In honour of our country attaining the landmark age of a
century, Kizaro’s Blog undertook a non-stop seven day marathon trip to document
several sites in seven cities of great historical significance to Nigeria. The
result was a trip of a lifetime that had several high points, close shaves, and
ultimately, priceless education about Nigeria that can’t be learned from a
classroom.
Day 1 (Minna): In
Search of the Hunslet Locomotive.
Took off from Jabi Park, Abuja in
a very comfy Toyota Van at 6.15pm and arrived in Minna really late. Checked
into a hotel not far from the Minna Train Station, fell asleep watching “Tinsel”
and dreamt of locomotive engines and their drivers in early twentieth Nigeria.
For the uninitiated, the story of
Nigeria would be incomplete without the North-South Railway line that connects
the northern and southern parts of the country. Integral to the smooth running
of the then colonial administration from the then Nigerian capital of Zungeru
was the “Wushishi Line” which hauled the manpower, heavy machinery and goods needed
to build the roads, bridges and other necessary infrastructure. The first and
longest running locomotive on that line was a Hunslet 1901 Engine (pictured
below). Its estimated to have conveyed in excess of 500,000 tonnes over three
decades until its “retirement”.
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| Built in 1901. Still looks better than some cars I've seen of late |
Highlight of the morning -
This writer was
accosted by plain clothed detectives while happily snapping away at the Hunslet on a bright and early sunday morning. My camera and pictures were thoroughly “inspected”
and returned. Apparently a certain ex-Head of State and resident of Minna was
in the neighbourhood and I looked suspicious enough to be interrogated.
Next Stop – Jebba in search of Mungo Park’s boat!
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| The left ear of my "chauffeur" taking me to the nearest motor park. No time, Jebba beckons! |
