What will it be like in Lagos?

[Anulife 1]

I am engaged to a Nigerian that I met through a mutual friend here in the states and after two years of being apart, i have finally built up the courage to go and visit him in Lagos in June. I have never travelled out of the country and I am nervous, especially about the experience itself, being white in an area where most people aren't, and how safe Lagos is as well as Ogun State where his parents live. The list goes on and one. Im looking for any advice you all are willing to share, posts here are fine pms as well. Thanks

[kayandnich 0]

Lagos is ok ,Its like any other place ,u have your good and bad ,the power goes out a lot, stay close to your Man ,he should tell you what to do .jst Keep your self alert of yoyr surounding

[milimelo 4,283]

I'd imagine you'd want to check out State Department's info page on Nigeria

>>http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/nigeria.html and then get enrolled in the STEP program before your travels >> https://step.state.gov/step/

Info for women travelers: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/Women.html

Absolutely put the embassy contact numbers in your phone just in case - I do it for every country we travel to.

Edited March 14, 2014 by milimelo

[bolaji246 2]

Lagos is okay and also ogunstate is okay and you will really like it there

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

If you have never traveled before you are in for an experience. Nigeria tends to be a bit broken, the electrical system is in disrepair. .

Personal safety

Do not carry a lot of cash , in fact it is best to carry none let your man do that, WU yourself some emergency cash that you can pick up if needed

Do not wear a lot of flashy jewelry No need to make bad ones think you have a lot of cash

Do register your trip online before leaving.

Make a copy of your passport and keep it in the home in case something happens and/or email it to yourself. It helps at the embassy if you lose yours,

Remember that is will be in the 90's usually, Dress accordingly. IF the power goes ( which in many areas happens a lot ) you will want cottons not synthetics Also the street can be rough , 9 inch heels are probably not a smart thing.

Never drink tap water or use ice unless you make it from bottled water.

Take your malaria meds as prescribed.

Do not count on using a debit card, If you happen to take one tell your bank otherwise they will panic at the idea of charges from Nigeria

Ask how modern of facilities you will be having, Not all Nigerians have western bathrooms. I experienced everything from western to the 3rd tree on the right when I was in the village.

When you get to the airport , watch yourself until you get to your fiance. You will pay a small fee ( a couple of dollars US ) to get a luggage cart and collect your bags. Your may be offered assistance but some may run with your bags once outside of the customs people there will be a mass of people , do not venture into it without your boyfriend. Like any airport there are luggage thieves.

[chicagorj 1]

It will be an unforgettable adventure.

As previous members stated, rely on your man to protect you. My man came to the airport with a close friend and his brother luckily had a car and drove us to our hotel.

Don't carry cash (as others stated) - HOW RIDICULOUS! Of course you'll have cash on you. You're going to a third world country! I did not take any debit or credit cards. There is no way I would do any business with any bank in Nigeria.

I carried cash and passport in a small discreet travel pouch under my clothes and close to my body. I also hid extra numerous $100 bills in books; journal; backpack along with photocopy of my passport and travel itinerary. You will likely stop to trade out dollars for nairas shortly after exiting the airport building. Hopefully your man is street smart. Check currency exchange sites before leaving USA so you know what to expect and not get cheated by the muslims. They basically control all money exchange. Nigeria is known as the scam country of the globe for a reason.

Pharmecutical malaria drugs have soooooo many side effects and are very very harsh to the human body and incredibly expensive @ over $200.00. I used Wormroot Combination herbal supplement - 2 capsules before EVERY meal. I did not experience any problems. ONLY drink bottled water and ice made with bottled water (as previously advised). And once again hopefully your man is familiar with the 'bad' water bottling companies to avoid. Yes there are bad ones. Don't worry though as long as you take the wormroot with every meal any parasites don't stand a chance. We live a very homogenized lifestyle here in the USA so if you experience a 'clean-out' on the toilet; don't freak. Just take the wormroot and you'll be fine. The food in Nigeria is the 'cleanest' food I've ever eaten; not the processed ####### found in our grocery stores. My man now my husband and his family and close friends took very good care of me during my visits in Lagos and Sapele (Delta State). I was never left alone.

If your man hasn't told you, something that is expected by Nigerians meaning friends (and they don't have to be close friends) and family members of your man will expect a gift from you. It doesn't matter how young or old they are - they'll expect a gift. It doesn't have to be expensive.

It'll be hot hot hot and humid humid humid. You will sweat ALL the time.

Electricity? Ha! ......Well I guess it depends on how financially secure your man is. If you're staying in a hotel, there's a better chance there'll be electricity. Take an adapter for your hair dryer and such. Otherwise it'll be au natural hair for the most part. When bathing, keep your mouth closed. Seriously! When brushing your teeth, use only bottled water. It'll be unusual but if this is the first time seeing your man...............it'll be fine. Just be smart, cautious and you'll be fine.

I'll write more if I think of anything. Don't forget the trinkets.

[Anulife 1]

Thank you all.

[Iyawo Ayodele 4]

yes I have to add thanks to chacagorj for the wormroot, info, also Paw Paw seeds, (not papaya) Paw paw seeds look like almonds, eat three a day, and parasites don't stand a chance, they also have a malaria drink made from west african speargrass, that also works, but tasts horrible. but do take something, and I agree, the western meds have more side affects then benifits. drink LOTS and LOTS of bottled watter, from a good more expensive company, and prepare for heat rash.

can not be stressed enough, DON"T DRINK THE WATER. or as she said above, don't even open your mouth in the shower.

I had Mom boil the water I used for bathing, as my fiance's family didn't have a shower yet, so it was a 50 gal drum that the laborers carted water up from the outside tank., but the cold water feels good when it's 90+ and 100% humidity.

take $1 bills and hard candy for the airport hounds, don't let anyone help you take your bags, and the "authorities" will tell you you have to have a million papers and try to delay you, or pay "fines" just give them $1 and some hard candy and tell them to bug off! I can give you the number to my own Police officer, if you want further security, but discuss this with your man, Nigerians don't trust each other much, and he may not wish to, just trust his word.

and yea, cheap gifts for everyone, sandles, hard candy, blouses for the girls, "america" "t's" for the men... ?

I wouldn't be afraid to wander in your man's neighborhood if he says its safe enough with an escort, I'd walk all over to the market and internet cafe with my brother in law, or my Officer Tunde.the neighborhood kids would Mob me and all want to touch me and be held by me, I'm their cheif's American wife so kinda a celebrity in his neighborhood, they will want candy....

definately keep your money on your man's belt, keep Naira, on you, and keep the cards and passports at home,

I'm giong this Sunday, the 16th :-) I'm so happy! I concider Nija my second home.

make sure he takes you to the beach, and out somewhere pretty, don't let him keep you bottled up in the hotel.

[His Glory 25]

I do not take the malaria meds either....too many side effects. I haven't gotten sick in Ghana or Nigeria as many times as I have gone but its up to you. If you wear hard contacts rinse with bottled water too. take emergency meds kit. on the way into lagos airport I fell on the escalator..(the one time I ever saw it working) and it scraped up the back of my legs bad. I had no Neosporin and husband didn't know what to look for and bought me penicillin cream. didn't work...scratches got almost infected. you may find in pharmacy there but I wouldn't take the chance again. my husband carried the cash. I trust him . Good hotels there. Do not stay at the linas suite in festac...used to in past but has gone south. Whenever im approached for anything at airport I act like I do not understand. I alwas bring Pepperidge farm cookies when I go and chewing gum..also bags of candy.the 90 degrees fells like a 120 especially in March. hottest month ever! They are really upgrading the airport there. I was pleasantly surprised this time around.

[sexymackeral 14]

As a malaria researcher, reading all of your comments about anti-malarial medications I feel....disturbed. Without getting into a huge debate about pharma vs. natural medication, whatever you do: 1) talk to your doctor 2) be informed about your health and the medications you are taking (there are some good and some very bad anti-malarial medications both western and non-western) 3) do something to prevent malaria, because you know what's a really terrible side effect? Dying.

Whether you sleep under an insecticide treated bed net all night, every night or take chemo-prevention (anti-malarial pills), be proactive about maintaining your good health in a foreign country. As we say in public health...prevention is better than cure!

As far as visiting general advice:

- for "gifts" for everyone who wants [expects] one, and pretty much everyone does, I go crazy at the Dollar Store and stock up on things (candy, toys, lotions, hair bands... you name it).

-Drink bottled water

-Carry extra toilet paper (for the inevitable bout of diarrhea)

-stash your money in multiple places

-have multiple copies of your passport in multiple places

-register your trip with the US Embassy, so that they can alert you if there are any sudden problems in country

-Be gentle with yourself and realistic in your expectations- there will be culture shock. Depending on your personality, you may hide in your hotel room the first day you arrive until hunger forces you out and makes you cross that craaazy overwhelming 8 lane road where there seems to be no logical pattern to when cars are coming and going (haha if you're at all like me!!). Or you may not even be fazed. I get like this every time I go to a new country... and I've lived in various parts of Africa for years! Your fiance will help you, let him and lean on him for support.

-don't bring travelers checks and maybe bring 1 credit card for emergencies (or have some other method for quick money emergencies); bring cash. Big bills like $50s and $100s get the best exchange rates usually, and some places won't even exchange currency lower than $20 bills

-For aggressive people or people that are bothering me, I usually just try to ignore them and move to the other side of the street.

-Be firm when you say "no" and self-assured

-Be "street smart"...keep your valuables out of public view, try not to pull large amts of money out in public, don't wear fancy jewelry, don't leave laptops in hotel rooms- put in hotel safe etc.

-Don't let anyone carry your bags for you

-When shopping, if you pick something up and hold it in your hands, you're seen as very interested to the seller and they will try their hardest to get you to buy it. Either just look at items with your eyes or be prepared for some hard-sells.

-it is HOT, be prepared and wear clothing that is appropriate and breathable

Otherwise, be safe and most importantly, have fun!!

Edited March 22, 2014 by sexymackeral

[lisabee30 1]

i have been to nigeria three times

health precautions; i got all the appropriate vaccines. Refer to the CDC website. I took malaria prophylaxis (doxyxcycline), It is generic and covered by insurance. I had no problems with medicine, Some people do, but not me. Carry basics like tylenol, advil. peptobismol. I did not get any travelers diarrhea there but I had a prescriptioin of ciprofloxacin filled prior to travelling just in case. I did not drink the water. no one did. bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth etc.

your fiancee will have to guide you through Lagos. credit cards not recommended. Always bring cash. or wire money to yourself ahead of time like someone suggested.

its hot.dress appropriately,

on my first visit,, I did not bring gifts for everyone. honestly, I dont go buy out and buy tons of gifts for strangers. whatever my husband ( fiancee) at the time asked me to carry I did and I carried mostly stuff for other people but I didnt buy alot of extra gifts on my own. my last trip I bought stuff for family members and friends/family members . but it wasnt excessive. follow your fiancees guide with this.

For Lagos, you cannot manage on your own. you will need to follow fiancees lead. its not that kind of place, lwhen I travelled to Spain by myself on vacation years ago, I managed just fine. Lagos-NO!

You will probably be on the go alot, stuck in traffic. its good to bring stuff to snack on lara bars, nuts. protein bars. I like and eat most Nigerian food ( except okra soup) but im someone that always eats breakfast early when I got up, so i brought instant oatmeal that I could eat in the morning early so I dont have to wait on everybody else.

also, my last trip one of the airport workers held me up askng for a certificate for yellow fever. she said it was required for Nigeria. Its not ! I acutally had yellow fever as a precaution but its not requited to enter Nigeria from US. so she started saying I was going to have to be quarantined. she did not ask for money, but I think thats where it was going. anyway, anothe airport worker saw our exchange, asked what was going on and talked to her and she let me go after me arguing back and forth with her for 10 minutes.

i went to the beach. I would not recommned it. its not too nice, so not worth it to me. I grew up in Florida, jamaican born, been to beaches in florida and jamaica, - rather spend my time in beaches there. the beach we went to, they charged to get in and it was dirty. maybe we went to the wrong one ????? they may have really nice one but that wast my experience.

[His Glory 25]

one more tip...if you take a credit card or debit card make sure you call the company ahead of time to see if it was ok to use in Nigeria. Chase said I couldn't use it there. If it can be used there call and let them know you will be in nigeria so they do not freeze your account because of an unexpected overseas charge.

[Anulife 1]

Thank you all!

[nigerwife 17]

I lived in Nigeria for a number of years and travelled in and out of the country many, many times during our time there. The only things I would add or stress are:

• I always carry tissue in my purse--trust me! Many restrooms will not have toilet paper and/or seats on the toilets.
• I always carry antibacterial hand gel. Nigeria is a dirty, dusty place in dry season and a dirty, muddy place in rainy season.
• Take malaria medication!! You can buy in Nigeria for much cheaper (just $10) than here in the US. You should also ensure you take some home with you. Malaria is a blood-borne disease and often shows up after one has returned to the US. US doctors are not good at testing for it or treating it. I have seen people near death before the US doctor figures it out! Seriously. If you fall ill upon your return--just take the malaria meds you bring back--it is always the first line of defense for any seasoned African when they are sick.
• I have NEVER paid a bribe or dashed an airport employee--EVER. Just pretend like you know what you are doing--this keeps much unwanted attention at bay. They are looking for people who they think will pay. When they ask what I brought for them; I just ask them what they brought for me.
• Skip the beach (unless you are going to Ghana). The beaches in Lagos are nasty. There are some water-side (mostly lagoon-side) food and/or drink places that are pleasant but the sand beaches on the ocean are not worth a visit.

Have fun and good luck on your first visit to a country I love!

[Moshin 3]

I know I'm late coming to this topic, (just saw it), but I would also add the following items: small flash light with extra batteries (for power outage), mosquito repellant - used to be they suggested one with with deet, but now I hear deet is bad for skin. And I brought two flip flops: one for hotel room and one for in the shower. Appear calm, confident, relaxed; makes you less of a target.