Nassarawa

Wednesday 12th Jan.
We travelled to Lafia in Nassarawa State to meet Ingrid who is another volunteer working in Nigeria from Holland. I was originally intended to work here also. However, Nigerians take hosting very seriously and there was not any suitable accommodation for me, hence the swap to Kano.
The road out of Abuja left me open-mouthed as we finally saw the incredible poverty of many of the people. We passed a market with literally hundreds of thousands of people as far as the eye could see all buying and selling. Absolute proof if any were needed that even as a child, if you are not out early, working, collecting wood or trading in some goods or services, there would be nobody else to care for you.
Some parts of the road were treacherous and had disappeared completely as overly burdened trucks slowly drove their way to the next destination.
Arriving in Lafia, we again met some dignitaries and had lunch with Ingrid. It was traditional food. Tuo(?) a maize dough which you dip into the accompanying delicious spicey fish soup. I had to wash my right hand carefully at table because we ate with our fingers. It was a little messy! Ingrid told us of the programmes she was hoping to establish. We had drinks with Mr Peter her boss who gave us cooked chicken to take away with us. this was very generous. Marianne had the claw of the chicken decoratively placed in its beak!