I've been creased up laughing at some of the wonderful posts here..
A friend had recounted tales of "Lagos International" as it was in those days and I discounted it as fanciful storytelling.....well, now I'm not so sure.
"Bob" was an Electronics specialist in IT, CCTV, Alarm systems, that sort of stuff.....As he was stuck there for a while, he decided to learn to fly.
The somewhat erratic nature of Tower communications was explained when he visited. Tower radio was , of course, at the top. Unfortunately, the telephone was on the ground-floor...the enterprising staff had circumvented this setback, by making holes in the intervening floors/ceilings through this space,a piece of string dangled,with a bulldog-clip at the bottom end.....The incoming call was transferred to paper, hoisted to "radio" and then diseminated to "traffic."
A large Russian military aircraft, complete with guns,etc. was parked up, abandoned...but he couldn't get near enough to have a proper look.
A group of enthusiasts totally rebuilt a wrecked aircraft, tested engines, controls, systems....came the big day for the first test-flight.
The shiny,freshly -restored aircraft thundered down the runway, the pilot pulled back...........the elevator went DOWN
Ah, well, !
there was a low fence around the airfield, patrolling police were armed. shadowy figures would emerge from the surrounding scrub and attempt to vault over the fence.....the police never hesitated.....fortunately, they were poor shots!
"bob" found himself trapped in the country...a large sum saw him leaving on a cargo flight....there are probably still officials holding paperwork detaining him.