Nigeria

[XXL]

bribes and hassle etc.

to be fair, police in cameroon are no saints either. police in douala, for instance, often stop cabs in order to extract small bribes from the drivers or passengers. the amounts are so small, however, that it doesn't really dent your budget.

it can get worse if you're accompanied by a girl who has no valid id, which is often the case in such a disorganised and poor country. in that case, you end up paying a bribe so that they don't take the girl away. girls in douala told me police regularly raid them to [CodeWord123] and beat them up (this goes under the heading "war against prostitution and minor's abuse" and is actually encouraged by our western governments whose priority is not human rights, but preventing us perverse white men from having our fun).i also heard police in the cameroons are more of a nuisance on the roads outside the cities, but i suspect even this remains on a much lower scale than in nigeria.

in some very poor african countries, like benin and burkina faso, police hardly fish for bribes at all, so poverty is only part of the answer.

on the whole, i've come to a major conclusion regarding women in exotic countries : in places where men are bullies and corruption is rife, women are nice and willing. in law-abiding countries where men are sheep (like in the us and western europe), women are bitchy, exploitative and men-hating.

it's either the one, or the other. no hassle=no sex.

[Beavis]

Hey Frank Africa that was great. It really is unbelievable how pathetic some of these officials are when they feel they have the upper hand on you. I was waiting in line at the Air France office in Lagos and a Nigerian man who was very disgusted with the service we were getting from the Nigerian Air France employees spoke up and said "everybody in this Country is a thief".

The Nigerian women are great. I was even considering bringing one back with me. My years of experience then stepped over and took control over my dick and I wised up. If I am asked to return to Nigeria by my company I will for a short while but I really would rather not. I agree with you all the way on Cameroon. I only spent one night there but could really enjoy a vacation in Douala.

There is no way to ever describe what Nigeria is like unless you have been there. Nigerian is not a 3rd world country it is more like a 5th world country.

[HeadGames]

Well put, and of course the real tragedy is the hard-working, honest people who who feel compelled to "escape" to somewhere else to get away from all the corruption, etc., or, worse, they want to escape and they can't.

This forum is a great way for people who haven't been somewhere to get the real scoop before they go. The nice stuff they can read about in the same places other tourists do. It's the ugly stuff they need to be warned about, and some places have a darker underbelly than others. Nigeria certainly, in my mind, is the latter. So if you want to go, go. But go armed with knowledge. Putting a positive spin on things by comparing the corruption in Nigeria to Enron sounds great in this month's issue of (fill in the blank with name of liberal magazine), but is not much help when you get on the ground and get shaken down - or worse.

Great airport story.

[Frank Africa]

dear headgames - thanks for your support and kind words.

dear rastaman and mike_q: i actually agree with a lot of what you said, and please note that i never claimed that the u.s. was better or less corrupt than nigeria. but i was responding to lithium's question about nigeria, nothing more than that. wsg readers who have never been to nigeria need to know exactly what they will be facing - that's why i wrote what i did.

also note that everything that i wrote has been confirmed by someone else, primarily africans, and that it was the zimbabwean government's official newspaper that condemned an entire society, not me.

yes, there's corruption in the u.s. and virtually everywhere, to some degree. having said that, however, the difference between nigeria and most other countries in the world is that the corruption is pervasive in nigeria - it runs throughout the society and through all everyday activities (unlike western europe, the u.s. and most of the world). and you can't blame poverty and the economy - i've lived in and visited over 30 african countries, several of them much poorer than nigeria, and nowhere is the corruption as bad as it is in nigeria. nigerians themselves will be the first to tell you so. for example, last week in the washington post there was a long article about nigeria, discussing the sharia law (and resulting limits on prostitution) in 12 northern nigerian states, and the corrupt judicial system that exists in the rest of the country, quoting numerous nigerians who complained about all of the corruption in their everyday lives.

the airport stories are probably true. i myself have been "shaken down" by officials trying to get a bribe every single time that i've flown out of lagos, nigeria. the trick is for the officials to pick on the last few people in line, trying to delay them to the point that they risk missing their flight, so they give in and hand over bribe money or some of their possessions. my favorite story on this subject was a few years ago when i arrived at the security checkpoint as the first person in line, 3 hours ahead of departure. but because i was one of only three americans in line (the other two being my co-workers), i was held up at the checkpoint for a full 90 minutes while the passport official slowly thumbed through and re-thumbed through every page of my passport, informing me that a "processing fee" would help speed things along, while i continued to smile and say "that's ok, i don't mind waiting." the line behind me grew longer and longer until one of my co-workers was able to count 180 people in line, all nigerians, many of them yelling and screaming in yoruba, ibo or other languages to the point of near-riot. finally the "big man" in charge of security showed up, walked into the security booth, and asked the corrupt official with my passport what was up. the corrupt official with my passport pointed to me and then to the u.s. symbol on my passport, to which the "big guy" ordered him to stop farting around and start processing the passports. the corrupt guy looked very sad as he stamped my passport with the exit stamp - no bribe today!

i myself did not enjoy writing my last e-mail either. i have many nigerian friends who are good people who are disgusted with the way things are in their homeland. again, wsg readers who have never been to nigeria need to know exactly what they will be facing if they decide to go there. i stick by my earlier advice - go to cameroon.

finally, even our friend beavis is fed up with nigeria!

[Beavis]

J.G.

The women are still there and they are great but the place sucks. I guess with it being so close to Christmas but everywhere you went there were people wanting to hassle you for anything they could get. Also with the fighting going on in the North everywhere you look you see machine guns. The authorities were much more of a pain in the ass this time and a moments peace was not to be found.

My original plan was to spend a year there to make the tax free money but before I got sick I had decided there was no way I would last a year. Douala, Cameroon I would go back to in a minute but you can keep Nigeria.

[Member #4239]

Mike_q
what about this airport thing?(please see xxl's post). are they grabbing people in the airport and taking their stuff away?

[Member #4239]

Beavis
What's going on man? Few months ago, you were really high on Nigeria, saying you were gonna spend a few more months there. Is it your illness that changed your mind? So you are definitely giving the "thumbs down" to Nigeria?

[Beavis]

XXL

Lagos, Nigeria is probably the last place in the world I would want to take a vacation. Anywhere that has RATS in the International Airport ? If you are a previous visitor to Cameroon I would return there. There are some very sexy women in Nigeria but I would never go here for any reason other than work. Go to Douala and forget Lagos.

[XXL]

Question about hassle in Nigeria

I found the preceding message very interesting because it sets the record straight on a few prejudices. Many of the points made probably apply to other African countries.

Still, I would be interested to know whether staying in Lagos on a two-week trip as a (white) tourist is an advisable thing to do, or whether it is better for Africa-lovers to stick to other, less risky African countries.

I remember reading something in Lonely Planet (not always a reliable source!) to the effect that passengers going though customs at Lagos airport should try not to be among the last in the queue because they were likely to be taken aside by the rotten cops there and stripped of all their belongings on any trumped-up charge.

I'm not a wimp. I was 7 times in Columbia over the past 6 years and I'm a regular visitor to some African countries (like neighbouring Cameroon), but getting mugged by the local cops at the airport beats all!

How is it like to take a cab to the local disco in Lagos? Do you have to pay your way through a police road-block every 500 yards?

[Mike_Q]

Hello Gents,
I think alot of people are getting the wrong impression about nigeria. Due to this survey of the recent post, its only right to set the record straight.
Nigeria has it s fair share of corruption, but to be fair and just, when your economy is running at 50 percent its potential and
the chips of global economic advantage are not in your hand or weighing in your favour, its hard to stay honest and upright when you want to feed you belly and live your basic dreams like anybody else in the world especially the we in the west[Europe and america].
I live in London[UK] and nigerians here are by far the most intellligent black people in this country. Their "know-how even surpasses alot of non-black folks!!!.
In terms of educational ability nigerians are far ahead of kids born in the uk. The only problemis access to opportunity and the lack of a level playing field.
Look at it this way - In the United Kingdom, taking London as a example, you have to have some serious "playboy" or "mackin" skills to even get with a woman of colour ie African or Caribbean. They are not begging for money or material things to live a better life or a substantial existence.
African girls [Ie Nigerian, ghanian, etc] in London are doing well for themselves and would rather date a black guy, which isnot to say that they would not go out with a white guy. What is even more difficult is for a white guy to "get the panties down" of a caribbean girl in London. Man!!! it just is not happening unless you have "serious game"!!!.

However going over to africa and taking nigeria as an example, economic pressures is the number reason why these girls are constrained to "drop the panties" for the dollar or pound or naira!!!. These is the pure and honest truth.

I have done business and worked in nigeria for a number or years and frequest there often [I am writing this message in lagos right now!!]. This is not to say that all nigerian girls have sex for the money but 75% of those that are getting with anyman is for monetary gain.

AND ALSO THIS SHOULD BE A POINT OF STRONG NOTE. IN NIGERIA AS WELL AS ANY AFRICAN COUNTRY. HE THAT HAS THE GOLD[MONEY] GETS THE WOMEN 99.9% OF THE TIME WHETHER YOU WHITE BLACK OR GREEN!!!. IT DOES NOT MATTER!!!.
IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE SOCIAL CLIMATE AND BUSINESS CULTURE IN NIGERIA ESPECIALLY THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY. YOU SHALL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH THE LADIES.
THIS IS THE KEY. THE BEST POLICY IN NIGERIA FOR NOT GETTING CONNED IS KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT AND LISTEN MORE AND ALWAYS REASON THINGS OUT!!! AVOID UNBELIVABLE STORIES AND YOU SHALL BE ALRIGHT. ASLO THOSE THAT HAVE MONEY AND DO HONEST BUSINESS IN LAGOS OR PORT-HARCOURT DONT TALK TOO MUCH, THEY ALLOW THIER ACTIONS TO DO THE TALKING!!!

I agree with rastaman. Their is corruption beyond belief in the west. Its just a pity that somebody has to be a the scaprgoat and untill you know how to play the political game astutely you shall continue to be the scape-goat!!!.

The tycoon Richard Branson, fron the United Kingdom is in nigeria now setting up his Virgin Airline businessa and aslo is negotiating a contract to revatilise nigeria's railway. Their is so much investment going on, such as the LNG project[Liquified natural gas] and the mineral explorations. so billions of dollars are being sunk in th nigeria by the United States and Western Europe/ South East asia.

The best advise i can give anybody is just have a legitimate reason for being in nigeria and you shall really enjoy yourself. an always check in with your embassy in the local country before you make any major moves. Dont be stupid like all these other expats that belive anything and aregreedy for quick gain!!!
Its just does not happen like that!

o.k gents thats enough for me, i shall mail you guys later

cheers
mike_q

[Djeskine]

Beavis

Trust me man, it's not perhaps......I should know I just landed one (747) as recently as last week in Abuja.
Kano is closed for repairs.
Anyway, I guess this aint the place for such discussion . The focus is deservedly as to where and how one can get various colored pussies worldwide. Nigeria is no different.There's plenty of action I guess though haven't experienced any myself.
Would certainly post if I get some action.
What I saw was that the northern Nigerian ladies have these lanky sensual features which just say "take me to bed and you won't regret it" kind. Has anybody experienced them?

Frank Africa...
Man you're damn right about my brothers from there.
Partly because of them they've made worldwide travelling for most black-men such a hussle.
Some countries wouldn't even issue visas to them..period!

[Beavis]

Hey djeskine

Perhaps they can land a 747 there. I have always flown in on an A330 or A340 Airbus. I can say this, while I spent 7 hours waiting in the Lagos Nigeria airport I actually saw a live RAT on the inside of the airport.

[HeadGames]

Frank Africa is right about Nigerian society. All societies have crooks, and America is certainly no different in that regard, but it is not systemic and endemic here. The crooks here get busted sooner or later, 99% of the time. The old Enron is history. I still get emails from people in Nigeria asking for money.

FA lived in Nigeria for several years. Read all the other posts from folks here who have been in and LIVED in Nigeria. Don't be so quick to shoot off about what people who know better are saying.

[Frank Africa]

Dear lithium:

Nigerians have an even worse reputation than you think. Back in 1989 I was in Zimbabwe and the Sunday government-controlled newspaper ran a lead editorial that "Nigerians are born and raised to be deceitful" - thus from a fellow OAU member!

Throughout West Africa (not just Cameroon, but also in countries like Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal and Cape Verde Islands), Nigerians are despised and hated for their corruptness. In the Ivory Coast, many people will no longer buy Nigerian-made products like automobile fan belts because of their poor reputation.

Here in the U.S., Nigerians have the worst reputation of any country among INS and Customs officials. Nigerians are the #1 drug smugglers from Africa into the U.S. U.S.-based universities question carefully any credentials/certificates/ diplomas/transcripts submitted by Nigerian applicants, since more often than not they are fake. Rental Car companies and Insurance companies will tell you that more fraudulent claims are submitted by Nigerians than any other nationality. And of course you have the infamous "letters" and "e-mails" from Nigerian flim-flam artists requesting the recipient's assistance in smuggling millions of dollars out of Nigeria. I could go on and on but I think you get the point. Perhaps this is why many of the Nigerians who I've met here in the U.S. lie and say that they're from Jamaica or the U.K., because they're too ashamed to admit the truth.

The "fake e-mail" problem has become so bad that the U.S. Government has formally requested the Nigerian government (through the Nigerian Embassy on M Street in Washington DC) to take steps to stop these e-mails by the end of 2002 or US-Nigerian relations will be affected. Interestingly, the response by the Nigerian flim-flam artists has been to change the setting of their e-mails to such settings as "I am the son of Jonas Savimbi of Angola" or "I am a South African" or "I am a representative of the late President Kabila's family of Congo) etc.

Having said all this, I have personally spent several wonderful evenings with hot Nigerian ladies over the years. And I have many individual friends who are from Nigeria. But collectively the Nigerian society is corrupt and you can't trust anyone, especially in any joint business ventures. So yes, you're better off going to Cameroon, both for business reasons and if you're on a "sex tour.".

And before someone rants and raves at how racist and anti-Nigerian I am, please note that I lived in Nigeria for several years(in the 1970s) and have also visited it several times since then, and all of the above is true!

[Djeskine]

Originally posted by Beavis
Hey Peterman I don't think there is anywhere you can land a 747 in Nigeria. If so it would be Lagos. I was just there yesterday. Cell phones are around 300 USD, the coverage sucks and you have to use these small chips that you put inside the phone called Sim cards.

Beavis
Wrong information here!
Abuja (the Federal Capital) and Kano, further north do handle 747s. You wouldn't like to be in either place for sex exploits though. Kano especially, it's the bastion of extreme Islamism.
Cellphone network is generally excellent.