Working in LOS in June/July What to expect ?

[Leezyjet]

Hi all.
I will be coming to work in Lagos for 2 months in June and July - never been to those parts before. Anyone able to give me an insight into what life is really like out there, what the weather will be like, any decent bars, anything I can bring with me to trade etc ;) ?.

Any info at all would be greatly aprpeciated
:)

[chuks]

The natives usually appreciate calico cloth, beads and small mirrors...

Lagos is crammed full of stuff. Just go downtown and check out the big stores. Depending on where you are from you may find more stuff there than at home. I don't think bringing lots of wampum is worth the bother, actually.

Crime can be a problem; depending on what part of town you are living in you may not want to go out much at night. In any case, if you do go out, don't go alone and make sure someone knows where you went and when to expect you back. Check with your government for safety advice before you go.

Better check out malaria prophylaxis; lots of companies kind of forget to tell you about the various medications available. The local malaria is resistant to many of the usual meds; Resochine (Chloroquine) won't do any good. Bringing along a treated mosquito net is worth thinking about.

You will want to get all your shots up to date. Yellow Fever is a must and getting immunised against Hepatitis isn't a bad idea. Cholera is usually not worth the bother.

Make sure you have some sort of coverage in case you need to be medevaced out. Your employer should provide this but not all do. Local medical care can be a bit lacking, so that the best thing is often just to be flown out to Europe if you suffer serious illness or injury. That can cost $15,000 just for the flight.

Other than all of the above, have a good time! There is much to enjoy, even though there is also much to be very careful about. Watch out for catching a big dose of 'culture shock' and don't be too quick to judge.

[nozzle]

Oh great stuff the weather is hot and humid so take lots of summer clothes.
If you looking for a cool place to hang out and have a good couple of drinks I advise the Sherton hotel there are two pubs inside and outside around the corner is a very cool club wich only starts happing late.
One thing to remember there if any one gives you hard time with any thing just pay them thats how they work in Nigeria

[Crepello]

I'm in Nigeria every few weeks - normally Lagos and the oil cities of the Niger Delta. It's a country with many, many issues and problems, which run as deep as they come. But it's also a country of great people, unfailing welcomes, unexpected kindnesses and untouchable humour... oh, and the world's biggest Guinness brewery! Here's a few tips from me:

1. I'd second everything nozzle said and especially chuks - especially his last paragraph.

2. Don't let yourself get complacent about security. Visitors can be targetted by every dubious element from hawkers to criminals. Chances of coming a cropper are smaller than you'll think on your first night there. But never drop your guard.

3. You can't drink the tap water. Never assume bottled will be available where you're going to be spending your day. Each morning, estimate how much you'll need to take, then double it - the heat and humidity are powerful. You won't sweat excessively but you'll shed a LOT of water. It's often overcast but you'll be near the equator, so keep some high-factor suncream in your daypack.

4. Try to be as financially invisible as possible. If you need a cashpoint, seek one in an international hotel. Only use your credit card as a last resort. If you're starting in a hotel with room safes, take a reasonable amount of currency - preferably US dollars or euro - to change. You can often get a better rate by finding unofficial moneychangers outside hotels - don't go more than a few paces - but be ready to barter and if you see a group gathering, get back inside. And don't - like I did - change money at 2am while shedded. :\

5. Speaking of room safes - if you have one, keep your anti-malarials in it. Take a good supply of DEET (stronger the better) and if you're ever outside the city, take a mozzie-net.

6. Be patient. Many things take longer than you'd expect. If you lose your temper, you lose - period. As I tell my team, never forget you're a guest here. Act as such. (Sorry if that sounds too parental :ok: )

7. In parts of Lagos, the 'rush hour' is sunrise to sunset - plus several hours either side. If you have to drive, do so as defensively as possible. Never drive outside the cities after dark.

8. Don't necessarily trust people in uniform. Expect the unexpected. Plan for the unplannable.

9. When you finally go home, expect to be relieved initially, and expect to have many stories for the pub. Most importantly: a few weeks later, expect to miss the place, and the people who live there. Seriously.

10. Finally, be careful of that Guinness! I hear it's brewed to a different recipe from what you might be familiar with, so that it's palatable if unchilled. No comment on that one. :D

I'm back to Nigeria on Saturday and I'm looking forward to it. But I watch my back at all times, and the backs of my guys. An oilman was shot dead only yesterday in Port Harcourt.

I could weep for what could - and should - have been today's Nigeria, given the resources at that nation's disposal. One in five Africans are Nigerian - it's a huge country of 120m people. Things have changed for the better in recent years, and continue to do so. But there's a fair way to go.

Enjoy. Keep an open mind. Be firm but polite. And - really - ENJOY. It's flawed, but amazing country. And after typing the above and reflecting briefly... I'm really looking forward to getting back there. :ok:

Crepello

[surely not]

The guys on here are right, it is a place where you need to be aware all the time, but actually the chances of getting into trouble are not as high as in many modern western cities.

Your company security officer will probably frighten youto death with the briefing and make you nervous to leave your hotel room! Don't be put off by this, they are probably playing the modern game of 'cover my ar*e' so that the company isn't liable should anything happen to you!

I spent 3 months last year based in the Sheraton in Ikeja and would have gone stir crazy if I hadn't been lucky enough to befriend some locals and expats who lived outside the hotel and knew places to go. The Sheraton is ok to start with but you end up getting fed up being ripped off by the high prices and unchanging menus, plus in the evenings for some reason every single public area is beset by local singers trying to sing Western songs and doing it badly!

There is a local bar called Sandra's not far from the Sheraton. It has reasonable prices and excellent scenery. The loos are dark ages though so try to sort that need out before leaving the Sheraton! The Chinese in the plaza next to the Sheraton is pretty good, and there is another in Ikeja called Chopsticks which is also fine. The other areas might have changed since I was there so speak with someone more up to date.

If you are not workingthe nextday then venture over to Victoria Island and sample the excellent restaurants. You can get Chinese, Thai, Indian, French, Italian, American, Japanese, and recently added is a fine Brazilian restaurant where the Lagoon restaurant used to be. Plus there are the bars/clubs like Pats Bar, Havanna, Saipan, Bacchus etc which provide good alcohol and entertainment. Then there are bars like Outside Inn, Ynot, Bobs Bar which provide a lower standard of entertainment.

Appappa is also supposed to have a lively club scene but I haven't been there so cannot advise which is best.

I can honestly say that the majority of Nigerians I have met have been terrific peopel who are quick to laugh, eager to help and considering the cramped conditions of a very overcrowded city theyare remarkably calm.

I stopped taking the anti malaria tablets after 2 weeks and despite being seen as quite tasty by various mossies I haven't suffered yet............... must be the alcohol consumed that has kept me safe!

If you want to focus on the poverty and the begging then you will hate the place, but if you can look further than the surface then it is a fascinating place, and yes I miss it when I go home on leave.

PM me if you want more info

[Hussar 54]

If it's your first time - prepare yourself for a huge culture shock.....I was about six weeks before I got to grips with that side of things...

If you're based in Ikeja, it's not too bad - close to VI and the bars and restaurants....Confirm the recommendation for Pat's Bar, particularly if you're a rugger bugger !!

Also, the Lagos Yacht Club ( if you can find of a member to get you in ) is extreeeeeemly civilised comsidering everything else going on around it - but beware the drunken Irish guy who '' sells steel ''.....Can recommend Frenchies on VI - run by a Belgian and great food and fun - he'll ask you to join the Saturday night Boules get-together at the Eco Hotel which is always a great night with plenty to eat and drink and a chance to actually beat the French at their own game.....

Don't recommend Apapa - been here almost 12 months now and it's pretty grim....anything between 15 minutes and three hours into VI and Ikeja, depending on God knows what and why, and getting back much after 22.30 can be ' difficult '......but only about 30 minutes from the airport so is convenient and much, much cheaper....by the way, if you're travelling by car, anytime, keep some ' dash ' handy for the ' helpful ' policemen....

Anyway, Apapa - only safe places to go are

- The Pub ( good UK style food that actually tastes like UK food ) which is particularly welcoming at weekends....

- Tartan Bar, which has reasonable food and drinks and ( if you've got your mossie cream on ) a reasonable open-air bar full of ex-pats

- Apapa Boat Club ( again, you'll need a member to get you in, but worth trying ) which has different ex-pats and a really good BBQ on Tuesday nights.

Other than these, lots of clubs/bars/etc, but be careful......

On a brighter note - if you have a chance, at weekends try going up to Abuja or Kano for a change of scene - both much nicer than Lagos - and further afield, a weekend in Benin or Togo on the beaches....there are beaches here, but you wouldn't want to spend too much time on them because of the pollution and what have you.....the blue water fishing's good.....and, of all things, plenty of good, cheap golf courses within an hour's drive.

Lagos - aaah, Paradise on Earth !!

[Dan Air 87]

I agree with all of the other postings here. When you arrive remember that This is Nigeria and cleaing customs and immigration and collecting your bags can take a long time so be patient. If you get to Victoria Island there are some good bars and restauarnts. Try Pats Bar which is a great Expat hang out with great food and you can catch the TV football matches there. Also, you can get a better exchange rate into Naira by using the money dealers who are in the groundsa of the Eko Hotel on Victoria Island. It will be hot and humid but be thankful that you may have avoided the worst of the rainy season!

[Tokunbo]

All good advice :ok: Even though June and July are the height of the rainy season,this year it hasn't rained too much, so if you can find anyone who has a beach house at Badagry or Alekko Beach, try and get to visit on a Sunday. Even if they don't have a house, you can easily rent one for the day for less than $15. You can also hire a barbecue for about $2 and buy fresh fish either at the beach or en-route for a great barbie. Take a large cool box with a lot of ice full of beers, softies and water. Be careful if you're swimming as the sea is quite dangerous with a strong undertow. On the way back you can then stop off in somewhere like Bob's bar and meet up with the weekend biker crowd if you're in to bikes.
Bring a decent sized folding umbrella and a lightweight rainproof jacket as the storms arrive quite quickly at that time of the year and even if you just have to walk from your aircraft to the terminal it's always useful to have something like that in your flight bag.
If you have a weekend off, take a Virgin or Aero flight to Accra. Visas are easy to get and Accra has a great night life, but is much safer and less frenetic than Lagos. As Hussar 54 says, a weekend in Abuja or Kano is also worthwhile, and I also love Jos. The Hill Station Hotel is a bit run down now, but not too bad, or you could try the Plateau Rock - a bit cheaper but with nice gardens.
VI also has an air-conditioned multi-screen cinema now - the Bluebird on the top floor of the Galleria Mall. There's a bar up there too with good views.
Do you know if you're staying in Ikeja or VI? Aero has a staff house on the Ikeja GRA and if you meet up with some of their pilots you may get an invite to their bar. If you come with an open mind and want to have a good time, you surely will.

[Leezyjet]

Wow cheers for the replies.

Looks like I may not be as bored as I thought, although I will have mod 1 ATPL's to study while I am there !!.

:eek:

[surely not]

Let us know when you arrive and I am sure a few of us will blow our pprune cover and look after you :)

[Dan Air 87]

I forgot a couple of other places for you. YNot is a must on a Friday night and you should also try the Sports bar at the Eko Meridien Hotel for tv football and all sports stuff (both on VI). There's also a good Italian called Il Soriso on VI; great food. There is also a tex place in Ikoyi near the huge Chinese restaurant.

There is a lot to choose from but take care, go out in a group (at YNot that is vital) and make sure you have a driver to take you around.

In terms of beer. the local brews like Star and Gulder are fine; anything that is cold is enough to quench your thirst.

Last point: Try Pats Bar for a good English breakfast (you know the fry up-the works) which is a great way to come round on Saturday morning.
Enjoy your trip and let us know how it works out.

[surely not]

I agree YNot has to be experienced, and boy is it an experience, but I don't think I'd make it a regular haunt!!

The Breakfast in Pats Bar is excellent, as is a Friday, Saturday night in Pats.

[flight1203]

is nigeria that bad ? you guys recommendations sound like a 'you- might-break-a-few-bones-in-your-body,-but-hey-it-will-only-be-an-accident kinda advice.

also i have been reading alot of pprune news in this region. with all the oil reserves i here they have, how come its only few oil companies (shell,exxonmobil, chevron, agip) i only hear about. how about the conocophillips, statoil ,anadarko etc or even local oil companies

OLOG/BHN and ACN are the only choper coys in nigeria operating with the oil companies?

[Phone Wind]

1203,
Maybe you should think about broadening your reading beyond PPRuNe if you want to know more about how various oil companies arrived here and how the big boys became the established players. Statoil have been and gone, maybe because they did not discover anything of immediate value where they were drilling, but they'll be back. Conoco-Phillips are often in Nigeria. There are numerous local oil companies, such as Belbop, Conoil, Peak and Tetra both prospecting and producing at the moment.
Yes, Nigeria is that bad: many pilots have been damaged over the years, but so far, except for flying accidents, few have been killed outside of work. Many have been shot (at), mugged, hijacked and held hostage. However, as mentioned by most of the posters, providing you are prepared to be a bit careful there's still a lot of fun to be had.
Bristow (including Pan African) and CHC/Aero are the only 2 with contracts with the oil companies at present.

[Dan Air 87]

I agree. Nigeria has this problem with crime but it is still a beautiful country and most of the people are fantastic. Its preferable to other African places such as Gabon or the DRC where life is very cheap and the conditions are very harsh. Just remember to keep your valuables out of sight and be careful when you are out at night. Also remember to take a torch with you for the odd power cut.

As for me I can't wait to get back in the next month or so for a tour for a few weeks. I haven't worked out where I will be staying yet but as long as it is not the Presdential Hotel I will be a happy camper. I will pop down to Lekki market for the latest CD's and DVD's ( a bit cheaper than HMV) as well as enjoying the food! The local pepper soup is a cure all for all known ailments including hangovers etc.

The Sheraton Hotel by the airport is pretty popular with crews and the pub there is always the centre of things. The food at the Sheraton is OK and its a great place to hang out.

Anyway, get on with the trip and have a great time!

[ZAZOO]

Tell me something leezyjet, why you still want to come down:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Boy if I was told all this I would rather stay in my peaceful country ere all is just rosy and lots of flying jobs abound with pay as high as $0000.00:eek:

Baldadash:rolleyes:

[flight1203]

why flaunt you ignorance. statoil is still in nigeria and they are drillin this yr. and they advertized for lots of engineers this yr. try viewing www.staoil.com (http://www.staoil.com) and not www.gossips.com (http://www.gossips.com)[quote=

[flight1203]

yep crime rate is high in lagos. i think we should kinda reduce our late night outings. like they say, 'those are the ungodly hours of the day'

[Phone Wind]

1203,
As you'll see, if you can read, I said Statoil are likely to come back. They're not yet drilling as their joint venture on Blocks 314 and 325 is being drilled by their Brasilian partner, Petrobras as operator at present.
Your lonk to a pornographic site has no place on this forum and I have reported it to the moderator.
Many of the pilots who have been damaged or injured in Nigeria have been the subject of daylight attacks, such as the Bristow crew injured by gunfire in their company bus on their way into work in the morning, and all of the Bristow crews hijacked in 1999. It must be said that gunshots are frequently heard at night in the vicinity of the BRC in Lagos and the ACN staff house in Ikeja GRA has been hit by armed robbers at least 5 times in the last 5 years.
Lagos in many areas, is probably safer than many large American cities especially at night and road traffic accidents probably still kill more people than most armed robbers.

[surely not]

I thought the Bristows boys had moved out to a compound on Snake Island (so called because of its shape I believe)? The Sheraton bar misses them as takings plummeted when the boys moved to Snake :} :E

I think it is good that there are some very positive reports on here. As with all places there are good and bad areas, good and bad people.

[Mama Mangrove]

That was just the Bristow helicopter guys working on the Shell contract who were waiting for the Snake Island project housing to be finished - behind time as with most of the stuff on that project.

[flight1203]

im back again

well i can read and all i said was that they are back. and yes you do have some knowledge about their activities thanks to www.statoil.com (http://www.statoil.com) i gave you. about my thrill for porn?? Nah! dont do it . so there actually is a site called www.gossip.com (http://www.gossip.com) ? tut tut! naughty boy you.
stick to statoil.com

On a serious note, about the day time attacks?

well its quite sad. thanks for the info
(but im still not your pal , pal)

[Dan Air 87]

The unrest in the delta is a salutory lesson in how Nigeria is these days. I hope that the kidnapped oil workers are released safe and sound but don't let this put you off.

LOS and other cities are ok but the delta region is a different matter which is a shame as the people are fantastic.

LOS is OK but when you are in a car keep your valuables out of sight and don't buy anything from the hawkers who are in the traffic jams (Go-slows as they are called).

Also, another dodge being worked on by a gang is again in the go-slows on the highways. One will leap out at your car and you will nudge him but you will stop and all hell breaks loose as his friends suddenly appear and once you have got your door opened you are in trouble. I saw this for myself when I was driving from VI to LOS Airport on a Friday night a short while ago.

The biggest crime problem are the gang fights between the Area Boys who are quite active in parts of LOS but only late at night.

But let us not forget that Lagos is a great place to be with fantastic food, beer and culture. Also, the girls are fantastic looking and most people are really pleased to meet you.

All that I will close with is to remember TIA- This Is Africa. Things take time. Chill out and if you are late then so what??

[Crepello]

Couple of things to add: If you like a good curry, you'll enjoy the Nigerian stews. And if you like a hot curry, you'll love the pepper soup. If it doesn't drop your voice by an octave, it was watered-down... :E

Good post from Dan Air 87... a few observations from me:
I hope that the kidnapped oil workers are released safe and sound.

Agreed; and there but for the grace... but more importantly:
don't let this put you off.

Absolutely. Frankly it's a numbers game these days but so's life in general - the world over. The toughest part is convincing ageing parents back home that it's not as dangerous as they suspect.

Also agree about people in the Delta being fantastic. Last December, I spent a few days at a flowstation in the western swamps, first expatriate to appear there for years. Those places are staffed for appeasement rather than efficiency but even so, the locals made a point of approaching me to say "Welcome!". After that, they'd regularly ask when I was leaving but only so they could wish me a safe journey before I departed. It was an enriching experience and now, just six months later, that location's off limits. :sad:

Phone Wind's post rings true - I got 'home' to Houston to find a neighbour's wheels had been nicked, and another stolen car abandoned opposite my apartment. And this in a good part of town. Like I say: Numbers.

Final lesson: Never accept a ride home at 3am from the driver of a girl you just slept with. Story to follow - when I've cleared it with my shrink. :E

See what I mean? It's an amazing country, and reminds me how bored I've been doing 9-to-5 sh!t in "normal" places!

[Dan Air 87]

Thanks to Crepello for the good post about the pepper. Its fantastic but needs a few bottles of chilled Star beer to wash it down. The local food is brilliant but that soup tops the lot. The local food has to be tried and they do some great seafood stews. The local hamburger fast food are called "Mr Biggs" which are pretty good and cheap.

As I have said before the people are wonderful. On Fridays they wear traditional dress which can take your breath away for how close fitting they are!

All said ENJOY your trip to Lagos and let us know how you get on.

[Leezyjet]

Thanks again for the replies chaps.

I should have been there by now, but alas I'm still at home. The trip has been postponed at least until the end of June, if it happens at all. I should find out later today though.

It's the usual case of "left hand, right hand" that is common within the airline industry !!.

:hmm:

[djscorpion]

hey guys some of you was talking about ynot like it is a bad place to visit. well i can tell you that the management of ynot did a lot of changes starting from the entrance till the the private floor.
the entrance of the place is very different, also the security and the bouncers are many to protect and serve all the customers. the bouncers duty is to be with every customer who is going to leave the club till he reaches his car, also they are inside and outside the club watching all the customers moves to prevent any troubles.
the private bar is the most important thing that the mangement of ynot did. i can say it is the best place to go in lagos. Different music style, different people and a very nice atmosphere.
I can talk about myself now. i'm the DJ in this place and if ynot is like before i wouldn't come from the beginning to play music in this place. I play music from all over the world. my music style is trance, house and progressive. we did a different music style for each day in the private club of ynot. if you want to get more information please visit www.ynotclub.com (http://www.ynotclub.com) the website will be online in a couple of weeks.
some of you said a lot of the right things how YNOT was before but it was before come and visit our club and see the difference yourelves.
Ynot Club on Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
cheers guys

[Leezyjet]

My trip is now back on, I'll be there in 2 and a bit weeks.

Anyone know if it's possible to get hold of a C152/172 in LOS to do a few hours whilst I'm there ?.

I'm briging all my ATPL study stuff too, so if there are any willing volunteers to help me when I get stuck, there may be a beer or 2 in it for your troubles. :ok:

You will probably see me pulling what hair I have left out around the pool at the Sheraton with my books !!.

:ugh:

[TomBola]

Onfortunately leezy, there's rarely any avgas in Nigeria, so you rarely see a piston aircraft there. If you want to try for a Cessna, you're probably better off going to Cotonou in neigbouring Benin republic. :sad: