Have you ever wondered why travellers in Nigeria don’t blink an eye during a long distance road trip? Truth is that we travellers here have trust issues amongst other reasons. We are very well informed about unfortunate incidents that occur on some of these trips and we like to keep our names out of the media (if our names ever make it, that is) .
Here are the 5 top reasons travellers in Nigeria never sleep on a road trip:
1. AGGRESSIVE TOUTS
From time to time, there may be touts ready to scare passengers and extort them of money. Naaa not us, we want to see them coming (not sure we would be able to do anything but still better to be aware than not).
2. BAD DRIVERS
Truth is when you’re asleep, you are not able to judge the state of your driver. There are some great drivers out there but are you really going to take that chance? Stay awake and you can caution your driver when he starts driving like a drunk Lewis Hamilton.
3. PASSENGERS STEALING YOUR POSSESSIONS
Whilst everyone thinks that you need a high staged robbery to get robbed, we travellers are well aware that the person sitting next to us can also be a petty robber if the opportunity arises. And again, we are not taking that chance.
4. DESTINATION DOESN’T CHANGE
Your driver might want to visit another location for his own pleasure (Perhaps his girlfriend told him to quickly drop by home to give her some money). You need to stay up in order to monitor your drivers’ movement so as to prevent any unnecessary delay.
5. NOT WANTING TO MISS OUT ON SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES
Passengers are always on the look out for good buys for their own use or for their relatives before they reach their destination. Retailers and hawkers are not always present in every location but are seen at market points not even known by passengers. This is enough reason for them not to sleep on a road trip (Any excuse to bag a bargain).
What do you think about the reasons? Are they valid enough or not? Nevertheless hope you enjoyed the read.