One probable reason for the shortage is that Nigeria is a dangerous place to live and work, but the pay is not nearly enough to reflect this and the housing and facilities are generally second-or-third rate. Despite Nigerian regulations requiring pilots to have one day off in 7 CHC are now trying to get a dispensation so that pilots on 6/6 can work every day for 42 days continuous. As most of the guys leave for work at 0645 and don't return until around 1830 I think that there will be no rush of volunteers to work 77 hour weeks, with lots of flying, returning to cr*p houses and with few leisure facilities except to drink, which many people are too tired to do anyway.
There's little positive to say about the working environment at the moment as both CHC and Bristow gave pathetic pay rises and seem to be hellbent on upsetting the pilots they have in Nigeria as much as they can, so the situation will probably just get worse. The senior managers in both companies are so out of touch they need ear trumpets just to hear the shouted complaints of anyone. The CHC manager in Port Harcourt seems to have just given up on trying to do anything to help. All he's trying to do is cut costs to the bone, then at night he returns in his nice new car, to his luxury house.
There is a shortgae of pilots in Nigeria - one reason why CHC is trying to force already tired pilots to work even more, despite their so-called dedication to safety
. There is a shortage of people because of all of the above and many pilots are leaving, even if it means taking a pay cut. They don't want to live in lousy houses, eating lousy food, getting sick and wondering if they're going to be attacked by MEND on their way to work, or hijacked by MEND afer they start their working day.
The current pay is too little for what is expected of people over in Nigeria.
Websites - just Google them.
Objective information - look for work somewhere other than Nigeria.
