Safety Tips in Nigeria

As a Nigerian with wide experience i can tell you that many online requests for help are scams no matter how well coated, tell the person that its not that you dont trust her but you will forward the request to the EFCC [Economic and Financial Crimes Commision] so you can pass the money throgh them, and wait for the reply ,if in doubt contact the EFCC via their website

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Don't get married in Nigeria unless you are sure the person you marry is a not con artist out to get some easy money. My story is one for the ages. I met this young lady on a dating site. She emailed me her pictures and I liked what I saw. We talked off and on for about 1 year. Then I decided to go to Nigeria to visit her. Off I went in May 2005. She said her cousin Richie will be with her. The plane landed in Lagos, she was there to meet me with this guy who was supposed to be her cousin Richie. He did most of the talking for her when I was asking her would she like to come to the USA. June 3rd we went to the government center to get married. For all I know they could have asked the workers to make some fake marriage papers to fool me since I did not know how the process was done. I filed all the papers when I returned to the USA. They were approved. Then came the stalling from her and the begging for money because she said she did not have any food to eat. I still can't figure how can someone be so heartless to have a person come 3000 miles just to get a few dollars. Now when I call her she act like the phone connection is bad. I even saw her picture on a dating site using the name Juliet Brown the name she used with me was Juliet Martins. I traveled there alone hoping to find a beautiful African wife instead I got made a fool of because I trusted a stranger who all the time just wanted to get money by any means. Richie was not her cousin just the middle man in the plot. The landlord at the apartment building in Ogbomosho asked me for my address and phone number before I left. I now know he wanted to tell me the truth that they were not cousins at all. If I report what happened to me to the Nigerian Police I doubt if they will do anything about it. I know there are some good women in Nigeria just my luck out of all the millions there I picked a fraud and a con artist. I wasted my time, money and emotions on a person who has no heart or soul. Good luck if you decide to marry a Nigerian. You will need it.

Ebony is a popular souvenir, you can buy a lot of high quality things made of ebony in Nigeria.

However, local guys in souvenir shops make a lot of fake ebony dying carved wooden things with shoe polish! They are actually doing this openly :-))

In the picture you can see one of them who gave his consent for photographing him.

Anyway, maybe what he is doing is bad, but he's smart to find a way to earn more cash :-))

Don't let them cheat you at the customs control!
They can say things like "You cannot take more than two souvenirs out of the country!"
Just be firm and polite, but not rude. When they understand you are not going to pay anything to them, they will let you go.

Nigeria is a corrupt country, don't make it more corrupt than it is.

Religion is a big issue in the lives of these people, and the Western media would warn you about religious intolerance in Nigeria. However, here are some young female muslims going for their worship. I must say that, in Nigeria, Islam is more liberal and not as volatile as the International media portrays it.
I am a Christian, and when these worshipers saw me around their mosque with camera, they were rather very friendly and agreed to do a pose for me. I took several pictures of them. Talk about dangers!!!

MURDER AND TORTURE
In May 1994, after a secret meeting with
Shell, the Nigerian Head of Internal Security
called for "ruthless military operations". The
results? Dozens of villages destroyed,
thousands of people made homeless and
hundreds massacred. Shell even admitted
that it had supplied guns for the "security
operations". In an attempt to end the growing
international protests, nine key campaigners
were arrested. Shell offered to help secure
their release only if they called off the global
campaign. On the 10th November 1995,
despite international condemnation, the
campaigners were hung. The brutal
oppression continues, and nineteen other
campaigners are being detained in appalling
conditions and face execution.
EXPLOITING WORKERS
Shell also played a leading role in the derecognition
of oil workers unions. Even after
the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster, demands for
improved safety rights, were refused and
non-union labour employed.
BOYCOTT SHELL
An embargo of Nigerian exports and a
boycott of Shell Oil may help to end the
environmental and human rights abuses in
Nigeria. Tell Shell what you think about their
disregard for the environment and tolerance
of injustice - and demand that they
compensate the Ogoni people.
Freepost: Shell Centre, London SE1 7YY
Freephone: 0800 414414

All visitors to Nigeria should be very careful at the Airport because there are many touts who may pretend to be helping you.But they are only interested in getting your WALLET. Some of them may pose as taxi drivers and would offer to drive you. Many people have been robbed of their visa, money and belongings in this fashion. There are also some corrupt officials in the air port. So be careful. Guard your wallets and your luggages very well. There are many people from Nigeria and other neighbouring countries who carry out nefarious activities in the air port. That's why some people think that Nigeria is very corrupt. The fact is that most of the people who do such evil acts are not even Nigerians.

When you arrive the airport, don't be in a haste and don't behave as if you are new to the place or else some inglorious people would pounce on you and cheat or rob you.
Don't allow those who rush at you to either carry your luggages or to drive you. They could be robbers. Be patient and just look around enough and you will surely see a relaible, dependable and good man to drive you to your destination peacefully.

Again, most towns in Nigeria do not have good roads. When you are in a bus don't show your wallet openly to let people know you have much money with you. You could be asking to be robbed.

Also if you can afford to travel by air, the better, because land transport is not usually relaible as they can break down any time any where.

A passport and visa, which must be obtained in advance, are required for entry into Nigeria. Foreign nationals cannot legally depart Nigeria unless they can prove, by presenting their entry visas, that they entered Nigeria legally.

Roads in Nigeria are generally in poor condition, causing damage to vehicles and contributing to hazardous traffic conditions.
Permission is required to take photographs of government buildings, airports, bridges or official-looking buildings.