The Harmattan haze hung thick over Abuja as Daniel finalized his preparations for the move to Akure.
Saying goodbye to his mother and Elizabeth at the Wuse II bungalow was straightforward. Sarah gave him a long hug, advicing him with genuijne affection.. Elizabeth teased him about becoming a "FUTA big boy" and made him promise to call regularly. He assured them he would, slipping his mother an extra N200,000 in cash for household expenses before the Uber he'd booked arrived.
He chose to fly from Abuja to Lagos first, his car would come later. A direct flight to Akure wasn't possible cause it didn't have an airport.
A few minutes of waiting passed, and then his flight was finally leaving, so he got on the plane. Takeoff was a bit scary for him, cause this was his first time in a plane, but he gradually adjusted.
The flight itself was uneventful, a short hop in a commercial airliner. He kept his AirPods in, listening to a curated playlist, the Royal Oak on his wrist glinting as he adjusted his seatbelt.
When they finally arrived after a 45 minute journey, from Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, he took another Uber to one of the major interstate bus parks. He specifically chose a reputable transport company known for its relatively comfortable, air-conditioned buses, bought a ticket for Akure, paid in cash, and settled in for the roughly four-hour journey.
The bus rumbled along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, then onto the older, sometimes potholed roads leading towards Ondo State. Daniel watched the landscape change. Bustling cityscapes giving way to smaller towns, then stretches of verdant farmland and thick bush. He felt a sense of freedom, like there was nothing he couldn't do in this life.
He kept a low profile, phone mostly in his pocket, observing the other passengers, the hawkers at various stops and the general novelty of a trip to a different part of Nigeria.
As the bus neared Akure, the driver announced, "FUTA Gate!" Daniel glanced out the window. He saw the large entrance arch of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, a landmark he'd only seen online until now. There weren't many students active around it since school hadn't officially resumed yet, but it still was a visually impacting scene.
His new reality for the next few years.
The bus continued into Akure proper, dropping him at the main park. From there, another short Uber ride took him to the quiet residential estate near the South Gate where his newly acquired duplex was located. He'd already sent a trusted local contact, sourced through his lawyer, to receive the keys from the estate security and ensure the power and water were on.
Stepping into the duplex felt different this time. The furniture he'd ordered online was now unpacked and arranged and not covered in protective plastic. The living room had a comfortable curved sofa, a sleek coffee table, and a large smart TV mounted on the wall. The kitchen was equipped with a new fridge, microwave, and basic cooking utensils. Upstairs, his bedroom had a king-sized bed with fresh linens, a spacious wardrobe, and an en-suite bathroom. The second bedroom, his designated study, was dominated by the large desk holding his custom-built PC with its dual monitors and his new MacBook. The solar panels on the roof and the high-capacity inverter system hummed quietly, ensuring a stable power supply.
He dropped his bags in the bedroom. The place still smelled faintly of new paint and packaged furniture. It felt empty, but full of potential.
'Some great things are gonna be accomplished here.'
This was his space, his base of operations for the next phase. He spent the rest of the evening and most of the next day in a quiet montage of activity. He unpacked his suitcases, arranging his clothes in the wardrobe, toiletries in the bathroom. He meticulously cleaned every surface, wiping away any lingering dust from the deliveries and setup.
He stocked the fridge with water, juice, and some basic groceries he'd picked up on the way from the park. He connected his sound system, filling the quiet space with his favorite songs, the melody resonating with his heartbeat. He tested the high-speed fiber optic internet, downloading necessary software updates for his computers. He arranged his textbooks and notebooks on the study desk. It was a process of making the house a home, or at least a functional and comfortable living and working environment.
He felt a sense of satisfaction. This wasn't just a student apartment; it was a carefully prepared launchpad.