Hello everyone,
Pleasure to participate in this week contest. Today I will be sharing my experience with you on how safe is my country when it's comes to living a peaceful life.
Whenever it comes to personal safety, living in Nigeria does not make that easy for me, or give me that easy ride in my daily existence. In the everyday relationships, being on the streets or in the markets make me come across many situations that I have to be careful or be alert. But ever since, I have developed some techniques and behaviors that would assist me avoid such risks and keep safe.
one of the things I quickly discovered about my country Nigeria is that one has to be vigilant at all times. Regardless of whether I am just taking a walk, or driving my car in the middle of the city, I try to always observe the people around me. Have also ensured that my phone is securely held in public areas and my wallet is safe always and watch out for pick pockets.
Apart from the physical awareness, I also know that I have to listen to my heart and mind. I can recall some occasions when I have been surrounded by, or faced with, some people or a particular situation that I did not feel comfortable with and I always follow my instincts and either avoid such a person or situation or find assistance. Although it may not be a major aspect, listening to my gut feeling has saved me from possibly Harmful scenarios and made me safer.
That is why another non-negotiable component of remaining safe in Nigeria is being prepared for emergencies. This comprises having contact numbers of friends and family stored in my phone, having mini first aid kid in my handbag, and knowing the nearby hospitals and police stations. Hence, through careful prevention and a good plan of action, these unforeseeable occurrences that may occur in my daily life do not rattle me as much as they should.
In addition, I also always provide information to my friend and family members about my location and my planned activity. Whether I am going out to meet friends in the evening or just to shop for items in the morning, I make sure that I tell someone I know, of my whereabouts and the time I should be back. This way I also ensure that in a situation where everything goes wrong they will have the knowledge of my whereabouts and will be in a position to assist me.
In addition, I have also ensured that my personal security is intact, having invested in home security cameras, ensuring that all doors and Windows have security locks as well as being careful in the information I disclose to the public. I can say that those are some little ways of protecting myself and ensuring that I do not fall victim to any security breaches at my own residence.
Although I understand that living in Nigeria has its risks, I have found out how to modify my own personal lifestyle and protect myself on a day to day basis. Through the knowledge of what happen around me, knowing that it is crucial to trust my instincts, getting ready for any probable situations and improving my personal security, I can walk through the noisy streets and crowded Nigerian markets. In conclusion, all of these have assisted me to minimize on danger whilst maximizing on fun in this diverse and liberal country.