Mama Tee Series - Squatting With A Friend/Relative

After school, I moved to Lagos for greener pastures. 

A friend had invited me over saying there were more job opportunities compared to where I lived.

That was how I travelled down and started living with SA(not real names) in her one room face-me-I-slap-you apartment.

 I thought a job would be waiting for me since she told me there were plenty jobs in Lagos but I was wrong. Lol. I searched all by myself and due to my limited financial resources and little or no knowledge of the city, I couldn't do much.

 After a month, SA started showing me pepper. She would not cook or buy foodstuff at home, instead she would eat out. Hunger showed me pepper, I didn't know anyone around, I had to tell neighbours that I clean and cook for a token. That was how I beat hunger. 

Then she had one endtime boyfriend who used to come spend the weekend with us. Chei! They would be kpanshing in the same room making loud noise all through the night throughout the whole weekend and I would not be able to sleep. I slept on the floor while they slept on the bed.

Later this boyfriend who used to come spend only weekends started living with us. That was how SA said I should excuse them, that her man had accommodation problems bla bla bla.
Oh Lord, how can I come to Lagos and go back home empty handed? impossicant. I must remain in Lagos by thunder by fire.


I had an aunt in another part of the state, I had visited her twice before but she had a large family and I didn't want to add to her burden. After SA sent me parking, I called her and explained my condition to her and she asked me to come over.

I moved in with Aunty Vee(not real names) and her family. She and her husband had kids including two grown daughters who were older than me.
While job hunting, I cooked, fetched water, did other house chores and assisted Aunty Vee in her store. I was boyfriendless, jobless and broke. I would borrow her daughters' clothes and jewelries to wear for parties or important church activities. I also begged them for transport money sometimes when I had interview. There was peace.

Fast forward to a few months later, I got that my end time hotel job.

The following month, Aunty's first daughter called us for a meeting, she and two of her siblings were working. One was waiting for university admission while working. She said she had decided that we all should start contributing 5k every month for the upkeep of the house, I concurred.

The following month, she called us again and said we should all start contributing 2k each for weekend soups every weekend. I said no problem, 13k every month was not too much even though I seldom ate in the house as I used to eat at my workplace.

Then, I started buying clothes and other things for myself and stopped borrowing, my overall dressing changed thanks to the tips I got at my work place. 

Trouble started.

My aunt and her daughters would wake up on some days and start beefing me. I would greet them, they would nod their heads or ignore me totally. Her husband's attitude to me was OK, he was not always around so he was not aware of the things going on in the house. Some mornings when I'm preparing for work my aunt would do something to provoke me. For instance, she may pack clothes like curtains, soak them in water and tell me to wash them before going out or when I come back. 

If they want to fix anything in the house, like a door or broken tap she will send her daughter to come ask me for money(asides the normal contribution). I couldn't save one naira as I was always trying to please them and let peace reign. I was also very thin as a result of stress, I would come back home from work, no rest. From one errand to the other. I had to escape to my friends house sometimes to sleep. 

When I sleep over and come back the following day, Aunty Vee would ask me 'Mama Tee, why don't you move in with that friend of yours? is her place too small?'. I would just dodge the question, after what I experienced at SA's place, I swore never to squat with any friend again.

 Did I mention that Aunty's girls had gathered and given me correct beating on more than two occasions? Hahahahaha
After the last fight which left me with a dislocation, I started applying for a loan in my place of work so I could move out.

So my people, this is the summary of my experience when I newly entered Lagos. Have you squatted with/accomodated a friend or relative before? how was it like? Let's share our stories.

Mama Tee