₦airaland Forum

Hello everyone,

I recently took a short trip to Nigeria, and I feel deeply saddened by what I experienced. I want to speak honestly to young people, middle-aged individuals, married couples—everyone. Please, don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that “there is nothing abroad.” That statement is simply not true.

It’s difficult for me to even talk about this because of how heavy it feels. In Nigeria, there is a strong belief that money is everything. But I’ve come to realize that true quality of life goes far beyond wealth. Things like security, basic amenities, good healthcare, and decent roads—these are fundamental human needs, and they matter more than just having money.

Millions of people in Nigeria are struggling every day, and it’s heartbreaking. What makes it even more painful is that many of the leaders travel abroad, see better systems and living conditions, yet allow their own citizens to endure such hardship.

My brothers and sisters, think about your future. Think about your old age and the generations that will come after you. Try to find opportunities in places where you can build a better life. Nigeria, as it stands, is not working the way it should, and we must not ignore that reality.

Let me share my experience with you…

Let me begin my story.

My flight arrived in Nigeria, and I was traveling with my little one—his first time in the country. He was so excited, expecting a beautiful experience like what he is used to abroad. Sadly, that expectation didn’t last long.

We arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. I had heard that the airport had improved and that corruption had reduced, but what I experienced was worse than what I saw many years ago. Honestly, it’s not just about renovating the airport—the entire system and the people working there need serious reform. I will come back to that later.

At immigration, they started questioning my child’s nationality. Thankfully, I had already obtained a Nigerian passport for him, which reduced the stress a bit. Still, the process felt unnecessary and uncomfortable. Officers kept referring to him as “oyinbo,” and he was just smiling innocently, thinking he was in a welcoming place.

Then came the luggage situation. We waited for over an hour—along with many other passengers. It honestly felt like the staff handling the luggage had gone on a long break. While we were waiting, different people kept approaching me, offering “help” I didn’t ask for.

At the baggage area, it felt more like a marketplace than an airport. Trolleys that should be free were not. You either had to pay to use one or pay someone about 2,000 naira to help you carry your bags. Imagine that—inside an international airport.

At some point, a kind fellow traveler gave me an extra trolley ticket for free—God bless her. Meanwhile, one man kept insisting on helping me despite me clearly saying I could manage on my own. It started to feel like harassment. I had no freedom of movement. At one point, I even lied that I needed to use the restroom just to get away from him. I moved to another area, but after 40 minutes of still waiting for my luggage, he found me again.

Eventually, after more than an hour, the luggage arrived. I carried everything myself.

My family was waiting outside. I had intentionally kept my arrival low-key, otherwise friends would have come to pick me up. I assumed I could simply order an Uber or Bolt, or perhaps take an airport shuttle or government bus like I’m used to abroad.

But that wasn’t the case.

Instead, I was told I could only use the private taxis available at the airport. The price? Starting from 40,000 naira for just a 30-minute trip. I was completely shocked. We had no real choice—the heat alone was overwhelming, almost unbearable. It felt like standing in fire. We were literally pouring water on ourselves just to cope.

In the end, we entered the taxi, and it took us to our hotel—which was also very expensive compare to smiliar ones around same area.

And that was just the beginning of our experience...

We stayed at a hotel for the duration of our trip. I must say, the staff were incredibly kind, respectful, and made us feel safe at all times. That was one of the few truly positive parts of the experience.

However, there were several issues that made our stay uncomfortable.

First, the mosquitoes were unbearable—they bit us constantly. Then there was the noise. The street was very loud, and at night it became even worse. Churches nearby would start loud prayers and drumming in the middle of the night, sometimes around 2 a.m. Honestly, it was very disturbing. People are trying to sleep—why not pray quietly? Why does it have to involve loudspeakers and drums at that hour?

When we first arrived at the hotel around 2 p.m., our room was not ready. They had to rush to clean it before we could settle in.

The next day, the kitchen sink had no running water, so they moved us to another room. Unfortunately, the new room had its own problems—the bathroom water system was faulty. The water was either extremely hot, almost like fire, or completely cold. There was no balance.

Another major issue was the constant smell of weed throughout the building. Even though there were signs stating that it was not allowed, the smell was everywhere—from the corridors to inside our room. It felt like we were constantly surrounded by it. I complained multiple times, but nothing meaningful was done. Eventually, I just gave up.

After one week, I decided to check out another hotel I had seen online before traveling. When I got there, I was completely shocked. That place should not even be operating—not even as a one-star hotel. It looked rundown and unsafe, almost like it could collapse at any moment.

The receptionist seemed completely disengaged, as if he wasn’t even paying attention. He gave us a key to check a room on the third floor—there was no elevator. I couldn’t even make it halfway up the stairs before turning back.

I also saw the pool—it was a nightmare. The water had a strange color and was filled with insects. It was completely unusable.

Honestly, I have nothing positive to say about that place. It should be shut down by the authorities.

In the end, I had no choice but to remain at the first hotel I booked. Compared to others, it was considered “five-star,” but in reality, even by international standards, it would not qualify as a two-star hotel without serious renovations.

This experience really opened my eyes…

The heat in Nigeria was extremely intense for me—I’m no longer used to that kind of weather. I couldn’t wear anything heavy, so I was constantly in light clothes, mostly shorts, and often pouring water on my body just to stay cool.

I enjoy walking as a tourist, so I was happy to explore on foot. We went out almost every day, and in many ways, it was enjoyable. We tried a lot of local and street food. Unfortunately, some of the street food didn’t sit well with me, and I ended up getting sick—which I’m still dealing with as I write this. I’m planning to go for a proper medical check-up.

Despite everything, many people we met were kind and welcoming—especially the market women. They showed so much love to my little one, often giving him small gifts. People began to recognize us in the area. It felt safe overall, and the community was warm. Some people would stop and stare, others would greet us, shake hands, or ask my child questions. Even some bus conductors were friendly.

My little one especially loved the old buses. He found them fascinating and enjoyed riding them just for the experience.

However, after many mosquito bites, I decided to buy a mosquito cream from a pharmacy—but surprisingly, it didn’t work. In fact, it felt like the more I used it, the more we were bitten.

One night, I had a truly frightening experience. My child woke up crying in pain, holding his head. I was terrified—I had never seen him like that before. I immediately called the hotel reception to ask for the nearest hospital or an emergency number, but I was told there was none nearby.

At that moment, I felt completely helpless. I started praying, hoping nothing serious would happen. I even thought that if things got worse, I would have to contact his country’s embassy in the morning for help.

Thankfully, I managed to calm him down. I placed ice on his head and gave him some medication I had brought with me. After some time, he began to feel better and eventually fell asleep.

That experience broke me.

It made me think about how many children go through situations like this every day, without access to immediate healthcare, and how many parents cannot even afford basic medicine.

I was already planning to leave the next day if his condition didn’t improve. But thank God, by morning, he was okay.

Still, that night is something I will never forget…

Now, back to the main reason I am writing all of this.

What I experienced has deeply affected me. To be honest, I feel ashamed to call myself a Nigerian citizen right now. This journey has opened my eyes in a way I cannot ignore. I now truly appreciate the countries abroad that have given me opportunities, stability, and a better quality of life. Things I once complained about, I now see differently. May God continue to bless those nations.

What I saw was in Lagos—I cannot speak for other states—but what I witnessed there was overwhelming.

I visited both wealthy and poorer areas, and I was left speechless. This is 2026, yet there is still no reliable 24-hour electricity. The roads are even worse than how I left them many years ago. Everywhere, I saw young children selling goods on the streets—even inside buses. These are children who should be at home, resting or in school, not out working in unsafe conditions, day and night.

Seeing them broke my heart.

The transportation system was another shock. Many of the buses on the road are in terrible condition and should not even be operating. On one occasion, we entered a bus during the rain, and water was leaking heavily inside onto passengers. It felt unreal—like something out of a nightmare.

The constant noise—especially in the markets—was overwhelming. It was nonstop, from morning until night. At times, it felt like my head couldn’t rest, as if there was continuous drumming around me 24 hours a day.

I also noticed exposed wires along the roads, and it wasn’t even clear whether they were live or not, yet people walked around them as if it was normal.

Crossing the road was another challenge entirely. I stood at pedestrian crossings expecting cars to stop—but they didn’t. Sometimes, we were nearly hit. I even saw a zebra crossing connected to a raised concrete divider so high that it made no sense—how is anyone supposed to cross safely?

I tried using pedestrian bridges instead, but many of them were damaged, poorly maintained, or completely abandoned. It honestly felt unsafe to use them. I just kept hoping no one would fall or get seriously hurt one day.

When it rained, the flooding was everywhere. Roads became almost impassable.

One day, I decided to go alone to Yaba Market. That experience was overwhelming. I could barely breathe. The area around Tejuosho Market felt extremely congested, loud, and chaotic. The noise, the crowd, the heat—it was too much. I honestly don’t know how people cope working in those conditions every single day. No one should have to live or work like that.

I also couldn’t ignore the sheer number of people struggling—working tirelessly, carrying heavy loads under intense heat, just to survive. It made me wonder how much the population has grown, because the pressure on daily life is clearly immense.

And then I thought about the elderly… where do they fit in all of this? What support is there for them? It seems like once you grow old, the system expects your children to take full responsibility. But what happens to those who don’t have that support?

The reality is painful. There is little visible structure to support the most vulnerable—children, the elderly, and those who are sick.

It is deeply concerning.

There is still so much more I want to say… I will continue later.

But one thing is clear: please, do not be misled into thinking everything is working. There are serious challenges that cannot be ignored.

Which country did you flew in from?

Welcome to hell,

airports everywhere outside of east asia and nordic countries are turd holes, lagos is just more honest about it. the system isn't broken, it's working exactly as designed. you brought your kid into nigeria expecting some fairy tale instead got slapped with reality and now you writing a manifesto. congrats you discovered that nigeria isn't switzerland. did you think the airport staff were going to sing kumbaya and hand out free viagra samples? the trolley guys are hustling because that's the economy. you want change? go be a political leader instead of crying on a forum. and that guy extorting you? classic nigerian entrepreneur, persistence is a feature not a bug. if you can't handle 40 minutes of mild harassment, you are not cut out for the motherland. you stay abroad and spare us this novel.

What exactly is the point of this post? Nigeria has always and will always be a shithole.

Kaczynski:
airports everywhere outside of east asia and nordic countries are turd holes, lagos is just more honest about it. the system isn't broken, it's working exactly as designed. you brought your kid into nigeria expecting some fairy tale instead got slapped with reality and now you writing a manifesto. congrats you discovered that nigeria isn't switzerland. did you think the airport staff were going to sing kumbaya and hand out free viagra samples? the trolley guys are hustling because that's the economy. you want change? go be a political leader instead of crying on a forum. and that guy extorting you? classic nigerian entrepreneur, persistence is a feature not a bug. if you can't handle 40 minutes of mild harassment, you are not cut out for the motherland. you stay abroad and spare us this novel.

You speaks like one of those airports worker.
A possible one problem of Nigeria spotted!

Is it not the same Nigeria that thousands of people troop into weekly?
The only thing here which I feel is wrong is being forced to use an airport taxi at an exorbitant amount.
I have been to bad hotels abroad where the sheets are smelly and conddoms are under the bed. The way hotels work is this, if the one you're in is not good enough, check for another. You cannot expect a hotel of 25k a night to give you a regularly clean swimming pool.

One night, I had a truly frightening experience. My child woke up crying in pain, holding his head. I was terrified—I had never seen him like that before. I immediately called the hotel reception to ask for the nearest hospital or an emergency number, but I was told there was none nearby.

On the above, please why didn't you use a Google Maps to find a hospital nearby?
I know the country is not the best but there are over 200 million people living here and many are more happier, healthier and fulfilled than those living outside. Life is what you make of it, not just about where you are.

"Write a letter to your uncle abroad "
Uncle Sunday wa ni sagamu o😭😂😂😂

Ana2022:
Hello everyone,

I recently took a short trip to Nigeria, and I feel deeply saddened by what I experienced. I want to speak honestly to young people, middle-aged individuals, married couples—everyone. Please, don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that “there is nothing abroad.” That statement is simply not true.

It’s difficult for me to even talk about this because of how heavy it feels. In Nigeria, there is a strong belief that money is everything. But I’ve come to realize that true quality of life goes far beyond wealth. Things like security, basic amenities, good healthcare, and decent roads—these are fundamental human needs, and they matter more than just having money.

Millions of people in Nigeria are struggling every day, and it’s heartbreaking. What makes it even more painful is that many of the leaders travel abroad, see better systems and living conditions, yet allow their own citizens to endure such hardship.

My brothers and sisters, think about your future. Think about your old age and the generations that will come after you. Try to find opportunities in places where you can build a better life. Nigeria, as it stands, is not working the way it should, and we must not ignore that reality.

Let me share my experience with you…

If all of us run out of Nigeria there will be nothing for you abroadians to return to

For you to say there is no hope or opportunity in Nigeria means you lack financial intelligence .. There are lot of opportunities in places where there are problems and it's only if you have the financial intelligence that you will be able to see that.. People are making millions and billions everytime in Nigeria.You talked about social amenities in abroad, remember life is more than just having that.What about social life, foods, Racism, loneliness, weather, closeness to your loving family members?...etc..

OBTOREPA:
You speaks like one of those airports worker.
A possible one problem of Nigeria spotted!

Those airport guys that are always begging travellers for money, so annoying

Whoever read the novel should please summarize in 4 sentences.

I got tired along the line. 🥱

Lets be scientific rather than been emotional

Which country did you fly from?



HOW OLD IS THE COUNTRY?


How did the country look like at 60th year of independence?

What is the country annual budget?

What is the country population?


(Hope you are not comparing country with the budget of 1trillion dollars for 80million people to country with budget of 40billion dollars for 250million people,still with 10-15% annual budget deficit)

Nigeria is f*cked...


Only a holistic approach will salvage it

Which hotel did you lodge in? Maybe na 10,000 naira hotel because naaa,you can accuse us of anything else,but tht of hotels,we got them good

And also,we got hospitals too around and good hospitals for that matter so ko gbe enu buruku e soum

Many points were facts but some were Fufu.

Complaining about the hot weather is an example.

You should have imported snow nah. What were you expecting? There are apps that tell temperature nah.

Street food everywhere world-wide is dodgy. I wouldn't eat street food in India. What were you expecting? Cordon Bleu cuisine?

HacheNoire:
Whoever read the novel should please summarize in 4 sentences.

I got tired along the line. 🥱

and api cee miskrant that can read to comprehend
Imagine my shock

Now that you know... Please go and never go back to Nigeria....

U had a bitter experience doesn't mean it will remain like that always....

When you go back to your paradise, try and read about their history....

I'm not saying Nigeria is at its best at the moment but the reason for this post is what I don't understand....

Go and never come back... You and your little ones can live the rest of your lives abroad....

The things u do in Nigeria, how many of them do you do abroad...

Make una no worry, na this life we all dey...

Nigeria go better for everyone and some of u will beg to identify with that country... Na una turn e dey now...
Nigeria turn go reach.....

Uiopkmnbvcdrfvbjjjjiii

Ana2022:
Hello everyone,

I recently took a short trip to Nigeria, and I feel deeply saddened by what I experienced. I want to speak honestly to young people, middle-aged individuals, married couples—everyone. Please, don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that “there is nothing abroad.” That statement is simply not true.

It’s difficult for me to even talk about this because of how heavy it feels. In Nigeria, there is a strong belief that money is everything. But I’ve come to realize that true quality of life goes far beyond wealth. Things like security, basic amenities, good healthcare, and decent roads—these are fundamental human needs, and they matter more than just having money.

Millions of people in Nigeria are struggling every day, and it’s heartbreaking. What makes it even more painful is that many of the leaders travel abroad, see better systems and living conditions, yet allow their own citizens to endure such hardship.

My brothers and sisters, think about your future. Think about your old age and the generations that will come after you. Try to find opportunities in places where you can build a better life. Nigeria, as it stands, is not working the way it should, and we must not ignore that reality.

Let me share my experience with you…

Rubbish 🗑. If everyone ran away from those countries that you want them to run to, who would have built up thise countries?
The gullibility of these kids is simply astonishing.
You think those advance countries are.just built up by their leaders? No, the state of any country is a reflection of all the people living in that country.
Your leadership is also a microcosm of your people, they were not imported from other countries.
Your leaders are your uncles, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, neighbors and so on.

I have written the same too. There are economic opportunities in Nigeria though, depending on where you're looking at. But yes, everything isn't money. _{But this should be said when the person has money o} .

My own is personal safety. What I've experienced so far, I cannot explain it.

Nevertheless, everyone cannot japa. Most humans prefer to live in their dominant environment where they share similar cultures, languages and skin colour. The weather too also contributes. Personally, I don't like winter.

Dennisochampa:
Now that you know... Please go and never go back to Nigeria....

U had a bitter experience doesn't mean it will remain like that always....

When you go back to your paradise, try and read about their history....

I'm not saying Nigeria is at its best at the moment but the reason for this post is what I don't understand....

Go and never come back... You and your little ones can live the rest of your lives abroad....

The things u do in Nigeria, how many of them do you do abroad...

Make una no worry, na this life we all dey...

Nigeria go better for everyone and some of u will beg to identify with that country... Na una turn e dey now...
Nigeria turn go reach.....

you go pie finish commot for dis life
naija fit neva still better

U dey tell am
Say no worry like say na sure bet🤣🤣

I just wasted my precious time reading

That's what annoys me the most. The reason Blacks are ALWAYS at the bottom.

German and Japan were crushed during the World War 2.

They rose to the very top again. Because the people didn't run.

ONLY Blacks feel Japa is a solution.

Few have brains like that Yoruba Dr from Johns Hopkins who chose to come back and do things.

They usually just come and complain.

I am currently in Europe and all I can think of is how to return and implement what I learnt there.

When I stayed here for more than a month, I understood the perspective of racists. How can you respect Blacks who hardly contribute anything to humanity ? And it's not a Nigerian problem... Many Africans are like this. We are just unique because we abuse our country the most.

PigTormentor:
Rubbish 🗑. If everyone ran away from those countries that you want them to run to, who would have built up thise countries?
The gullibility of these kids is simply astonishing.
You think those advance countries are.just built up by their leaders? No, the state of any country is a reflection of all the people living in that country.
Your leadership is also a microcosm of your people, they were not imported from other countries.
Your leaders are your uncles, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, neighbors and so on.

tensazangetsu20:
What exactly is the point of this post? Nigeria has always and will always be a shithole.

You've never changed. When would you even pretend to change?🤣🤣🤣

I do not get all these lamentations. In Berlin, you have to pay for trolley. If you dont have 1 Euro coin, you have no ways to get one and you are stuck. In US, for a 30 mins trip, plan to pay over $60 which is close to N80k. You waited for luggage...well I waited for luggages in Gatwick and at Dulles Airport...heaven did not fall.

Maybe you are not matured enough to travel with a child or travel at all. We do not sing all these Songs of Lamentations abroad. Even Flights get delayed like crazy...no one goes into a tirade. It is when we get to Nigeria that we act like everything is perfect abroad. Free buses from airport...in what country...maybe within the airport but even at Heathrow, there are no free buses from airport Lol.

Thank God some of us have traveled, else people like you will paint a fake picture.

Ana2022:
Let me begin my story.

My flight arrived in Nigeria, and I was traveling with my little one—his first time in the country. He was so excited, expecting a beautiful experience like what he is used to abroad. Sadly, that expectation didn’t last long.

We arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. I had heard that the airport had improved and that corruption had reduced, but what I experienced was worse than what I saw many years ago. Honestly, it’s not just about renovating the airport—the entire system and the people working there need serious reform. I will come back to that later.

At immigration, they started questioning my child’s nationality. Thankfully, I had already obtained a Nigerian passport for him, which reduced the stress a bit. Still, the process felt unnecessary and uncomfortable. Officers kept referring to him as “oyinbo,” and he was just smiling innocently, thinking he was in a welcoming place.

Then came the luggage situation. We waited for over an hour—along with many other passengers. It honestly felt like the staff handling the luggage had gone on a long break. While we were waiting, different people kept approaching me, offering “help” I didn’t ask for.

At the baggage area, it felt more like a marketplace than an airport. Trolleys that should be free were not. You either had to pay to use one or pay someone about 2,000 naira to help you carry your bags. Imagine that—inside an international airport.

At some point, a kind fellow traveler gave me an extra trolley ticket for free—God bless her. Meanwhile, one man kept insisting on helping me despite me clearly saying I could manage on my own. It started to feel like harassment. I had no freedom of movement. At one point, I even lied that I needed to use the restroom just to get away from him. I moved to another area, but after 40 minutes of still waiting for my luggage, he found me again.

Eventually, after more than an hour, the luggage arrived. I carried everything myself.

My family was waiting outside. I had intentionally kept my arrival low-key, otherwise friends would have come to pick me up. I assumed I could simply order an Uber or Bolt, or perhaps take an airport shuttle or government bus like I’m used to abroad.

But that wasn’t the case.

Instead, I was told I could only use the private taxis available at the airport. The price? Starting from 40,000 naira for just a 30-minute trip. I was completely shocked. We had no real choice—the heat alone was overwhelming, almost unbearable. It felt like standing in fire. We were literally pouring water on ourselves just to cope.

In the end, we entered the taxi, and it took us to our hotel—which was also very expensive compare to smiliar ones around same area.

And that was just the beginning of our experience...

Ibehchizzy:
you go pie finish commot for dis life
naija fit neva still better

U dey tell am
Say no worry like say na sure bet🤣🤣

U sef fit no see the reason to be positive but don't take away people's rights to dream and hope.....

Be negative in peace and allow people to be positive in peace... Na their right