I don't know what other people go through, but recently i have had very nasty experiences in Nigerian airports:

1. Friday 2th Apr.- Counted N 16k and paid for a one-way early morning Chanchangi ticket to Abuja from Lagos only for the sales girl at the counter to tell me I gave her 15k. My insistence attracted her colleagues who all joined to defend her, as if i gave her the cash in their presence. One of the even mocked the it is "too early" for me to make noise just for 1 k. I had to pay up the 1k to make my flight for an early morning appointment in Abuja.

2. Wednesday 30th April.-- An unusual crowd of travellers outside Abuja to combine Thursday's public holiday with Friday and the weekend. Airport touts were having a field day. U have to part with b/w 18-20k for a 16k ticket. Aero Contractors jerked up their tickets from 17-19 k. all flights were declared fully booked, if u are not ready t pay through the touts. 9the touts are actually airline staff) and they conduct their nefarious activities with some tacit approval from their employers. Vowed never to pay a kobo to any tout and has to pass another night in Abuja.

3. Sunday 11th May----- Almost late for my 10:35 am Virgin Atlantic flight to London due to the early morning heavy rains, but thank goodness I made it. At the last checkpoint in the MMIA before reaching the departure gates, An NDLEA official by name ADEBAYO, fully aware we are about to miss our flight, seized our passports ( I and two other guys) and told us to "put our heads together" if we don't want to miss our flight. We ranted about extortion, our rights, etal, all to no avail. one of us even offered him N 1k which he refused saying we should have forex on us. It took the special grace of God to make that flight because that guy took us to a searching room, and for all I know he could have planted drugs on us and accused us of being peddlers had we insisted on not playing to his tunes.

I hate to say it, but our Airports are really havens of extortion

Fellow Nairalanders, what is happening in Naija? do you have any airport stories to tell?

Novice1:

I don't know what other people go through, but recently i have had very nasty experiences in Nigerian airports:

1. Friday 2th Apr.- Counted N 16k and paid for a one-way early morning Chanchangi ticket to Abuja from Lagos only for the sales girl at the counter to tell me I gave her 15k. My insistence attracted her colleagues who all joined to defend her, as if i gave her the cash in their presence. One of the even mocked the it is "too early" for me to make noise just for 1 k. I had to pay up the 1k to make my flight for an early morning appointment in Abuja.

   Though anything is possible with Nigerian employees, but how can you be certain that the amount you gave was the right figure?
   As for me, i'd rather avoid a noise for 1k, though 

Novice1:

2. Wednesday 30th April.-- An unusual crowd of travellers outside Abuja to combine Thursday's public holiday with Friday and the weekend. Airport touts were having a field day. You have to part with b/w 18-20k for a 16k ticket. Aero Contractors jerked up their tickets from 17-19 k. all flights were declared fully booked, if u are not ready t pay through the touts. the touts are actually airline staff) and they conduct their nefarious activities with some tacit approval from their employers. Vowed never to pay a kobo to any tout and has to pass another night in Abuja.

   An airline company that allows its ticket staffs to carry out such unconventional behaviour; hmmm, i wonder how they control their aircraft maintenance staffs: this explains the reason why aircrash in Nigeria is not unheard of

Novice1:

3. Sunday 11th May----- Almost late for my 10:35 am Virgin Atlantic flight to London due to the early morning heavy rains, but thank goodness I made it. At the last checkpoint in the MMIA before reaching the departure gates, An NDLEA official by name ADEBAYO, fully aware we are about to miss our flight, seized our passports ( I and two other guys) and told us to "put our heads together" if we don't want to miss our flight. We ranted about extortion, our rights, etal, all to no avail. one of us even offered him N 1k which he refused saying we should have forex on us. It took the special grace of God to make that flight because that guy took us to a searching room, and for all I know he could have planted drugs on us and accused us of being peddlers had we insisted on not playing to his tunes.

I hate to say it, but our Airports are really havens of extortion

Fellow Nairalanders, what is happening in Naija? do you have any airport stories to tell?

   I always tell people that there is a big difference between Bribery and Robbery. This is a clear case of robbery.

@Novice1,i don't see any reason why you should offer a bribe to an NDLEA official,in as much as you are not carrying an illegal stuff.you offering a bribe to an official shows that you're partner in crime to the official ,and if I may ask you,what offence have you committed ?

Siena:



Another reason I choose to stay away. It'll take something really pressing, to prompt me to purchase a ticket to fly to Nigeria.

For Pete's sake, this is your motherland you are talking about here.

oludayo20:

@Novice1,i don't see any reason why you should offer a bribe to an NDLEA official,in as much as you are not carrying an illegal stuff.you offering a bribe to an official shows that you're partner in crime to the official ,and if I may ask you,what offence have you committed ?

Dont u just gerrit?

and for all I know he could have planted drugs on us and accused us of being peddlers had we insisted on not playing to his tunes.

@Poster!
Those guys are really weird and crazy!You have to pray very well so that one does not meet their kind when at the airports ooo,I have escorted people to the airports so mant times and when I was travelling,I had the same fracas with them,all they understand is money and if you dont have it on you,you berra call on God ooooo!its scary at times when they begin to say rubbish all in the name of asking for money.

Novice1:

I don't know what other people go through, but recently i have had very nasty experiences in Nigerian airports:

1. Friday 2th Apr.- Counted N 16k and paid for a one-way early morning Chanchangi ticket to Abuja from Lagos only for the sales girl at the counter to tell me I gave her 15k. My insistence attracted her colleagues who all joined to defend her, as if i gave her the cash in their presence. One of the even mocked the it is "too early" for me to make noise just for 1 k. I had to pay up the 1k to make my flight for an early morning appointment in Abuja.

2. Wednesday 30th April.-- An unusual crowd of travellers outside Abuja to combine Thursday's public holiday with Friday and the weekend. Airport touts were having a field day. You have to part with b/w 18-20k for a 16k ticket. Aero Contractors jerked up their tickets from 17-19 k. all flights were declared fully booked, if u are not ready t pay through the touts. 9the touts are actually airline staff) and they conduct their nefarious activities with some tacit approval from their employers. Vowed never to pay a kobo to any tout and has to pass another night in Abuja.

3. Sunday 11th May----- Almost late for my 10:35 am Virgin Atlantic flight to London due to the early morning heavy rains, but thank goodness I made it. At the last checkpoint in the MMIA before reaching the departure gates, An NDLEA official by name ADEBAYO, fully aware we are about to miss our flight, seized our passports ( I and two other guys) and told us to "put our heads together" if we don't want to miss our flight. We ranted about extortion, our rights, etal, all to no avail. one of us even offered him N 1k which he refused saying we should have forex on us. It took the special grace of God to make that flight because that guy took us to a searching room, and for all I know he could have planted drugs on us and accused us of being peddlers had we insisted on not playing to his tunes.

I hate to say it, but our Airports are really havens of extortion

Fellow Nairalanders, what is happening in Naija? do you have any airport stories to tell?

U be real novince . . .perhaps u have stayed out for too long. In Nigeria, u have to "shine your eyes well well" otherwise the more you look the less you see. I remember running into a similar scenerio in MMA few yrs ago. . .if you see the kain rake wey I rake, some officers came to calm me down. Trust me, no NDLEA officer can make u miss ur flight unless you are guilty. What are they taking u into the room for? Novince u sure are. . .but for real, there's alot of extortion going on and u can only curb it if you shine your eye.

Quote from: oludayo20 on Today at 12:59:17 PM
@Novice1,i don't see any reason why you should offer a bribe to an NDLEA official,in as much as you are not carrying an illegal stuff.you offering a bribe to an official shows that you're partner in crime to the official ,and if I may ask you,what offence have you committed ?
Dont u just gerrit?

Quote
and for all I know he could have planted drugs on us and accused us of being peddlers had we insisted on not playing to his tunes.

Thanks Frando
At times common sense supercedes intellect

Novice1:

Thanks Frando
At times common sense supercedes intellect

My guy i feel u o jare!You have to be smart at times and not engage in battle of words with those devils they call immigration officials,although some of them could be wonderful and some could be very stubborn,so you need to act and think smartly anytime you are in Nigeria airport and the fact that you gave in to thier demands does not make you guilty.They have no destination,the only destination they will ever know is at that airport and you are going somewhere so give them what they need and not what they want and move on to your own destination!Sefini

Novice1:

Thanks Frando
At times common sense supercedes intellect

I feel you bro. . . . . but sometimes you have to ''Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s''
If u know what i mean. . .
The situation in Nigeria now is something else. . . . . .Its terrible i must say.

The Sly:

I feel you bro. . . . . but sometimes you have to ''Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s''
If u know what i mean. . .
The situation in Nigeria now is something else. . . . . .Its terrible i must say.

Ododo Oro(true talk)!I wonder sometimes what servicom is doing?There is just no authentic voice to complain to in Nigeria,so one has to make do with what one has,God factor and sometimes giving what is ceasars to ceasars!

Wednesday 30th April.-- An unusual crowd of travellers outside Abuja to combine Thursday's public holiday with Friday and the weekend. Airport touts were having a field day. You have to part with b/w 18-20k for a 16k ticket. Aero Contractors jerked up their tickets from 17-19 k. all flights were declared fully booked, if u are not ready t pay through the touts. 9the touts are actually airline staff) and they conduct their nefarious activities with some tacit approval from their employers. Vowed never to pay a kobo to any tout and has to pass another night in Abuja.

3. Sunday 11th May----- Almost late for my 10:35 am Virgin Atlantic flight to London due to the early morning heavy rains, but thank goodness I made it. At the last checkpoint in the MMIA before reaching the departure gates, An NDLEA official by name ADEBAYO, fully aware we are about to miss our flight, seized our passports ( I and two other guys) and told us to "put our heads together" if we don't want to miss our flight. We ranted about extortion, our rights, etal, all to no avail. one of us even offered him N 1k which he refused saying we should have forex on us. It took the special grace of God to make that flight because that guy took us to a searching room, and for all I know he could have planted drugs on us and accused us of being peddlers had we insisted on not playing to his tunes.

start gathering evidence with your camera phone- that way they wont be able to deny it
atleast by the time you post it online, they wont be able to sweep it under the carpet!

@Dis Guy,

I will do that, if I have any problems with any airport official.

@Everyone, which airline is the best from Lagos to Abuja?

ty4real:

Ododo Oro(true talk)!I wonder sometimes what servicom is doing?There is just no authentic voice to complain to in Nigeria,so one has to make do with what one has,God factor and sometimes giving what is ceasars to ceasars!

ty4real:

My guy i feel u o jare!You have to be smart at times and not engage in battle of words with those devils they call immigration officials,although some of them could be wonderful and some could be very stubborn,so you need to act and think smartly anytime you are in Nigeria airport and the fact that you gave in to their demands does not make you guilty.They have no destination,the only destination they will ever know is at that airport and you are going somewhere so give them what they need and not what they want and move on to your own destination!Sefini

This is the reason people extort you and one thing i have observed in Nigeria is that; People are extorted because they don't know their rights.

@ Poster

The NDLEA officer was only feeding on your desperation, did you ask him the reason why he ceased your passport? did he state your offence? were you able to prove yourselves to him? If you were able to do that he wouldn't have had any reason to ask you for such a huge amount, the worst he could have done is too ask you to 'find him something'.

Fellow Nigerians it's about time we free free ourselves from all these oppression, fight for your right at all costs, it's worth the sacrifice, i am speaking out of experience, as far as am concerned, no one, i repeat; no one can oppress me, I am a true Nigerian but i have made up my mind to stand for my right, it has been working for me, you should learn to do the same too.

This country is changing, people are rising up to fight against what is 'legally wrong', about a year ago, who could believe that a rigged elections could be taken to the tribunal for fair judgement? But it's happening and there's more to come so there's nothing we cannot achieve if we fight to protect what is right.

Thank you.

The NDLEA officer was only feeding on your desperation, did you ask him the reason why he ceased your passport? did he state your offence? were you able to prove yourselves to him? If you were able to do that he wouldn't have had any reason to ask you for such a huge amount, the worst he could have done is too ask you to 'find him something'.

Fellow Nigerians it's about time we free free ourselves from all these oppression, fight for your right at all costs, it's worth the sacrifice, i am speaking out of experience, as far as am concerned, no one, i repeat; no one can oppress me, I am a true Nigerian but i have made up my mind to stand for my right, it has been working for me, you should learn to do the same too.

This country is changing, people are rising up to fight against what is 'legally wrong', about a year ago, who could believe that a rigged elections could be taken to the tribunal for fair judgement? But it's happening and there's more to come so there's nothing we cannot achieve if we fight to protect what is right.

Thank you.

well put.

i do not know if youmare a ture Nigerian, pls i will like you to tell more about you.

good king

goodking

If you are refering to me, then i am glad to inform you that am a true Nigerian; Born and bred, unlike some people, i am not ashamed of my identity. I just believe in my rights and i fight to keep it.

@ Poster

I can't despute any of the situations you've described.

I'm a regular flyer too, and I must say that it is a case of if you cant beat them you simply join them. My passport has been witheld once on a flight to Paris simply because the Immigrations officer said I dont look like the person in my International passport even with over 6 visas on it to different countries. I brought out all the documents on me which had my name and picture on it, still to no avail. I had to pass the guy 5k before he stamped my passport. Or is it the ones that check your luggage for food stuffs and drugs?? or the airline officials that check in your luggage?? o and not forgeting my EFCC friends at the airport.

Our airports are filled with rogues and thieves, no news there. IT's Naija.

Very soon we might have to start bribing the host/hostesses and even the pilot to get a seat on board the plane.

Ask for the local airport, I've never bought a ticket at the official ticket price. Those touts even have the tickets on them. They can even check you in without you going to the counter.

Aero contractors and Chachangi are the worst culprits. Even the new MMA 2 is no better.

It's simply 9ja, You either love it or use Chisco or ABC transport. Not that it's any better.

for all I know he could have planted drugs on us and accused us of being peddlers had we insisted on not playing to his tunes.

When a friend of mine was going back to the UK ,a custom chap told my friend 2 give him 100 pounds just like that, when my friend refused the custom cha told him bluntly that " I go plant drutgs inside your luggage now and we go see who go suffer am, my friend got scared and quickly gave the man the money.

DEAR BABYCOOL,

  i think you have great vision about yourself, wisdom is for sell and people who want it can get it, i know you also want the best for your conutry, but what is your dream, i may want to give you little of mine if you want. really i like positive people like you. not what we think that matters, but what we do to change lives that is what i know that matters. mail me if you want or call 08060017462, NLNG BONNY RIVERS STATE.

Redards,

Good king

My dear friend Novice 1,

it will be very good if we can be using this partsway to tell the world what is going wrong with our system, as you know in our conutry today, because of all this fackes drugs, drinks and foods, even Bleep buildings across the states, they are the Bleep product of our so called criminallykind brothers givings us their products that kill. to those people, my judgement to them if i am the president is death. they kill everyday all beacuse they want to make money.

Regards,

Good king

Corruption is part of the system everywhere; one prays that such evil don't befall thee but peradventure it does then "settle" quickly to avoid unnecessary wahala.

@novice1

Some ideas you can use:

Don't trust anybody anywhere when it comes to money (small or big) so I operate by certain rules. I use ATM card to book local flights make purchases with checks (pick up items later) or I count the money, notes after notes into your hands.
I hate arguments and wont put myself in the line of fire with any frustrated and desperate person.

It pays to purchase tickets online these days (especially with AERO and Virgin), should be a good way to avoid touts, arguments over money and all. I don't fly Chachangi and the others - have had to travel by road from Abuja to Kaduna and back to avoid this airline (rather than fly Lagos to Kaduna with Chachangi).

It is a good idea to get names of airlines officials and let them know you will be making an official report later. It may not work all the time but is a good tactic.

The international airport is another game entirely, one of the challenges I face has been with taking foodstuffs out (no matter how small). I have always played on their emotions by saying "it will be unfair visiting our naija people abroad and not take some naija food to remind them of home". My fall back plan is to threaten to abandon the food for them. It has worked well so far and I pray I continue to get lucky.

The NDLEA guy knows he has no rights to do what he did but played on your desperation and ignorance. Sorry about that. Only the immigration officials should handle your passport but many people don't know this. You should learn how to politely decline handing over your passport to the other guys when next you are there.

My major issue with the Intl airport is the long queue to clear immigration when departing. I was once on that queue for about 3hrs but I get to airport very early these days. Hope they get to expand that section to take care of the congestion.

God bless Nigeria.

good king:


i think you have great vision about yourself, wisdom is for sell and people who want it can get it, i know you also want the best for your conutry, but what is your dream, i may want to give you little of mine if you want. really i like positive people like you. not what we think that matters, but what we do to change lives that is what i know that matters.

dude ur just ramblin'

good king:

My dear friend Novice 1,

it will be very good if we can be using this partsway to tell the world what is going wrong with our system, as you know in our conutry today, because of all this fackes drugs, drinks and foods, even Bleep buildings across the states, they are the Bleep product of our so called criminallykind brothers givings us their products that kill. to those people, my judgement to them if i am the president is death. they kill everyday all beacuse they want to make money.

Regards,

Good king

can't u type straight?

@igbonla well said.

I was in Nigeria at the beginning of the year, I didn't have any problem with the airlines. Apart from a long delay going back to London, for which I was given a travel voucher for my next flight. My problem was the utterly shameless attempts at extortion with everyday people and officials at AMAC in Abuja. They were very corrupt, and basically tried to bully us into giving them money. I had many altercations with people in Abuja, I just got so tired and decided I will not let them get away with it lightly. I had cab drivers who would triple the price. I simply told them they either take the price they quoted originally or I will be getting out without paying them at all. If you cause a fuss, they often just leave you alone.  

Someone even tried to charge us extra for a recharge card, imagine!

If a member of staff at the airport had told me to hand over money or be planted with drugs, I would have considered doing it if I'm honest. That is a very scarey threat, I would have tried to record it all on my camera phone though.

Seeing the general attitude and lack of decency just let me know that Nigeria has much further to go than I had first thought. Some of these people are worse than animals IMO.

It is absolutely shameful that we are a people who seem to be corrupt beyond redemption. Most Nigerians are corrupt and, given the chance, will show their true corrupt nature. The same Nigerians isult the leaders when things dont go right in the system.

I have also had a few altercations at the MMIA in the past. Everyone there seems to be out to extort anyone and everyone. IT'S REALLY SHAMEFUL.

I feel for the guy who got his passport taken by NDLEA officials who have absolutely no right to check people's passports BUT I have also had the same issue before. I remember trying to tell an NDLEA official that he had no right to check my passport and the immigration official standing by explained to me that the guy had a right to check my passport. What does one do in such an instance?

The issue of taking food abroad is comething else. As soon as they see you're taking some Nigerian delicacy with you, you are a target for them. The last time, I had to insult the idiot who questioned me about it and I sent it back to my brother who had seen me off to the airport.

If so many of us are always looking to exploit others, why do we have a right to complain about the state of the nation? Nigerians are corrupt and have no right to complain about corruption. The same animals extorting at the airports will tell you that Nigeria is too corrupt and things need to change. they dont want to change anything first.

Thats Nigeria for you .
The "money is short oga" is very very typical in short of Nigeria.

i think using the camera phone at these points is a good idea, trust me i dislike curropt officials especially those that are supposed to be protecting us, instead they try to bully you into giving them money. This is black mail and robbery. Guys get evidence on your phones from there, we can expose them trust me. If you act you can make a difference cos by coming on this forum and rattling will make no difference. Just get evidence. You never can tell, your little bits can make the diffence. keep your head up!

ALL of us have to determine not to engage in these acts wherever we may find ourselves

It's really hell there, Could you Imaging airline officers denying me my travel?
am already in the airport to travel and ten minutes to the travel they brought out a message that they cvan't carry people with any D category visa. I have to go back.

I went and collected another Visa B category in Abuja, Went to the airport again to travel and they held my passport telling me that they are not away of any Vietnam Embassy in Abuja. Something that could'nt take them ten minutes to call the ambassador for confirmation took them almost 9 days, and i have only 2 weeks visa, my fellow nairalanders pls tell me when airline officers has become Immigration officers.

After they confirmed, I prepare again getting there, to get a burding pass, they started checking one thing or the other but couldn't find what they will make money with, noiw they started with my hotel reservation, which was suppose to expire the next day because of the delay, to my surprise they refused me a burding pass, that i should pay N10k before they will give me burding pass, I just did that to be on a safe side.

My fellow nairalanders could you imaging that the more you meet each group the more you pay, the one that stamped my passport ask for money i tolf her i have no naira again but dollar she saud am not serious, she started demanding for the dollar, it required prayer before my passport was stamped, getting to the next group he started asking me the amount of dollars an travelling with i was marveled, time is only remaining ten minutes to departure, this man held me for 7 of the ten minutes and i have to drop 2k, then face the last two groups with 1k each,  my brother its like hell.

They are really in business there, (You  must drop something from their superious to the lower) It's so ridiculous.
(Something must be done in order to stop this mess, though i it's an experience on how to handle them next time.

All of them are hungry men and women, they don't care if you miss the flight, all they care if the money they are demanding for.  - hiiiiiiiiseeeeeeeeeee

Is it only Airports?! It is everywhere, from ASO ROCK to MILE 12 market!

This is a "STANDARD" practise in Nigeria and has been there for a long time

Corruption, bribery, extortion, mugging, deception, D-I-S-honesty, day-light robbery, night-time robbery, everything, name it-R ALL RIFE IN NIGERIA

Everyday, from the least intelligent person to the most intelligent person in Nigeria is plotting how to rip the next man off either easily or forcefully!

Everything goes in Nigeria and it is hardly challenged becoz there is continous hardship,poverty, economic disentegration,rot and decay everywhere

CORRUPTION-FIRES ARE FUELLED AND KEPT BLAZING VIOLENTLY right from the top-heirarchies. Leaders and government officials who blatantly promote and practise all this despicable acts which are not helping matters

Every foreigner a Nigerian gets close to fears they want to be RIPPED THE FU/CK OFF

NIGERIANS love to RIP EACH OTHER OFF, KI NI BIG DEAL!!!!