SJ
There are lots of different stories (many of them apocryphal) and many opinions about Nigeria. 212/412 sounds like the Qua Ibo Terminal operation. Accommodation passable, food provided and sometimes passable, flying the usual routine offshore stuff (pretty boring).
Bristow management there not very good, but depends on the CP on the operation you go to.
The country and its people are what you make of them, as with most places. Don't get put off by lots of the 'anti' stories - go out there with an open mind and make your own decisions. The people can be a bit volatile, but anger can change to smiles in a moment if you make the effort to understand and to make people laugh. I've worked in Africa, including Nigeria, for many years and wouldn't be anywhere else. I know it's not for everyone, but most people very quickly find out whether it's their sort of place or not. If you've never worked in the Third world before, the initial culture shock can be rather off-putting, but if you stay and 'let the mosquito get in your blood' you'll never want to leave for long.
You'll have a bit of a wait whilst your licensing is sorted out and the BRC (Bristow Residential Compound) in Lagos is a fairly pleasant place with swimming pool, tennis court and squash courts. There's a pleasant bar for the evenings. In Eket you'll also find reasonable sporting facilities, including one of the few golf courses in Nigeria with 'greens' as opposed to 'browns', so if you're a golfer it may be worth taking some clubs (though you'll probably find someone willing to lend you sme on your first tour). If you're going out in the near future, it's the dry season, so the weather will be hot (around 32 degrees on the coast) with fairly low humidity (by Nigerian standards) and frequently the 'Harmattan' winds from the northeast reducing visibility to 1.5km or less.
So, come on out and join we African misfits - you may find you like it!
