Image is mine
Being the first child, I did not have a say to becoming independent as it was a responsibility forced on my young shoulders.
I was 17 when I traveled alone to secure my admission in Novena University, all my parents gave me was the needed finance that will cover all expenses. When I told them I do not even know the location of the Uni, they said I will ask questions lol.
I was barely 15 when I travelled all by myself to Rivers State, to pick up my brother from boarding school. Together, we went to the Immigration head office in Port Harcourt to process our passport for the first time in our lives.
The passport was processed for the both of us and since I was a minor, we had an immigration official sign in for us as our legal guardian since my parents were in another state.
At the time, my siblings with my mom wanted to travel to Accra, Ghana for a religious Seminar. While my mommy already had her passport as she has been traveling, she needed to do for my siblings and me. But then, the processing fee was too much, so she did for just me and my brother.
Again, we had the option of traveling with a transport company to avoid the embarrassment, since both of my siblings had no passport. But our travel group opted to find their way instead, convincing my mom that it was cheaper.
We waited until night fall then got on our journey to Ghana, passing through illegal routes without officials guarding the border.
The travel group also convinced my mom that since two of my siblings had no passport, there was no need to tendering hers or ours. In their opinion, it will raise dust of child trafficking.
As we went through the bushes and the part of the border left unguarded, we crawled underneath barbwires like we were undergoing military training.
I was not happy with the experience, as it made me feel like a thief and an illegal immigrant.
Till date, I can't help but feel awful whenever I watch movies involving illegal migration, as I had my teenage years scared from my first Ghana traveling experience.
Now, getting through Benin Republic wasn't challenging. Our problem started when we got to Togo, as there were police always demanding for our passports whenever we get on the road.
It was a cruise for us at first, as we would always bribe our way through (the Nigerian way).
But then as we get closer to Ghana, the police we met were more rigid, and we were arrested in their mobile van for offering a bribe. They told us we are going to jail, emphasizing that at this point, only our President can save us.
What seemed like a joke entered hours with us in their mobile cell.
We were frustrated and confused, all we could do was pray.
Then just like God listens, my mom overheard the police officers communicating in Yoruba language, which happens to be one of the major languages in Nigeria and my mom can speak fluently despite not being a Yoruba lady.
In Yoruba, she beckoned on the Police team lead to come, and they were shocked my mom could communicate in the language they were speaking. All through this while, they refused to communicate to us in English Language, just French.
As the officer approached her, she brought out her work ID as she was also a government official and then supported it with the flier of our religious seminar.
She also brought out our passports and explained to the officer in Yoruba that we were not thieves or bad people, but we were just trying to cut cost.
After several pleas, we were released and the Police lead said he only released us because of the passport my mom tendered. Otherwise, all pleas would have fallen on deaf ear.
The officer further advised my mom to be presenting the available passports and explain the situation for the rest people that doesn't have.
According to him, for the fact that my mom has, with my brother and me, it will make them give us a more listening ear.
As we proceeded, we took the Officer's advice and that was how we were able to cross to Ghana.
The final crossing wasn't easy as I got injured by the barb wired fence in the process of going underneath it. Not to mention, I kissed the ground severally.
Just like that folks, my first kissing experience had to be with Ghana soil and grass lol.
Anyhoo, the moment we returned to Nigeria successfully, my mom called the immigration officer to process a passport for the rest of my siblings. Luckily, for us, he was transferred back to our state of residence.
My mom, on her part, swore never to cross any border illegally again. We did not only risk our lives, we spent more Money which made us penny wise, pound foolish.
Having securing all our passports, the next experience to Ghana was an enjoyable one. More like a road trip with minor stop/search here and there at the border, but no one was treating us like a criminal.
In current reality, the Nigerian passport is ranked 155 in the world and its holders can travel to 62 countries without going through the rigors of Visa application.
Among the 62 countries, 26 countries, mostly in West Africa are Visa free.
While the remaining 36 countries in other parts of Africa issue e/visa or visa on arrival.
Presently, I was told that the obtaining and renewing of the Nigerian passport is now easy, and the process can commence online from the comfort of one's home.
One would only need to be physically present for capturing. Talk about my beloved country innovating 😃.
Few years and also a decade ago, it was a different story as there was even a time the Nigerian immigration had no booklet in their possession to process passport for her citizens.
All said and done, today's Aprilinleo prompt took me down memory lane, reminding me of my bitter experience as an illegal immigrant ever so freshly.
Coincidentally, this prompt also fits in the Hive Naija weekly prompt, so we are using one stone to kill two birds lol.
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