December 11, 2013

The New Nigerian Drivers License Saga continues...

So, remember how I announced that Nigerian drivers licences were being changed, and the deadline was September 30th? Well, of course this is Nigeria, and they postponed the deadline to God knows when. Anyways, since Cakes and I had already started the process, we've continued with it, just in case.

We were supposed to go back to the Licensing Office for our data capture some time in October. Unfortunately, my handsome fiance thought it would be an awesomely great idea to go there 2 hours late. How about the Licensing officers didn't think it was that awesome OR great, and told us to come back in December? As we drove off, I put it in my phone calender with reminders... which reminds me, I'm still not used to the non-American way of writing dates. I mistake the date for the month. Whenever writing dates, I have to say the day and month out loud. Like today, I would say, "December Eleventh. Day comes before month. So write 11/12, not 12/11." And then I always verify that it's correct.

ANYWAYS.................................

We went to the Licensing Office yesterday morning at 7:15am for a 9:00am appointment, because we heard that it can take up to 8-10 hours to get your fingerprints and picture taken (don't ask me why or how). We waited outside with others until the gate (because the actual office building has a gate for entry, not a door) was opened an hour later. Of course, being Nigeria, people were running and pushing so they could get a seat in front. Cakes just walked briskly in front of me, while holding my hand (so chivalrous, innit?). After sitting for maybe 30 minutes, we were asked to submit our documents, which we did.

After another 30 minutes, they started weeding out forms submitted by people who had missed their original appointments, or were missing one thing or another. This took a lot of shouting back and forth between customers and licensing officers. When all that was done, they told the rest of us to go home and come back next year.

*blank stare*

So basically, we sat in that place for 3 hours just to submit paperwork?!?!?!?

Good luck to anyone else going through this process.

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19 comments:

  1. No Way!!!! StyleFash come and read o!

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    1. Hahahahhaaha... Sowie i had to laugh like that. Bex can you imagine? If Berry the very efficient geh can get the next year memo, what would happen to us....LOL. Chei. But on a serious note, 3 hours? Thats so not fair. How do we do this thing because it would continue to be chaotic. Phewww.

      www.stylefash25.blogspot.com

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    2. I forgot to add, my colleague started 9 months ago and he still isn't sorted.

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  2. Loool. Apparently they hav diff rules for diff licensing offices. I was given nov 7th but when I got there at 8am they told me they stop collecting forms at 7am and told me to come the next day. When I protested I couldn't get time off work d next day, they stamped aug 2014 on my form and said no rush you can come next yr. Well what could I do I showed up the next day at 6.45am and what do u know the office was locked. The lady showed at 7.15, collected forms according to the dates u began processing (mine was may). After making us go through road safety lectures and eye tests again I was finally able to do my capture. I get the licence in jan next yr- 7 months after. SMH

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    1. Yeeeah, good luck to actually getting it in January. My friend's license took 8 months after the DATA CAPTURE, not the beginning of the process.

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  3. they make it so hard for people to want to do things the honest way

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  4. i started the process of trying to renew my license in august. it's december now and still no headway. it took 4 months just to get a signature of some official. went last wk to get to do thedata capture. they told me the machine is bad and i might have to wait till nxt yr. i'm in ph

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    1. Ah, I've heard the PH stories. I think my dad has even given up. They were trying to collect a bribe from him for the signatures, not knowing that he's the last person on earth that will do anything like that.

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  5. Posted by my friend on Facebook...

    Spent 2 days doing data capture, finally my provisional licence was ready (been driving 17 years but never mind), Checked name was spelt correctly, age correct, all good. Big sigh of relief. Half way home, noticed the Issued and Expiry date. Burst out laughing (don tire me sotaay I no fit vex). Anyway, sharp u-turn back to the licensing office. "Look" I said, "you only issued this 30 mins ago and it says expired two months ago"

    "No problem" they said "Join that queue"

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  6. LOL. I would have been so pissed. also LOL at the dates. I had to get used to the American system when I first moved here.

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  7. Mine took me 7 months to get after my data capture, a year in total after I started the whole process. Don't worry, Berry, you do not have cause to worry until it gets past a year with no license to show for it...hahahaha!!!

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  8. Yes. They postponed it till December. But why would Cakes miss the capture date naa? That was a lifetime opportunity. After reading your previos post bout it, I was able to complete my own process in 2 days, and I got a capture date for June 2014, Lol. I hope I don't miss my date.

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  9. OMG, drivers licence tooo! It's just as bad getting a Nigerian Passport! It seemed like a huge task I almost gave up. The Nigerian office in the UK is dreaded by everyone! God help 9ja oo. We need better systems in place!

    www.traycees.info

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  10. LOL! I went there to submit my initial papers on the 9th of September and I was "lucky" to be given a capture date for 2nd December after 3hrs. Anyways, I had exams on the said date and went in on the 6th and I was give a date for the end of July 2014. Yayy!!! *dancing* It actually saved me a whole lot of time cos its easier to get a date than to do the actual capture. So my new strategy is to miss the date and keep getting an extension as long as the process is on *crossed feet*

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  11. naijacracy sucks

    www.negrifille.blogspot.com

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