I have tried to find the information on-line. The posts on TripAdviser are old, dating back to 2011. All these posts are uniformly scary. There is nothing else available, although I will continue to look.
I am likely to travel there in 2 weeks time and am looking for some latest information/tips. I have travelled to various places in Africa before. However, this will be my first time to Nigeria. And what I have heard over the years has not been particularly encouraging, and hence this request.
It is basically a recap on flying Africa World Airways and some description on the actual airport experience.
;-)
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/thomos-dah.shtml
SCNR - but that's the only reason I can think of why somebody would want go there.
That, and a dating-scam (with the same end-goal).
Just look where it's in this 2012 edition of Mercer's "quality of living" report:
http://www.internationalhradviser.co...s%20Survey.pdf
I've never set foot on that continent - but from what I know, the people living there are desperate to get out. Because you're white, everybody will basically cling to you and try to take advantage of you.
Well, maybe not everybody - but you should be prepared for that.
- vaccinations - check that you are up to date with yellow fever, malaria, etc. You travelled to other parts of Africa, so you should be aware of that;
- visas - make sure you have the right paperwork, if you need a visa;
- security, with a big S! The oil company I worked for would arrange for its employees to be picked up at the airport by specially arranged transport. No taxis, no shuttles, no public transport! The risk of kidnapping was deemed too high!
Personally, I would not travel to Nigeria on my own steam. The idea of being cautiious and on guard ALL the time, would drive me crazy!
CH says to by all means have yourself picked up at the airport by a trusted person, to drive in groups only and never in the night, to not(!) help the injured if you happen to be part of or come across an accident because the locals may take revenge and attack you, to not use your credit card, to not use public transport, and a lot of other things.
OPs next thread:
Help! I got kidnapped! What should I do?
I have been to Entebbe, Kinshasa, Khartoum, Moroni, Nairobi etc. (The airports in SA don't count as they are "normal"). The only place I felt really scared was Kinshasa because they took my passport away for a long time.
All I can say is that I worked for a company that had (and still has) 1 - 2 employees over in Lagos at any given time. Of course the company made sure the employees were as safe as possible by arranging pick ups from the airport and only staying in high end hotels (in gated/guarded communities). Next to that the employees received extra compensation for every day stayed in Lagos.
This is expensive but the absolute minimum a company can do for the well being of the employee.
But while us Europeans have difficulty making a distinction between someone from Cameroon and Nigeria, the locals will probably have no problem picking you from the crowd.
Just like I might stick out more in Hamburg than here in Zurich or some South-German city.
In any case, I wish you good luck and a safe return.
Firstly get all the necessary vaccinations. Next have your Visa.
Moe importantly, have people over there on the ground that you KNOW and TRUST. Preferably have them pick up THERE at the Airport. The Region in and around the airport is much more safer than it used to be, nonetheless it is better to leave little to chance.
Flights from Europe to Lagos land mostly evenings, with flights back to europe mostly nights. Makes landing and taking off at those 2 periods a little hectic.
Be prepared for the temperatures and humidity of course.
If you need any advice just send me a message.