Based on the novel The Lekki Headmaster, why did Bepo choose to renew his passport in Ibadan?
Answer Details
In The Lekki Headmaster, Bepo chooses to renew his passport in Ibadan rather than Lagos because he wants to avoid the notoriously long queues at the Lagos passport office. Lagos, being Nigeria's largest city and commercial capital, has an extremely high volume of passport applicants, leading to overcrowding, long waiting times, and a generally frustrating experience at its immigration offices.
By opting to travel to Ibadan instead, Bepo hopes for a quicker, less stressful process. This practical decision also serves a narrative purpose: the journey to Ibadan gives the author an opportunity to describe the road, the landscape, and Bepo's reflections along the way, including the poem that comes to his mind as he approaches the city.
The other reasons offered - cost differences, family connections in Ibadan, or an official transfer - are not the motivation the novel provides. Bepo's decision is purely practical: he wants to bypass the chaos of the Lagos passport office.