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Other entries in Abuja

Departure and a decision....

Our main reason for being in Abuja was to go to the Sudanese embassy and find out the current status of the Chad-Sudan border. This has been the subject of much discussion over the last couple of months. As we had heard that it was closed and this had been our intended route.

After a couple of visits to the embassy Debs & Thiemo determined that it was too dangerous to cross at that border. Apparently there is some fighting going on between the farmers and the government. About 95 thousand refugees have crossed the border into Chad, which would mean that food and water would be scarce.

A alternative route was proposed - going through Cameroon, Central African Republic and then the south of Sudan. A route which has never been done before by a commercial overland truck. Because of the potential risks involved (lots of digging through muddy roads, and other unknowns...) we had to have a secret ballot by email back to the UK. It was to vote go overland or fly (to Ethiopia).

After a weekend of sitting around the Sheraton pool and discussing the vote we found out the results. There was a majority who voted for going overland. Unfortunately it has been decided against going this way because Ron (the director in the UK) has determined that there are too many risks. Most of us are very disappointed as this means we will have to fly and not overland the whole trip. This also has obvious financial consequences which most people had not budgeted for.

The plan is now to head to Cameroon for a couple of weeks, after Nigeria, and then fly to Addis Ababa.

Abuja was also the place that we had our first departee. We farewelled Anne Marie one early morning as she left for the airport to catch a flight back to the UK. The main reason was a lack of money but there were other personal reasons. So sad to see her go. But it makes you think about who else will leave our little family.

On the Saturday night a group of us went to the nightclub at the Sheraton. As there was no one in it yet we headed to the bar. In true African style it was full of old men and prostitutes. I reckon the pre-requisite for a western man to get a job in Nigeria is to be old and/or ugly. The wedding rings on their hands are also an attractive accessory. As usual, there were members of our group who took advantage of these lovely ladies. I can't believe they keep falling for the trick. If a woman does not hit you when you ask her if she is a whore then she probably is one. Hence, you will be asked for money in the morning or she will call her pimp around to beat you up!

In Abuja I also found the best way to get through the trauma of cookgroup. Get very drunk!! After getting some good news from home (Yes, you Adrienne!) I went back to camp and cracked open a bottle of white wine. As those who know me are aware, I don't do well drinking before meals, especially when I only ate a chocolate bar for lunch. So by the first glass I was positively pissed. It made for good entertainment for the rest of the group. It can also be dangerous, as my thumb did have a disagreement with a knife while chopping onions. I would have stocked up for the next 10 weeks if we weren't about to fly. Damn it!!

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