March 4

Lagos, Nigeria
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Arrived MM Airport at 17.55 via Frankfurt on Lufthansa flights LH 474 and 564
Luggage collection - minor chaos as a result of the sheer volume.

Met at the Airport by Cousin Favour and Gloria's husband, Jonathan who had arranged transportation for the short hop to The Sheraton Hotel - Ikeja where I am staying for the night.

After unpacking, I relaxed at the hotel bar with Jonathan and my old university friend, Mr Anire Kanyi who I had reconnected with - after a silence of 14 years.

Overall,I am impressed with the level of service available at the hotel and after a good chat with jonathan, who was staying the night in my double room - fell asleep at about 01.30


March 5

The Journey to Warri, Delta State
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Having spent the night with a friend in the Ikeja area of Lagos,Cousin Favour arrived at the hotel at about 09.30

Jonathan had left to secure the transport in which we were to make the journey to Warri, Delta State.

After a buffet breakfast, I checked out and we commenced the journey at about 11.25

It was a long journey not helped by the very bad state of the roads especially at the Ofosu area by Benin city as well as the frequent stoppages by the Police at makeshift check-points.

Apparently,this is necessary due to the high level of Armed Robbers plying the route to and from the midwestern part of Nigeria.

We arrived at Benin city, Edo State at about 3.30 and had to meander our way through the tiny and traffic filled town roads - a situation not helped by it being a friday and the early start of the rush-hour for Office/Govt workers

The final stretch of the journey was made on the Benin- Sapele - Warri expressway and the journey was smooth all the way and taking about 50 minutes in total

We arrived in Warri at about 4.25 and headed straight for my other cousin, Joan(Mudia) Asagba's residence off 3rd Marine Quarter Gate - by the Warri/Sapele road


At the Asagbas - Phase 1
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There had been a misunderstanding as to where we should head at the arrival in Warri. The plan had been that we head straight to Aunty Christiana's Residence in Eketi village near Udu Road but since we had hired the car for the trip from Lagos, I did not think it wise to take the car all the way to Eketi before coming back to the Asagbas in Warri township - It is not the easiest trip to make especially on a Friday evening and negotiating heavy traffic filled with "Okadas"(Motorcycle taxis) drivers

...brief description of the Asagba's home......

On arrival at the Asagbas,Mudia was out shopping for the evening and we were told that Aunty C had prepared a lavish meal and was expecting us at hers - It was now too late to head that way and having spoken to appease her by phone, decided to settle in for the evening with the Asagbas and Favour at dinner/talking/taking photographs/etc

I was in bed by 01.30


March 6

Up early due to incessant noise from the evangelical church service being held right in the next compound - it's unbelievable that since the last time I was here (2001) and now there appears to have been a huge increase in the number of churches that exist in the area? At almost at every street corner there is a Church Congregation meeting.

We went out to visit Aunty C at Eketi village near Udu road.

... a brief overview of the Aunty C's home.....

It was nice to be received by her at her own home - as this was my first visit since the death of the Arch-minister(Uncle Tietie) in April 2002. There was an air of sadness mixed with the joy of being in the area once more.

Favour is giving me some cause for concern - she is moody,temperamental and quiet - perhaps she is just not herself having had the twin losses of her father and her marriage this past year.

Back at the Asagbas and after dinner - I had a heart to heart talk with her. She revealed a lot about her marriage break-up and the subsequent affair she had which did not come to nothing in the end - she also lost a much wanted pregnancy in the process.
All in all, she should be admired in the very courageous way she goes about her business - it cannot be easy having to go through all of this faced with the ever increasing number of nieces and nephews from her two sisters Mudia and Gloria

I have decided to help her with some funds towards some more stock for the store she has run on her behalf in Lagos whilst she carries on her other work with her cousin Augustine - A Commissioner for Special duties in Bayeslea State
She is to leave for for her station after church services tomorrow in order to return for us to leave for Lagos on next Saturday

March 7

Attendance at God's Kingdom Mission(GKM) service with the entire family

Was the subject of an embarassing introduction to the entire congregation during an interval.
All complete with a special welcome song by the choir
Photos,etc - post service
Proper visit to Aunty C's for lunch - was suprised to see a picture of DK and I on prominent display
on Aunt's mantelpiece - fun afternoon with lots of noise from the kids and so on

Evening outing for dinner with just the cousins/spouses - no children

Recurring problem with electrical power and breakdown of the generator plant - we are spending a lot repairing and hiring a good one for use as it will be next to unbearable without one

Another problem is the lack of a proper television set to use the DVD recorder gift with

As is the case with most things in Nigeria, a repairman is found who then comes up with all sorts of different things needing repair before it wil all work. With every different repairman comes a different diagnosis and more money.
We are hopeful that the repairs to the generator and televisions will be sorted out by the beginning of next week

March 8

I go on a School run with Mudia and we all have some lunch at one of the several airconditioned venues which are are a God send to alleviate the heat and pollution in Warri township

We visit Ufuoma, Mudia's eldest teenage daughter who is a boarding Student at Our Lady's Catholic School, Effurun - Warri
It is nice to see Ufuoma and amazing to see her so grown up since my last visit in October, 2001

Back at the Asagbas, Gloria is in a bit of a mood because I mentioned a reluctance to completely relocate to their place.

My reluctance is mainly due to having already settled nicely at the Asagbas - I do not wish to resettle all over again at another location,then do the same thing in Lagos at the weekend before the flight back home to London next week tuesday

Aunty C comes over for a quick visit,I suspect Gloria informed her of my reluctance to move.
It is very nearly turning into a family drama - I compromise by promising to move to hers fo a night or two and the whole thing is resolved - such drama about nothing if you ask me.

Mudia refuses to take me to the Akatakpos(not because she does not want me to go but because of the drama Gloria has created involving Aunty C and so on)

I persuaded Godwin (Mudia's husband) to run me down just in time to have dinner with them at about 8pm


March 9

At the Akatakpos
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..... a brief description of the Akatakpo's home.....