Nigeria, July 25, 2009
Surprising Nigerian N95 Honesty
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Oh My God - WHERE IS MY PHONE!!! This is the thought that races through my mind and sends a chill through my heart as I frankly search my person for my Nokia N95. I am standing over my seat, as I put away my luggage on Kenya Airways Flight 0533, from Lagos to Nairobi, and I've just realized my phone is missing.
Again I recheck my person and my luggage and then it hits me - I've left my phone in the airport waiting area. I was so absorbed in composing emails to all my Kenyan contacts, letting them know of my impeding arrival, that I didn't hear the first call for my flight. When I finally did, I scrambled to the jetway, leaving my prized possession, my per-diem-paid-for N95 superphone behind, alone and vulnerable on a random seat. Where I now realize it must be sitting, just waiting to be found by its new owner. GO! This is my only thought as I run off the plane, up the jetway, and back towards the airport lobby so fast I only shout "My phone!!" over my shoulder at flight attendants, ground staff, and armed guards. I am running so fast, that I don't stop to walk in between seat rows, I run over the tops of them towards my phone's last location. As I close in, I realize I need to open up. All around me are shouts of "upstairs", with fingers pointing to the second floor balcony. That's when it dawns on me that my phone was found, and miraculously reported at lost. Yes, in Nigeria, home of the 419 scam, Nigerians, known as the swindlers of Africa, have shown and honest trait. They reported my phone lost, not theirs. Grabbing my phone from a steward, I then retrace my dash with the same speed - Kenya Airways is known for leaving late passengers and I was surely the last one on board today. As I cross the plane's threshold my shock of loss turned into shock of recovery. I had just lost and found an expensive mobile phone, thanks to the goodwill of Africa's most maligned millions: Nigerians. Maybe it was a sense of right and wrong, or of morality on a Sunday, or just a recognition that they too could face the same plight, but regardless of the reason, I am grateful to those in the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on a random morning in July. And as repayment, let this experience be a drop of positive in a sea of Nigerian negatives. |
4 Comments
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I am glad to hear this. I believe more information on Nigerian goodness should be broadcast in the media. We good and honest Nigerians are tired of the terrible light in which we, as individuals and as a Nation are continuously portrayed.
Thanks Wayan for this anecdote. Spread the word around.
hey dumbass , need i remind you , your country is one of the most criminal in the world.2.5 million locked up for drugs,stealing rape murder and every fucking crime on earth.oh yeah, the richest country in the world, alright. with high crime and poverty.How many countries has Your great country fucked over? How many dictators have you propped up ? fucking racist cunt. get the hell out of our country. running around complaining about everything.yes we know very well that our country is developing and doesnt have the infrastructure or the technology that yours does. We dont need you to point that out.
Thomas, you might want to re-read that post. Its positive on Nigeria. I am also enjoying myself here - which you'd note if you weren't so close minded. Guess I'm having a good time because I am NOT meeting folks like you.
Great to read this story! I shall share this story with my friends who are living in Nigeria.
P.S: Do you know of any good sites to look up jobs in Africa? My friend Setsuko is in Egypt right now teaching English and wishes to try to get a job in Africa. She has a masters in Int'l Relations from NYU and went to USF with me for politics.. Just a thought, maybe someone who reads this could help. Glad to read your stories as usual.
Nora