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But we are just trying to help you now ?!?

But we are just trying to help you now ?!? Now I guess the meaning of service agreement differs from person to person or even in countries. So my very nice colonel driver that took me to Ibadan couldn’t take me back to Lagos as he got a job to pick someone up from Lagos international airport.

So I was left at the mercy of some random driver from the Iwo road motor park or my brothers trusted drop driver of many years. You maybe asking what a drop is, these are relevant terms in the home country, this term is used to describe hiring/chattering an otherwise shared transport vehicle for oneself.

So at 8.30 in the morning, we called Saheed to find out where he was. Something not so unusual for this time of the year had happened; he was stuck in the famous Lagos Ibadan expressway traffic. Traffic could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 8 hours, it’s not something you can predict but thankfully the Lagos state government is finally working on the road although only one side of it is done its still progress.

Since Saheed wasn’t far from Lagos we asked him to turn back and I would grab a drop from Ibadan to Lagos. I was left at the mercy of the drivers at Iwo road motor park. Barely pulling into the park, we had 10 different people trying to get our attention and sell their vehicles and services as the best.

So I say to them I am going to Ikeja how much? Answer : international or local, I am a bit confused cos I didnt know Ikeja had two sides to it. No it doesn't but they had already come to the conclusion that I was headed to the airport.  I replied maryland. At which one of them says 10,000 Naria hmm so since 3 days the price of drop has gone up by 4000 Naria?!? Well the clue here is, if you arent in shoprite or any of the malls in nigeria you have to bargain , nobody ever tells you the real going rate so depending on your patience and endurance you may get to the actual going rate. 

So I ignore the ambitious drivers, one still insists he wants to bring his car round to show me. No dont worry I can walk to where your car is and look at it but he wouldn't listen. He strongheadedly brings it around, i don't like it so I said no thanks and then I get the response Aunty I was only trying to help you now, I even cut my finger now you wont go with me. Amist all the conversations happening around, drivers arguing about who saw me first. 

I saw I car I liked and there was a lady in the back, looked in and she said we could split the costs I am going to Ikoyi, so that later there isn't any confusion I asked the driver again if he is sure he will be able to take me to Maryland and what the price would be ? 3000 Naria , the lady seemed pleasant so why not.

Just like an hour into the journey, the driver starts to say o there's so much traffic going into Maryland, So I am wondering what exactly he is expecting of me. I ignore the comments. But he continues, well actually if he was going to Ikoyi directly he would just go via third mainland bridge. Whilst I sympathise with him,I am wondering what exactly he wants from me again. Well lets say I was pretending to wonder cos I knew exactly what he was getting at.

So Mister Driver wants to pull a fast one. Drop me off at motorways collect his money and not get into the traffic without completing the service he agreed to do.  Because the lady i shared the ride with had been nice and had an appointment in Ikoyi, I said to Mr Driver I can offer you a deal you can drop me at motorways but then you have to pay a cab to get me home.

Hey Aunty but I was only trying to help?!? at this point I am wondering help who? Just to make a point I didn't pay him his full bill but I didn't have the heart to cut the money into half as my taxi fair was  1500. I ended giving him 2500 since he was under the impression he was trying to help me ....

The concept of service agreement certainly differs from country to country and  person to person ... whilst the Colonel understood the concept of entering an agreement and delivering and getting a tip alongside his full payment. Mr I am only trying to help you figured he was doing me a favor by delivering partly on the service contract we have.... what can I say same same but different

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