Chris Duncan: Nigeria is a challenge – but there’s always roast chicken

By Chris Duncan

Last week saw some kind of function on the Polo field, a birthday bash we were told, several stages were offloaded, repositioned and then repositioned again. A big affair with the anti-bomb squad (as they call it here) cordoning off a third of the field as they set up their firework display. The sound check reverberated of all the surrounding buildings. It proved to be a spectacularly noisy evening starting with prayer, music and then the pyrotechnics which were impressive. No chance of sleep that evening. I am sure that the horses where terrified too.

The weekend was another long one, this time the Presidential inauguration together with local swearing in ceremonies. Lots of high ranking individuals around with their convoys of black vehicles and squads of policemen. Sometimes there are enough weapons to start a mini war in the car park and heaven help anybody wanting to make trouble.

Conversation leads to the new president and the expectations from the people. Salaries have been unpaid for months, the money diverted elsewhere, accounts cleared out, projects half completed as the old administration strip their offices with no one willing to make decisions until the new order is in place.

At least the fuel shortage is over as supply is returning to normal; cars are back on the streets and aircraft are flying. There were some horrendous stories from people trying to get back here from Lagos, my assistant abandoned the airport and traveled by road, his assistant took two days of waiting at Lagos before finally getting a boarding pass. A guest here had a ten hour wait in the overcrowded departure hall with no water and poor ventilation, we encouraged him to turn around and come another time but he persevered. Yes Jonathan, it was good to see you.

Andre is here too, he kindly brought with him a wonderful variety of herb seeds and they are to be planted in pots outside my apartment for the hotel's kitchen and myself. The coriander seeds all sprouted well but the seedlings took a hammering with the heavy downpours. Hopefully the buffet's curries and Chinese dishes will be suitably garnished.

Having built up a stock of foodstuffs including a decent selection of spices and dried herbs it was time to potter around in the kitchen in my apartment. Firstly a test of the cooker which appeared to work well. Even the light worked.

Having given up on meat here Pasta, Rice and Chicken it will be, maybe a decent sausage when I can find some. So, a classic roast chicken was rustled up, together with crisp roast potatoes and gravy and some vegetables. The local quality of fresh produce is poor – most of it is trimmed away but then you can purchase imported potatoes at overR200 kg, the same with butternut.

And then some home cooked meals – a tasty risotto with spiced chicken breast an

d Mergez sausage, a classic spaghetti carbonara, a dish of penne puttanesca with a glass of Chianti, all shared with good friends.

It all makes afro pleasant change not to be in the hotel every evening and now on weekends apart m a visit to see what is happening I stay away.

As another week draws to a close it's time for the weekly outing to the shops, nothing to buy really, just an outing, see what is happening out there and then maybe a pizza – Nigerian style.