experience! here
Every week on Miles and Moments, we share traveler stories to understand how far people have journeyed and the culture shocks they’ve experienced along the way. There’s always something to learn from each story.
Travel has always been a dream of mine. Growing up, my family wasn’t much into road travel, so my early experiences were pretty limited. But eventually, I took my first solo trip—and it didn’t go as planned. I was in JSS 1, traveling to Lagos by lorry, and the person who was supposed to pick me up at Mile 2 didn’t show up. I remember coming home feeling disappointed and betrayed, crying my eyes out over that rocky first adventure.
Must Read: This Corper got lost in Kano due to language barriers… and Here is what saved him?
As I got older, the roads became familiar, and I began to travel without my parents’ guidance. Road trips became a regular part of my university life, often for sporting events like the Nigerian University Games. Along the way, I faced plenty of memorable experiences, including my fair share of accidents.
The longest road trip I’ve taken so far was from Nigeria to Ghana—over 24 hours on the road with ABC Transport. I was in my second year of university, headed to Ghana for a youth exchange program with a local church. The chance to journey across borders was exhilarating; we had stopovers along the way to explore each town briefly before continuing. I especially loved our time in Togo and the Republic of Benin, but Ghana stood out in a unique way.
Ghana was unlike Nigeria in so many ways. The atmosphere was calmer, the people were friendlier, and life felt slower—no frantic honking or people rushing to bend the traffic rules. We spent time in several cities, including Accra, Cape Coast, and Tema. It was an unforgettable week, and one thing that amazed me was the steady electricity; we didn’t experience a single power outage during our stay.
This was back in 2009, so I’m not sure if the power is still so reliable. But that week in Ghana left a lasting impression. I made new friends, some of whom I’m still in touch with today. Have I been back to Ghana since? No. Would I love to go again? Absolutely YES!
Related: Bitter kola is Joy’s travel buddy—here’s why!
