"Anything for the New Year?"

Driving in Lagos brings on mixed emotions. Sometimes gratefulness when I can enjoy AC on a hot day.  Sometimes anger, when the yellow buses continue to cut you off intentionally.  Sometimes fear, when you get a flat tire on an unknown road.  Sometimes confusion, when you sit in standstill traffic for over three hours when your conscience didn't allow you to  follow all the other vehicles that were going the wrong way on a one way to avoid the standstill.  Sometimes laughter, when you get stopped three times by Police/Road Safety on your way to your in-laws house.  

On New Year's day, Dami and I were driving to his parents' house, which is about 24 miles from where we live.  However, it can sometimes take more than three hours to get there because the road is not good.  As we took a small detour to buy bread to make shawarmas along the way, we got stopped by the police.  Dami was the one driving, but the police proceeded to come and talk to me.  After greeting, they now asked if Dami was my Uber driver.  I am sure they did not expect to hear that he was my husband.  After I clarified their misunderstandings, they proceeded to ask the question that they always ask me when they stop me, "Madam, anything for the New Year?"  (the coded question for give us money).  I told them I didn't have anything and we drove along.  

As we got closer to Dami's parents house, we were stopped a third time by a police officer that bluntly asked "anything for the New Year?" after telling us that he did not want to do his work that day.  Driving in Lagos definitely has its good and bad days.  

When I first moved to Lagos, driving a vehicle was one of those aspects of being a missionary that I wasn't sure how to navigate.  The blog, A Life Overseas (https://www.alifeoverseas.com/youre-doing-it-wrong/) explains the polarized views many missionaries have regarding whether or not to drive in the community that you are serving in:

"You who use cars and drive everywhere you go, how will you ever become part of your community if your neighbours only see you coming and going through tinted windows?"

"You who walk or bicycle everywhere, your community is embarrassed to have the only missionary without a car. If you had a vehicle you could use it to better help the community."

When I was preparing to make the move to Lagos, I thought it would be fun to learn the transportation system here out of fear of being labeled an elitist foreigner with plenty money.  But I remember a friend who was born in Nigeria advised me and said "In order for people to respect you and the position you are in, you need to drive a car in Lagos."  If I was seen hopping buses, people might be skeptical and trust would be more difficult to gain.  I decided to take his advise and started driving a few weeks after arriving in Lagos.  It didn't take long to realize what a blessing a car can be in a city like Lagos.  

Not long after, we passed by a Road Safety truck that was parked along the side of the highway.  Immediately we passed, I told Dami they were going to pull out and pull us over but he shrugged me off.  Soon enough, they pulled up next to us, with their lights flashing, telling us to pull over.  They first asked for Dami's drivers license.  He is learning how to drive so he handed them his learner's permit from his driving school.  The law is that he has to be driving with someone that has a valid drivers license.  As they saw me, they assumed that I did not have a Nigerian drivers license so I could not be his driving instructor.  I quickly stepped out with my own Nigerian drivers license along with all of the vehicle documents.  After they could not find any fault with our documents, the officer tried to make lighthearted conversation by asking how I find driving in Lagos.  I was pleasantly surprised they didn't ask for my fire extinguisher, red triangle, jack and spare tire like they normally do when they stop me. 

Lately, I have been extremely grateful for the opportunity to own a car.  The Lagos State Government recently banned Okadas (motorcycle taxis) and Kekes (three-wheeled tricycle taxis) on the road for safety reasons without putting significant measures in place to replace these in-demand modes of transportation.  Many people have mixed feelings on the policy, but it has significantly impacted lagosians who do not drive.  Kekes and Okadas are the main transportation method to get to bus stops that get you around the city.  Without these means, many people have been left to walking long distances because many inside roads in Lagos cannot even be reached by bus.  It has affected workplace productivity where employers have had to release staff early to get home on time and many HRs are advocating for flexible working hours for staff because of the strain.  Many people that had vehicles but chose to take public transport have now been forced to use their vehicles, which has caused more traffic buildup on the road. 

While driving over 17 miles to get to work and 17 miles to get home each day, walking or biking isn't really much of an option for many people.  It's easy to roll up our windows, blast the AC and your favorite podcast, and sit in traffic for two hours.  The fact that there are more and more cars on the road each and every day in Lagos does contribute to the tendencies for people to live very individualistic lives.  Living in a city where owning a vehicle, particularly the make and model of the vehicle, is a symbol of status and power, it also has cautioned us to think about why and how we use the vehicle that we have.  It has helped us as a couple to think through the message that you communicate to others through the car(s) you drive and how you use it.  It has helped us to realize that the more you have access to measures that make life more comfortable and convenient, such as a vehicle, you rely less on others, and more on yourselves.  It is our hope that as we have been blessed with a vehicle, we can find ways to continue to build community around us.