Victor Ogunyinka

Truth be told, there is that one, two, three, four, five… time(s) that you have missed your ways. What you do to find your way is not always predictable.

You know these are days where it is not very easy asking one for direction; people have been scammed, robbed, hypnotised in trying to help another person.

ALSO READ: 12 social enterprises share $2m Google Impact Challenge prize

But interestingly, there is a new world order. Yes, a recent poll conducted by yours truly, Vanguard, on Facebook and Twitter where we have a massive five million followers (thanks to you!).

On April 5, 2019, we asked that “Please, tell us: How do you get directions when you have to get somewhere? Do you:

1. Use Google Map (or SATNAV)
   2. Hire an Okada to lead the way
   3. Ask someone
   4. Find your way somehow
2. 

The post reached no fewer than 164, 948, with 10, 535 engagements, 49 shares, 469 likes and about 585 comments on Facebook alone.

Twitter, of course, a more conservative audience had about 890 votes in 24 hours.

The Facebook audience was majorly all out for Google Map as their best bet to help them find direction with a few rooting for the popular Okada to lead the way. Some others settled for asking someone.

The Twitter community will rather ask someone for direction, with 42 per cent of the respondent saying so. Another 39 per cent gave their nod to Google Map, some other 12 per cent would allow an Okada lead the way, while the remaining seven per cent would help themselves one somehow.

It gets the more interesting when one of the respondents on Facebook, Nwachukwu Martin Kanu, explained the difference between finding one’s way in Nigeria and a foreign nation.

Kanu wrote: “Difference between locating your way in foreign countries vs Naija

Oyibo people describe a location, they simply say,
“The place is about a mile and a half, north-west or 300 metres away from Greenville park.” You actually know where you’re going.
.
But in Naija, our house numbering system can’t be trusted.
You may find house number 43 in between house number 5 and 6. Moreover, we know nothing about miles and metres.
So when some of you want to describe your location, you’ll be like,
“If you reach Mbonu crescent, you will see one big gutter. Jump the gutter and corner left.
Do as if you’re going right but be cornering left small small.
Be going down down… straaaaaight!
Until you will see one place they’re selling akamu in front of one Redeemed church; opposite where they used to throwey dustbin. Just stand there and flash me. I will come outside.”

But you know these are the days of FACT CHECK? So, Vanguard decided to check if Kanu’s analysis was his by innocently asking him if the comment was original.

Apparently impressed by the talkback from Vanguard, the respondents celebrated Kanu for getting attention and took time to throw banters at him.

Bassey Okon, another respondent also made his comment count by explaining that “Listen carefully…
1. If you are the type that has up to N1 million in your account and you are in a BMW, you get directions from google map or SATNAV.

2. If you are the type that has a good up to N10k in your account but you dey waka with leg, Oga, Okada is the way.

3. If you have N300 in your pocket and you are waka type, simply ask questions.

4. If you no get shi shi for pocket, and you dey break streets, my brother, you can always find your way, somehow”

There were some who felt Google Map is overrated and should not be trusted.

Engr Azino said: “In Lagos last month, I was searching for a particular hospital, I Google the hospital and find its location and I set out to reach it. With my google map, I started tracing it but ended up in a school building, I ask people around and was told that there is no such hospital in that area, that was the day I deleted my google map.”

Mike Ez also said: “Does Google map works in Nigeria?”

You may want to read the comments too, they are quite hilarious and insightful too. So next time you want to find direction, you may first consider your location before considering what option works for you.