Staying in Nigeria
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Thank GOD for engineers! I sometimes know my co-pilots name.
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atedo
You are incorrect Sir!
Life is not cheap-Not your's, Not mine, No-one's.
Wish you all the best and hope to visit your country sometime.
ArendIII.
Life is not cheap-Not your's, Not mine, No-one's.
Wish you all the best and hope to visit your country sometime.
ArendIII.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Germany
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Sigh...
"Negative propaganda", I love it!
A whole restaurant full of folks, all different shades, robbed at gunpoint right there on Airport Road in Ikeja. Not a "bush bar" but a clean, well-lighted place right next to the Sheraton, all the patrons face down on the floor in fear of their lives. (Tip: Do NOT try to get a good look at the robbers.) Picked the wrong night to eat Chinese...
A pilot shot down like a dog on the Agege Motor Road at the wheel of his new 4X4. Okay, maybe a family quarrel but...
Another pilot shot down on the steps of his dwelling at Christmastime. Turned around to run...
A third one shot by the police at one of their checkpoints. Well, he might have annoyed someone powerful...
These were all locals, if that makes a difference. The last white pilot I knew who died, that was just a road accident that left him with something like 85% third-degree burns. Picked the wrong day to go Hashing...
A white guy out with his family, shot and killed by a drunken policeman for no reason at all. Wrong place at the wrong time...
Kidnappings too many to count. One of my colleagues always would get twitchy listening to rain on a tin roof; he said it reminded him of his three weeks in captivity out there in the mangrove swamps with a gang that would pass the time "...smoking ganja, wrestling and cleaning their weapons."
My last company lost two vans to robbers and had a third one shot full of holes (with me inside!) over just a few years in and around Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Nigerians are lovely folks, the ones who are not reduced to earning a living by criminal means, but they do have this unfortunate reality cut-out, many of them. You or I might see a heaving, stinking mass of humanity, cows, goats, chickens and clapped-out vehicles that failed their Belgian safety inspections (someone not quite right in the head is said to have a "Belgium coconut") to be shipped off to a new life as "Tokunbos" driven by people who got their licences by simple bribery all engaged in a life-or-death struggle to negotiate a traffic roundabout in the blazing noonday sun where a Lagosian just sees "Lagos - Centre of Excellence". Well, for him it is home, after all.
I miss the people but I sure do not miss the danger! It is no use, all this bickering about the true nature of Nigeria: just read the advisories and take due care if you do go. You will probably enjoy it but do not think the fun there to be had always comes without a high price.
A whole restaurant full of folks, all different shades, robbed at gunpoint right there on Airport Road in Ikeja. Not a "bush bar" but a clean, well-lighted place right next to the Sheraton, all the patrons face down on the floor in fear of their lives. (Tip: Do NOT try to get a good look at the robbers.) Picked the wrong night to eat Chinese...
A pilot shot down like a dog on the Agege Motor Road at the wheel of his new 4X4. Okay, maybe a family quarrel but...
Another pilot shot down on the steps of his dwelling at Christmastime. Turned around to run...
A third one shot by the police at one of their checkpoints. Well, he might have annoyed someone powerful...
These were all locals, if that makes a difference. The last white pilot I knew who died, that was just a road accident that left him with something like 85% third-degree burns. Picked the wrong day to go Hashing...
A white guy out with his family, shot and killed by a drunken policeman for no reason at all. Wrong place at the wrong time...
Kidnappings too many to count. One of my colleagues always would get twitchy listening to rain on a tin roof; he said it reminded him of his three weeks in captivity out there in the mangrove swamps with a gang that would pass the time "...smoking ganja, wrestling and cleaning their weapons."
My last company lost two vans to robbers and had a third one shot full of holes (with me inside!) over just a few years in and around Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Nigerians are lovely folks, the ones who are not reduced to earning a living by criminal means, but they do have this unfortunate reality cut-out, many of them. You or I might see a heaving, stinking mass of humanity, cows, goats, chickens and clapped-out vehicles that failed their Belgian safety inspections (someone not quite right in the head is said to have a "Belgium coconut") to be shipped off to a new life as "Tokunbos" driven by people who got their licences by simple bribery all engaged in a life-or-death struggle to negotiate a traffic roundabout in the blazing noonday sun where a Lagosian just sees "Lagos - Centre of Excellence". Well, for him it is home, after all.
I miss the people but I sure do not miss the danger! It is no use, all this bickering about the true nature of Nigeria: just read the advisories and take due care if you do go. You will probably enjoy it but do not think the fun there to be had always comes without a high price.
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Hey!
You get some newbie who has never even got his knees brown asking "So how about Lagos?" when some guy wearing rose-tinted Ray-Bans tries to blow smoke: "Oh yes, come and enjoy Lagos. Very, very nice and please ignore all that racist propaganda. We have cleaned up all our problems and hardly anyone gets killed by robbers these days. Well, not since last week, anyway."
Well, we can all have our opinions, when I have often found mine can be incorrect. BUT, as I pointed out, a quick read of information readily available about Nigeria should give one plenty to think about.
The thing that worries me is that there's some sort of mind-set that is counter-logical. You, Mr New Guy, don't want to know what the U.S. Government, for instance, tells its citizens about this or that country, when it is not as if they are only slagging off Nigeria. No, you want the real inside poop from real people! Well, good luck with that!
Get told what you want to hear, that Lagos is the best-kept secret in Africa: You go there and get paid to enjoy cool drinks, beautiful girls and a really, really great time. Or learn that it's a seething pit of crime and disease that you will be lucky to escape from with only your life. Whatever.
Unless you are some kind of adventure tourist you are coming to Lagos in particular or Nigeria in general to work. That's what it said on my visa and that's what I did there. No travel to Nigeria, no drinking vouchers, period! For me, for a while, it was "the only game in town" and I got treated pretty well, all things considered. That said, I did see other guys decide that staying on dry land was boring, jump in for a nice swim and get eaten alive. Again, read the serious advice available from professional sources rather than listening to this anecdotal stuff.
I could tell you how I flew a small airplane through an area of thunderstorms, if you want to stay awake to hear that. Does that mean that is a good idea, or was I just lucky? The odds do not favour a stay in Lagos! I don't make the odds, I just know where to find them written down.
Well, we can all have our opinions, when I have often found mine can be incorrect. BUT, as I pointed out, a quick read of information readily available about Nigeria should give one plenty to think about.
The thing that worries me is that there's some sort of mind-set that is counter-logical. You, Mr New Guy, don't want to know what the U.S. Government, for instance, tells its citizens about this or that country, when it is not as if they are only slagging off Nigeria. No, you want the real inside poop from real people! Well, good luck with that!
Get told what you want to hear, that Lagos is the best-kept secret in Africa: You go there and get paid to enjoy cool drinks, beautiful girls and a really, really great time. Or learn that it's a seething pit of crime and disease that you will be lucky to escape from with only your life. Whatever.
Unless you are some kind of adventure tourist you are coming to Lagos in particular or Nigeria in general to work. That's what it said on my visa and that's what I did there. No travel to Nigeria, no drinking vouchers, period! For me, for a while, it was "the only game in town" and I got treated pretty well, all things considered. That said, I did see other guys decide that staying on dry land was boring, jump in for a nice swim and get eaten alive. Again, read the serious advice available from professional sources rather than listening to this anecdotal stuff.
I could tell you how I flew a small airplane through an area of thunderstorms, if you want to stay awake to hear that. Does that mean that is a good idea, or was I just lucky? The odds do not favour a stay in Lagos! I don't make the odds, I just know where to find them written down.
Join Date: Dec 2007
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I think you'll find my advice objective and Third world specific rather than Africa centric or racial. I would say Bogota, Rio and parts of Miami and LA are more dangerous than Logos....except the latter does not have mosi's!
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Dead right...
I was in Coconut Grove, Miami enjoying cool drinks, female companionship and live calypso. When the band took a break I suggested a stroll...
Cue a look of utter amazement: everyone but me knew that the whole area was crawling with muggers such that one did not leave the well-lighted surrounds except by car or taxi. "But it looks so niiice here," was all I could say to excuse my suicidal ignorance. Dumb!
Cue a look of utter amazement: everyone but me knew that the whole area was crawling with muggers such that one did not leave the well-lighted surrounds except by car or taxi. "But it looks so niiice here," was all I could say to excuse my suicidal ignorance. Dumb!
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Well I've been here a year or two now so I guess I've seen a few changes. General Obasanjo was the military head of state when I first came out. For me it all changed in 1999 when we had a lot of helicopters hijacked (but no fixed wing that I recall). I survived 3 attempted hijackings with nothing worse than a bit of aircraft damage. I have many scars from where I have been attacked with knives and carried out on site repairs myself 
. I rescued one of my (Nigerian) adopted daughters from kidnappers myself. I remember an interesting night drive around a GRA in Port Harcourt with a guy who was attempting an armed robbery on my car, lying across the bonnet with his right arm in the window trying to strangle me while I was trying to throw him off the car. Luckily when we were chased by MOPOL all that ended up broken was a window and my spectacles.
But then again, I remember lovely days just catching a bus from the Ikorodudu motor park in Warri to see where I'd end up on a day off; hitch hiking holiday around most of the country in 1994 and encountering so much hospitality and friendship; good meals out in Port Harcourt; meeting my wife here; Sundays drifting down the River Ethiope at Abraka; monkeys trying to steal my watch at the Wikki warm springs in the Yankari game park. Sadly, those days are gone for me, but it's just as sad for many Nigerians.
If you're going to be in Lagos, it's just like any other large, overcrowded third world city where you can still have a lot of fun, but you need to be careful. If you're in the Niger Delta it really is pretty unstable right now and you should only venture out with someone with extensive local knowledge and/or an armed escort.
I'd just come out prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best. Most of the people here are friendly and inquisitive about foreigners; they're mercurial, quick to anger and just as quick to laugh. The key to all is laughter. I'm very sad that in a country where I've had so much enjoyment, in many places now it's difficult to have a life outside work if you're an expatriate. From what you say, you'll be in Lagos and there's plenty to do there still, but be aware that it can be a dangerous city at night if you visit the wrong places. Mostly, it's just down to luck. Keep an open mind and have a good time. Chuks is right in his view that many Nigerians have rose tinted spectacles when it comes to defending their country against criticism, but too many people can see no good here and that too is wrong. It isn't the safest or best place to be right now, but it's by no means the most dangerous or the worst either. I hope you have a safe, pleasurable experience here.
. I rescued one of my (Nigerian) adopted daughters from kidnappers myself. I remember an interesting night drive around a GRA in Port Harcourt with a guy who was attempting an armed robbery on my car, lying across the bonnet with his right arm in the window trying to strangle me while I was trying to throw him off the car. Luckily when we were chased by MOPOL all that ended up broken was a window and my spectacles.But then again, I remember lovely days just catching a bus from the Ikorodudu motor park in Warri to see where I'd end up on a day off; hitch hiking holiday around most of the country in 1994 and encountering so much hospitality and friendship; good meals out in Port Harcourt; meeting my wife here; Sundays drifting down the River Ethiope at Abraka; monkeys trying to steal my watch at the Wikki warm springs in the Yankari game park. Sadly, those days are gone for me, but it's just as sad for many Nigerians.
If you're going to be in Lagos, it's just like any other large, overcrowded third world city where you can still have a lot of fun, but you need to be careful. If you're in the Niger Delta it really is pretty unstable right now and you should only venture out with someone with extensive local knowledge and/or an armed escort.
I'd just come out prepared for the worst, but hoping for the best. Most of the people here are friendly and inquisitive about foreigners; they're mercurial, quick to anger and just as quick to laugh. The key to all is laughter. I'm very sad that in a country where I've had so much enjoyment, in many places now it's difficult to have a life outside work if you're an expatriate. From what you say, you'll be in Lagos and there's plenty to do there still, but be aware that it can be a dangerous city at night if you visit the wrong places. Mostly, it's just down to luck. Keep an open mind and have a good time. Chuks is right in his view that many Nigerians have rose tinted spectacles when it comes to defending their country against criticism, but too many people can see no good here and that too is wrong. It isn't the safest or best place to be right now, but it's by no means the most dangerous or the worst either. I hope you have a safe, pleasurable experience here.
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I really dont get it. Here you have an african nation who is giving the opportunity to just about anyone who is qualify, regardless of race or nationality, to fly brand new jets and in response all you get is just negative comments about that country.
To all of you who think that lagos is such a dangerous city, I suggest you check this link. And I dont think you can get a pilot job either in any of the city mentioned.
I live in one of the most develop country in the world. However, for the first time in my life Ihad to buy a gun just to feel safe a home. Oh! by the way, I was just recently laid off from my aviation job. Hi crime no aviation job, I tell you
To all of you who think that lagos is such a dangerous city, I suggest you check this link. And I dont think you can get a pilot job either in any of the city mentioned.
I live in one of the most develop country in the world. However, for the first time in my life Ihad to buy a gun just to feel safe a home. Oh! by the way, I was just recently laid off from my aviation job. Hi crime no aviation job, I tell you
Join Date: Apr 2003
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All politics is local...
A well-known truism. Same way with "danger", I think. You can be safe as houses in a "dangerous" place but you easily can get your head beaten in someplace regarded as "safe".
I spent a year in Miami just before going to Lagos for the first time. At that time (1980-1981) Miami had high crime. I had been harassed a couple of times out driving around late at night so that I was thinking about buying a gun, especially because it was held to be so that 3 out of 4 people on the road there were armed themselves.
One of the line boys quickly came up with a very nice nickel-plated S&W .357 magnum with a 4-inch, solid rib barrel, even offering to let me loose off a test round into the FBO flower bed there in the parking lot!
I went away and thought that one over and decided, "No, better to just get away from Miami." More and more of my trips were for the Colombian Mafia and the Feds seemed to be developing an unhealthy interest in the way my non-career was developing so that then-Lagos was actually a calmer, less-threatening environment.
Even so, yes, several friends did question my sanity in agreeing to go there. Of course most folks in the States just thought of some image of naked savages dancing around a big, black pot holding me, sort of what The Mighty Sparrow parodies in "Congo Man".
By now I guess Miami would be better except for that rumour some wag started that I had been an informant...
Not to be racist or even merely unfair but Lagos has, umm, deteriorated quite a bit since 1981. On the other hand, yes, you can get breaks there flying some nice equipment that you wouldn't get elsewhere. Just remember that if a deal is "too good to believe" then perhaps you shouldn't believe it! Too, bear in mind that I was ready to go back myself despite knowing pretty well some of the negative aspects of the place.
I spent a year in Miami just before going to Lagos for the first time. At that time (1980-1981) Miami had high crime. I had been harassed a couple of times out driving around late at night so that I was thinking about buying a gun, especially because it was held to be so that 3 out of 4 people on the road there were armed themselves.
One of the line boys quickly came up with a very nice nickel-plated S&W .357 magnum with a 4-inch, solid rib barrel, even offering to let me loose off a test round into the FBO flower bed there in the parking lot!
I went away and thought that one over and decided, "No, better to just get away from Miami." More and more of my trips were for the Colombian Mafia and the Feds seemed to be developing an unhealthy interest in the way my non-career was developing so that then-Lagos was actually a calmer, less-threatening environment.
Even so, yes, several friends did question my sanity in agreeing to go there. Of course most folks in the States just thought of some image of naked savages dancing around a big, black pot holding me, sort of what The Mighty Sparrow parodies in "Congo Man".
By now I guess Miami would be better except for that rumour some wag started that I had been an informant...
Not to be racist or even merely unfair but Lagos has, umm, deteriorated quite a bit since 1981. On the other hand, yes, you can get breaks there flying some nice equipment that you wouldn't get elsewhere. Just remember that if a deal is "too good to believe" then perhaps you shouldn't believe it! Too, bear in mind that I was ready to go back myself despite knowing pretty well some of the negative aspects of the place.
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Yesterday there were 4 Dutch (I believe) expats having a drink outside Mega Plaza in Victoria Island. One of the guys was shot in the head by an armed man who then disappeared. I haven't heard if the man who was shot has died or not. Mega Plaza is a well known shopping centre frequented by many expatriates in Lagos. It originally started as a video club run by an Israeli at the Federal palace Hotel and still has a number of Israeli directors and managers. It has been a popular spot with many expatriates. Sadly, armed robberies are becoming much more common in Lagos and the majority go unreported. It's a shame that when there are so many people who genuinely try and make this a better place, there is a violent minority who achieve the opposite by their violent, criminal behaviour which results in the deaths of far more Nigerians than expatriates. Sadly, that is not particularly newsworthy 
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Thank you guys for sharing your points of view.
100% agree on visiting a doctor and getting all the vaccinations & co.
About going around the place there, for what I understood so far, my initial idea of staying well closed into the hotel looks still the wisest, after all is just for one month.
Maybe just some very quick excursion to get some local beer to bring in the room will be reasonable, in group and during day, but that's pretty much it.
I know that this will mean missing a valuable experience but it looks like there are still too many wrong places and wrong moments around... better not to risk to find yourself in one of those, if you don't really need.
I'm really appreciating everything you're writing even if I cannot agree on everything, so thank you once again for your advice!
100% agree on visiting a doctor and getting all the vaccinations & co.
About going around the place there, for what I understood so far, my initial idea of staying well closed into the hotel looks still the wisest, after all is just for one month.
Maybe just some very quick excursion to get some local beer to bring in the room will be reasonable, in group and during day, but that's pretty much it.
I know that this will mean missing a valuable experience but it looks like there are still too many wrong places and wrong moments around... better not to risk to find yourself in one of those, if you don't really need.
I'm really appreciating everything you're writing even if I cannot agree on everything, so thank you once again for your advice!
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nigeria
i just returned from nigeria.landed in lagos.immigration officials quite rude.flew to port harcourt.people very friendly and helpfull when they get to know you,and find out why you are there.also the police.
things to avoid.dont tell them if you are dutch if you are.dont wear t shirts with SHELL logo.i enjoid my stay.only pepper who was to hot for me.the nigerian pepper.try it.the mexicans can learn from it.
i am a kiwi by the way.from the country of people with an open mind.
things to avoid.dont tell them if you are dutch if you are.dont wear t shirts with SHELL logo.i enjoid my stay.only pepper who was to hot for me.the nigerian pepper.try it.the mexicans can learn from it.
i am a kiwi by the way.from the country of people with an open mind.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Warri is pretty quiet now. If you're going to work for Bristow I expect you'll be living on either the Shell camp or Prodeco camp if you're working for Chevron. On Shell you live on a big camp and don't have to leave to go to work. facilities and security good. With CNL you work over the road from where you live, but still get an armed escort across the road. Nice camp with good housing, facilities and food
