I have always lived in the south-western region all my life and never traveled beyond its borders.
Thanks to NYSC, I eventually moved beyond the south-western borders. Presently, I am in the south-south region.
I camped in Issele-Uku Delta State, and on the last day of camp, I went with the bus arranged by the Nigeria Christian Corpers' Fellowship (NCCF), Oghara Zone.
The journey was stressful and long one. Passing through Benin, Edo State from Issele -Uku in order to reach Oghara town sparked curiosity.
I temporarily resided with the NCCF Oghara family before moving to my primary place of assignment.
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During my first week in Oghara, I noticed a pretty good number of shops had a brown keg sitting on a table in front of them.
This made me so curious because I am not used to seeing these where I came from and yes, I got answers to my curiosity; the keg contains petrol for sale.
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In Oghara, oil business (black market) is a common and normal business. From what I have seen, heard, and researched, Oghara is a town blessed with crude oil.
It is one of the major oil-producing regions in Nigeria. I had seen different oil companies such as Rain Oil, Cybernetics, Dutchess Energy, and NEPAL there in Oghara town.
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There is a high prevalence of the oil business (black market) courtesy of the town being an oil producing town and a home to several oil producing companies.
Whenever you go to Oghara town and see a vast number of shops with brown kegs in front of them, don't be surprised; oil business (black market) is a norm, and like I said earlier, it's all courtesy of Oghara being a land flowing with oil.
During my stay in Oghara, it rained consecutively for weeks. I honestly didn't like it when it rained there in Oghara.
Whenever it rains, everywhere becomes swampy and waterlogged, deep portholes are filled with water, and roads, especially the untarred ones, become so messy and irritating.
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One thing I noticed in that part of Oghara I was is that there are no drainages. Houses, shops, and churches are built without gutters or drainages.
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Although I came across some gutters, they were already filled up with sand and blocked up with debris, and these are all due to lack of maintenance.
Drainages and gutters should be constructed and properly maintained, as this will help redirect water flow so as to prevent erosion and flooding.
Also, it will prevent slippery roads, reducing the occurrence of accidents and injuries.
I felt pity for cars, motorcycles, tricycles, and other means of transportation that passed these water-filled potholed roads and swampy bumpy untarred roads.
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"You're hurting these innocent things!" only if these things could just talk and express themselves out!
One day, I was walking down a street, and I saw a building. It looked like a closed-down boutique shop.
In fact, what came to my mind the first day I saw the building was, "Ahnahn, why is this fine boutique building closed down?"
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Next time I passed that street, I went with a fellow corper, and she pointed at the 'closed down boutique building' and said, "That's a burial ground o."
I was wowed—literally my first time seeing a housed burial ground as I am not familiar with seeing housed burial grounds in the southwest region.
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Aside the "close down boutique building," I came across other burial grounds too.
All through growing up and living in the southwest region, I have never come across a broom like this.
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There in Oghara, I have seen the broom used for sweeping outside and removing cobwebs.
This broom is not the regular broom we use in the southwestern region. The broomsticks are thicker and stronger than normal broomsticks. In addition, the broom has a long stick stuck in it.
This broom is made in such a way that you don't have to bend and hurt your back when you sweep.
Oh, by the way, you might want to have this in your house.
Bicycles are a usual means of transportation there in Oghara. I have seen quite a number of bicycles used as a means of transportation.
I have seen old women carry farm produce, and firewood using bicycles.
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One thing that amazes me about these old women is that they cycle on the bicycle so well, even with loads on their bicycles.
Males, most especially young boys, ride bicycles too. I never come across men ride the bicycle.
When I got to Oghara, I saw quite a number of women and ladies riding motorcycles.
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It is not that I don't see women or ladies riding motorcycles in the southwest, but it isn't as common as there in Oghara.
In Oghara, I have seen women ride lady bikes; some would carry their children on the bikes, some use it to carry their products for sale and apparently, for transportation.
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It was pretty dark when I first entered Oghara town. The next day I was outside, and I noticed the sand they used in building construction.
It was not the usual colour of sand I do see in the part of the southwestern region I have been.
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I noticed the colour of the sand used as building construction here is white in colour. The sand is just like beach sand .
I had a glance at the Ethiope River in Oghara. Oh my God! The river is so wide and long.
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Most oil companies I saw were built close to the Ethiope River. I learned that the Ethiope River is a route through which ships pass mainly to transport oil to the oil companies.
Also, I have seen people use boats to travel on the Ethiope River.
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I never wanted to travel beyond the Southwest for my NYSC, honestly, but I'm thankful NYSC didn't allow me.
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So far, being in the south-south has been an adventure for me. I anticipate seeing more fascinating and adventurous things.
Stay tuned for my next adventure. In the meantime, check out how my NYSC journey began.
I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to you for taking the time to read this.🌺 💕
All images are mine except stated otherwise.