MY EXPERIENCE FROM CALABAR TO UYO AMID THE CORONA VIRUS TENSION

On hearing the proposed closure of borders by the Rivers, Akwaibom and Cross-River state governments, I immediately picked a suitable day to travel, ignoring all social distancing rules. Despite the directive given by the Cross-River state government to motorists on reducing the number of passengers to be transported, we were still cramped at the back of the taxi (4 passengers) like on a normal day.

Regardless of my efforts to enable me arrive the park by 0800hrs, I ended up getting there by 0915hrs, already feeling discouraged by the number of stranded passengers waiting for vehicles from different transport agencies along the popular Etta-Agbor road. This was further heightened by the number of students who were temporarily rendered homeless and had to choice but to return home. On entering AKTC park, it was a bigger form of discouragement due to the "emptiness" of the park littered with people's pieces of luggage and no buses in sight. "There is no bus o, if you book and you cannot wait, there is no refund" said the woman at the ticketing area. I had no choice but to proceed, afterall, AKTC is the most preferred choice for shuttling between Calabar and Uyo.

After being allocated the letter "Q", I met a passenger with the letter "E". "Hei! God, 12 more buses to come", I said to myself. Wetin man go do, man's gat return home today. Everywhere seemed like a typical traveling period although the prices were still constant (quite surprising). People donned gloves and some had nose masks on but there was no distancing of any sort, no checking of travellers temperature , everywhere was crowded as people scrambled for shade due to the effect of the sun. Thankfully, no one displayed any "coronic" symptoms. Some NTA officials came to interview few travellers about the whole Corona issue and if they have been self-isolating.

After waiting for 5hours, our bus finally arrived. It was another struggle to arrange the pieces of luggage and ensure everyone is settled.
We kissed goodbye to the city of Calabar only to face one of the most degraded and abandoned roads in South South; Calabar-Itu highway. Constant plying along that road could give one a respiratory infection as it is filled with exhaust fumes and dusts particles.
Despite the overly dusty roads decorated with potholes, some escort and patrol vehicles were still playing "fast and furious", tankers and trailers causing traffic on the dilapidated Itu river bridge.
This neglect shows how the government does not give a hoot about what is happening down here and is not dedicated to ensuring that things are in order. For years, that road has been left unattended inasmuch as it's one of the busiest roads in the region.
We finally arrived Uyo three hours later after swimming in an ocean of dust particles. Altogether, we spent 8 hours just to get to Uyo from Calabar.
I just hope this pandemic will push the government to fix parts of the health sector considering the fact that everyone is stuck and they would become more proactive in handling sensitive issues such as this.

First Photo: Crowded travellers
Second photo: The amount of dust particles we had to deal with
Third photo: One of the bridges on the highway

Lalasticlala
justwise

Second and third photos

Last hour rush.
Thank God u got 2 your base safely.

No place like home.

good, now stay one place I beg you.

by the way, who get dat small fine nyash abeg

Enoch07:
good, now stay one place I beg you.

by the way, who get dat small fine nyash abeg

Med oh! Deadshot

the government doesn't give a hoot, yet u cant follow simple instructions to stay indoors for now




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Topxcel:
Last hour rush.
Thank God u got 2 your base safely.

No place like home.

Yes o. Passengers were stranded