I'm sure you weighed out the risk/reward and it's well worth the money then.
You said you are going to Bern next week to apply for the visa.
Do you know the turn-a-round frame for the granting of the visa?
i.e. if done same day or when you might return to collect?
I wish you safe journey if you go. No idea what airline you might be using, but on the return leg, find out where they upload the food, some take the food e.g. from Switzerland for return flight, whereas some upload it in from Nigeria. If it uploaded in Nigeria, do not eat it, bring your own. I had a boss 20+ years ago, who ate a small hor d'oeuvre on return and was sick for a week.
I also know quite a few people who travel to Nigeria with no problems at all. But they are Nigerians! For non-Nigerians, my previous employer would send out a convoy of jeeps, with armed guards and there were strict rules that any transit was only done during the day. A colleague of mine had a delayed flight and was not allowed to get out of the airport area!
I just checked a few hotel reviews on holidaycheck.ch and the better ones seem to be OK - though people note that you can't really leave the hotel on your own.
Reading the advice of the German Department of Foreign Affairs ( https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/L...icherheit.html ) is also anything but reassuring.
In our cozy, little "Oh no, the bus is one minute late - things are really going downhill"-world here, where people regularly bring in thousands or even tens of thousands of CHF to the lost and found departments, where people can walk around with 1000 CHF iPhones (and accompanying Watches) without the fear of being held at gunpoint on the next occasion - a lawless, purely Darwinian dog-eat-dog world like Nigeria is inconceivable.
To me, it's a look into a possible future, that could happen if we don't get our (geo-political and economic) problems solved.
To Nigerias defence: certain parts of Former Yugoslavia aren't much better, apparently. And that's really in the heart of Europe.
It would be nice if you could report back from your trip, maybe upload a few photos (if you can take any decent ones).
Back in the early 1990s I worked about a year for Nigerian company in London, that was trying to set up a new company in association with Swiss and Belgium partners. (it did not succeed)
I spent a good amount of time visiting Nigerian embassy /consulate to get visitor visas for people attending meetings, including a couple of plumbers with bags of necessary tools.
Back then one had to get in a queue to pay, then another queue to apply, then went back 3 days later to pick up. I recall their were couriers checking books to see update for business/work visas.
My time was then changed to going direct downstairs to see the boss or second in command to get visa same day. Not sure how many visas I organised, it was in three figures, 100 or 100s.
Out of all those people, there was one chap who was attacked in Lagos, it was not fatal, but enough to put me off visiting for that time or since.
If ever package holidays happen, then I would love to visit, as that would mean it is more safe & the odd time I visited the Nigerian High Commission in London they had some amazing paintings/photos of different areas of Nigeria.
Like i said before, the area in and around the airport is safe. Just make sure someone picks you up since you'll be landing in the evening. If you landed during the day then moving from the airport to a hotel would be less of a problem. The BIGGEST problem in Lagos is the electricity i.e. Outages that occur seemingly often. Once the lights go out in parts of the city, those areas become dark. And its easy to get lost in an area you don't know when its dark.
I don't really condone you asking for a convoy of jeeps and security to pick you up; you'll just be drawing way too much attention with that and giving the impression that you're really, really important and obviously very rich. Which in turn would make you an attractive target. No, in Lagos the BEST way to move around is low-key. Dress simply, no flashy jewelry, no top-of-the-line-electronics in plain sight, definitely NO foreign currency and you should be all right.
An unwritten rule in Lagos though, when in trouble MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS POSSIBLE, Lagos is full of people and the people there are ALWAYS ready to help others in need. Once you get the noise level up, passers-by will come to see whats happening and that should keep you safe.
@rainer_d I will report back. May not be with photos as I believe taking photos of even inanimate objects such as buildings, parks is not appreciated.
@bature first of all, I appreciate your calm, measured and balanced responses in face of some not so nice things being said here. I will certainly take in all your suggestions which, mostly, are common sense any way. The one about making a noise in case of trouble is a very good one. The point about power outages is also important.
The whole idea is not to stand out, and blend in as much as possible. I do not have any valuables on me generally. Even the watch will be an old inconspicuous one. So, there is no question of flaunting anything in public. The phone will stay firmly in the trouser pocket. I am just hoping that I can change my money at the airport without attracting too much attention.
My host will definitely not give me a convoy . I have asked for a pick up and drop off from/to the airport. Local transportation is already covered by them. I am also hoping that I can have my food in the hotel itself so that I don't have to venture out for dinner etc. unless I am accompanied by my local associates. Once again, many thanks.
If any one of you have any more suggestions, keep them coming.
I really would suggest that if you do get the chance, try and see the city and get to know the people of lagos. Lagosians are really very merry, jovial people and the Nigerian culture through music, art and film has definitely left its mark on the WHOLE of Africa. I even dare to say that no other african people are as FUNNY as the Nigerians (Trevor Noah of S.Africa being the exception that confirms that rule). So if you can, go out to any Night Club on Ikoyi Island, have a good time, enjoy Nigerian music and mingle. It would really be a shame not to.
Good luck and stay safe!
I would be very happy if I could sample the local life in Lagos. Hopefully, I will have my local associates taking me around.
Best advice I received in the last 76 years For some Canadian it would be the ideal vacation place , their car is there already
Mine is a commercial assignment, and also not in the Oil & Gag Industry. I will be in Lagos all along. I expect to be in the area near the airport as that's where my Associate's office is. I am waiting for more details. I suppose once I have the visa in hand, everything will pick up speed.