Nigeria

[Roman Guy]

The hotel owner / manager refused to issue an invitation letter. That means that I will get no visa. That's it!

It seems that Nigeria does not welcome tourists, which is very stupid and especially in my case, because I'm a quite wealthy guy spending always al lot of money in the country. What a pity!

I am in the same trouble of Mercenario.

I know Nigerian people here at home in Italy but I prefer not to demand for any invitation letter from their relatives because the price to pay might be to high:money or worse, something like "carry this or that to my family in Nigeria (20 kg of shoes, cloth, tv, telephones, pc,.).".

I try to contact two guest houses in Lagos and propose them to pay two or three overnights in change of a receive or invoice to be used as warranty or guarantee to get a visa (embassy told me it is ok.).

The point is that since a couple of days I try to contact Hotel Ritz (warning Ritz and not De Ritz) and Famoss both in Ikoj but no of the phone numbers I have, are available.

Can anyone of you check those two spots and send me a valid extreme of them? (via pm in case of email or phone or fax).

Address are: Ritz 41, King George V. Famoss 59 Lawson St.

[Mercenario]

What a fortune. If I get a visa finally, I'll arrive on a Thursday night.

The hotel owner / manager refused to issue an invitation letter. That means that I will get no visa. That's it!

It seems that Nigeria does not welcome tourists, which is very stupid and especially in my case, because I'm a quite wealthy guy spending always al lot of money in the country. What a pity!

[Mercenario]

Ladies night at La Playa is now on a Thursday.

Sandman

What a fortune. If I get a visa finally, I'll arrive on a Thursday night.

[Desert Sandman]

La Playa is a decent enough place to stay, it's run by a Brit and his wife and they will arrange a pick up at the airport for you. They have a bit of a shindig there on a weds night and there is usually a decent selection of both WG's and non-WG's to choose from.

Ladies night at La Playa is now on a Thursday. Quantity and quality of girls varies. Anywhere between 5 to 15 girls. Some are non-WGs who are friends of the owners wife, others are WGs who go there early en-route to the bars on VI.

Sandman

[Mercenario]

Mr M, why don't you have the friend you are visiting get a Nigerian passport and then invite you. With the right amount of money, a Nigerian passport can be gotten in two weeks. Something to think about considering the amount of money you have invested so far.

You are right! But until I found out, it was to late.

[Mercenario]

I have never been rejected for a visa to Kenya until I went to Nigeria where my visa was rejected to enter Kenya. I suspect in Nigeria with the high levels of corruption and the expectation that you must pay for the service. I cannot speak for Berline but I would not be surprised.

To get a visa you must show up for an interview directly at the Nigerian embassy in Berlin.

I took the early flight to Berlin and was the 1st white face there, waiting more than 1 hour for the opening of the visa office. I was attended by a german employee of the embassy. He went through my documents, nodded until he saw the invitation. He told me that it will be difficult. Then I had to wait another hour until they started with the inverviews. Again I was the first. I middle aged black lady with a very beautiful traditional african dress attended me. She told me immideatly that she does not accept the invitation, because my female friend has not enough credibility. I asked her what this means. She replied, that the embassy wants to be sure, that only people who have no financial interest (=scam) in foreigners invite them. Such a person can be an European living in Nigeria, a Nigerian with an international passport and a so called bank account statement or a Nigerian who lives in Europe.

The rest is history. Try to find a Nigerian with an international passport! If you know 1000 people, maybe 1 has such a passport.

[Blackwhite99]

PM'd you with the owner's contact.

I was in contact with Mrs Eniola Curtis for the reservation. Then last Monday after getting the information of the embassy that they don't acept my invitation, I wrote to her, but since then she didn't reply. Do you know the name of the British owner / manager? Maybe I can contact him.

Today the friend of a friend who could issue the invitation said that he won't make it, so I'm without a invitation now and it seems that there is no chance for me to travel to Nigeria. BULLSHIT! . And I have already paid for the flight, vaccination.

[Member #4379]

I have never been rejected for a visa to Kenya until I went to Nigeria where my visa was rejected to enter Kenya. I suspect in Nigeria with the high levels of corruption and the expectation that you must pay for the service. I cannot speak for Berline but I would not be surprised.

[Carlos3000]

Mr M, why don't you have the friend you are visiting get a Nigerian passport and then invite you. With the right amount of money, a Nigerian passport can be gotten in two weeks. Something to think about considering the amount of money you have invested so far.

I was in contact with Mrs Eniola Curtis for the reservation. Then last Monday after getting the information of the embassy that they don't acept my invitation, I wrote to her, but since then she didn't reply. Do you know the name of the British owner / manager? Maybe I can contact him.

Today the friend of a friend who could issue the invitation said that he won't make it, so I'm without a invitation now and it seems that there is no chance for me to travel to Nigeria. BULLSHIT! . And I have already paid for the flight, vaccination.

[Mercenario]

There's nothing different here. Any visa application from any country will require proof of residence of the person who's inviting you.

Why don't you just ask the La Playa to send you a letter of invitation, assuming you've already made a reservation there?

I was in contact with Mrs Eniola Curtis for the reservation. Then last Monday after getting the information of the embassy that they don't acept my invitation, I wrote to her, but since then she didn't reply. Do you know the name of the British owner / manager? Maybe I can contact him.

Today the friend of a friend who could issue the invitation said that he won't make it, so I'm without a invitation now and it seems that there is no chance for me to travel to Nigeria. BULLSHIT! . And I have already paid for the flight, vaccination.

[Blackwhite99]

There's nothing different here. Any visa application from any country will require proof of residence of the person who's inviting you.

Why don't you just ask the La Playa to send you a letter of invitation, assuming you've already made a reservation there?

Thank you both for the information.

Currently there is still 1 open issue. The Nigerian embassy in Berlin didn't accept the invitation letter a friend issued for me. They rejected it because my friend is student, she has no international passport and therefore does not have enough credibility, to take care of me so that I'm not scammed. LOL

Looks like Nigeria does not want tourists. But I'm working on this problem.

Cheers,

M.

[Mercenario]

Thank you both for the information.

Currently there is still 1 open issue. The Nigerian embassy in Berlin didn't accept the invitation letter a friend issued for me. They rejected it because my friend is student, she has no international passport and therefore does not have enough credibility, to take care of me so that I'm not scammed. LOL

Looks like Nigeria does not want tourists. But I'm working on this problem.

Cheers,

M.

[Blackwhite99]

Money: Credit cards are accepted at only the major hotels and with the major airline offices. Cash for everything else. USD is widely accepted as an alternative to the Naira. Either bring in enough USD / EURO / GBP to cover your stay, or use one of the many ATMs which I always found to be reliable. If you want to change money, try the Malam at the Eko hotel, they give much better rates than the banks.

Taxis: There are several new private taxi companies operating in Lagos now and who use new cars (with working AC) and reasonable drivers. You can spot them on the Lagos roads. They have a central booking office number splashed down the side. Once you've found a car / driver you're happy with, deal with him directly via mobile phone.

La Playa is a decent enough place to stay, it's run by a Brit and his wife and they will arrange a pick up at the airport for you. They have a bit of a shindig there on a weds night and there is usually a decent selection of both WG's and non-WG's to choose from.

I'll fly to Lagos at the end of August and stay 2 weeks residing in the "La Playa Suites". I have some questions to experienced Lagos travellers:

What kind of payment do you recommend in restaurants, bars, shops? Cash or CC?

How can I get cash?

Where can I get cash?

What about transportation. Taxi?

Are there "safe and non scam" taxis? How to know them?

How much should the taxi cost from the airport to "La Playa Suites" which is close "The Palms"?

Cheers!

M.

[Carlos3000]

I would suggest carrying a combination of cash (USD or Euros are fine) and credit card. There are ATMs all over and there might be one in your hotel. ATMs mostly dispense Niara. There might be ones that dispense foreign currency that I don't know about. Make sure that your CC has a smart card logo on it or you will not be able to get cash. Happened to me my last visit. Traveler's checks! People still use those LOL. The major issuers of travelers checks (Thomas Cooke and American Express) have offices in Lagos. BTW once you change your money have the driver take you straight back to the hotel so you can lock up your loot. Naira notes are very large and will create a big bulge in your pocket if you carry a lot (not a good look in Lagos). Cheers and happy mongering!

Thank your for your advice, I'll follow it. .

Is there something like an ATM so cash Niaras?

Or is it better to carry USD or EUROS (I'm from Germany) to Nigeria and then change them there?

What about traveller checques?

It's been a while that I carried cash to foreign countries. Last century!

Cheers,

M

[Mercenario]

Mr M,

Use cash, Naira, for most of your purchases; again, you reduce the possibility of scams.

Ask a member of the hotel staff to take you to where you can change money safely.

Thank your for your advice, I'll follow it. .

Is there something like an ATM so cash Niaras?

Or is it better to carry USD or EUROS (I'm from Germany) to Nigeria and then change them there?

What about traveller checques?

It's been a while that I carried cash to foreign countries. Last century!

Cheers,

M