Nigeria

[PA-44Typed]

Anyone fly or work in Nigeria, I’m unemployed and starting to get desperate. I have been contracted to fly for an oil guy there. Good $$ and paid to and from on a 2 month on 1 month off kind of deal. Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? Thanks

 

[Kikuchiyo]

Can't help much with job info, but I found this web site and forum called the Expat's Guide to Nigeria which might be of some help:

http://www.oyibosonline.com/

 

[Jetdriver69]

Nigeria or any part of western Africa can be iffy at best. I fly alot into this area and would not want to live there on the econmy for any length of time.

 

[Publishers]

Nigeria is strictly third world and if you have no experience in that kind of place, you may have some problems. If you have problems, there will be no one to come help. Your success there depends on your ability to adapt and survive plus live to a totally different way of life. They speak English, they understand almost none of it, and if they are telling you it, they are lieing.
You need to get paid in US dollars in the US before you work. Their currency is worth nothing outside of the country and for you to get money out is not easy either.
In short, if you have no military background, no experience in places like this, stay home.

 

[PA-44Typed]

I Would be living on a compound with security and guards to/from the airport. Flying in and out of Abuja, Flying the “big man” of one of the oil companies. Good $$ and business class to/from USA for the 2 on 1 off rotation. I am going to interview in the next week here in the US and see what they have to offer.

 

[VW Pilot]

Just don't become the MUGU....Or they will go chop your dollar....HA!

 

[fareview]

check out:

www.pprune.org

Go to the African forum. There is a lot there.

I have operated and overnighted there so I would not be able to tell you much about living in country...but I can tell you that Lagos is v. sketchy.

I hear Abuja is slightly better. There are guys there doing it so it is doable if you have nothing else going on.

I would do it if i had to ...as long as it was armed guard from Sheraton to airport and back.

Whatever you do MAKE SURE all the little details are covered, housing, security, per diem, security, commuting ticket, security, time off, security...i think you get the picture...

goof luck and remember...when flying in Africa...bring a sense of humor.

fv

 

[Diesel]

what type of plane? That kind of says it all.

 

[Publishers]

My point sort of was --living in a security compound with guards to and from -- well that says it. If you fit that kind of thing, go for it. I went though 3 Tech Reps there but the fourth liked it, his US money went far, he lived well and had the knack to get along with the locals. The pilots we took did not last three months.

 

[Gas Man]

The fact that you will be in a compound "with security" says something. I'm in the same boat though, furloughed and getting desper-otto. What the f*ck is wrong with this industry?

 

[PA-44Typed]

Cl605

 

[jafo20]

I was based in Nigeria for a while. I'm more than happy to fill you in on details, too.

 

[Shamus]

Abuja is much nicer then Lagos, traffic problems are eased at it was a pre planned city and that is why they moved the capital from Lagos. I didn't like it at all. Let me put it this way, I was flying Kana West and they almost had to cancel a concert, his travel guy said they wanted to be airborne before they broke the news for safety.

 

[LR25]

We go to Lagos off and on, ATC there is abhorrent.

 

[flyguy75000]

Be careful...this may be one of those Nigerian guys that wants you to open a bank account and put money in it so he can share the $10,000,000 he won with you!

He keeps sending me emails.......

 

[FreightGod]

I flew into Lagos on and off a couple of years ago.

Did not bribe the right people and had to wait for fuel up to 8 hours.
Only safe hotel in town was the Sheraton, guards needed for the van-ride.

Pretty lawless, be careful.

 

[Ghetto Buck]

Re:Looking for work in Nigeria

My Friend
As an "American" Living and working there on "Similar" type rotation, my advise is....
If you are going there because you are desperate Forget about it. Go there because you want too, and the remuneration package is what you are happy with.
Abuja is a Big step up from Lagos, more orderly and quiet.
I am a consultant working for one of the oldest aviation companies in Africa, i can tell you there are many frustrations in Africa and Nigeria is no exception. But if you are not of the frame of mine where you can be happy, open and use "common sense' Africa is not the place for you. remember this is Africa not America or Europe!
ARIK Air is Littered with many Desperate "Americans" layed off form majors or those who have left low paying regional s looking for some "greener pastures" in Nigeria.
But they bring there baggage with them and try to do things their way. The result is they just frustrate them selves into Paranoia.And nothing changes.
So do some research and talk to folks who have been there for a while, i.e 5 or 10 years,
( not the one or two year transient!). And go to the interview and talk to these talk to these folks and see for your self. And you will find that they are not what some have tried to characteristic them as. They are very intelligent, business oriented and accepting people.
I have been there for over almost 5 years, and can say i am pretty happy,( it is not Utopia)and will retire from there. (If God will) be open and smile, and you will surprised.

All the best
George B.

 

[whymeworry?]

My $.02. IF you're unemployed, at least go for the interview. You'd be surprised how many foreigners are working in Nigeria. I'm working in the 3rd world right now. Its definately an acquired taste, no doubt, but keep your expectations low as well as your profile and you'll do fine.

I interviewd for a Nigerian flight job a few months back. Most people were negative about the place but I managed to find a few who convinced me it's not the end of the world. Put in your time, save a few bucks, something better will come along once all these CEOs realize they HAVE TO TRAVEL IN A BIZJET. There's just no way around that fact in today's day and age.

 

[ATRCAPT]

Be careful, Bro. I did quite a bit of Africa flying in my previous life, and I'm here to tell you Nigeria is a toilet. Very lawless and very dangerous. Good luck.

 

[Palmtree Pilot]

"when flying in Africa...bring a sense of humor."

...and a watch that runs only half as fast as a normal one!!

PtP

 

[414Flyer]

Just don't become the MUGU....Or they will go chop your dollar....HA!

Funny, but for the 419ers, getting their dollas chopped is their biggest fear. I was talking to one of them via yahoo IM other day, who was trying to run a scam on me. I threw out some Nigerian pidgin English, then a link to the dolla chop song, and told me I was gonna chop his dollars. Pissed him off to no end, having him think a more experienced scammer was going to take over all of his scams and steal the money out.

I flew in Mali for a while, which is considerable more poor than Nigeria, but also tons safer. Never felt threatened at all.

But, in places like Africa, the money you are making just ends up being a number you see on your bank account webpage, but the reality of life is what determines if you are actually happy and enjoying it. You can be making loads, and be hating life.

 

[Fly91]

Anyone fly or work in Nigeria, I’m unemployed and starting to get desperate. I have been contracted to fly for an oil guy there. Good $$ and paid to and from on a 2 month on 1 month off kind of deal. Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? Thanks

You'd be better off flying for someone here in the states for free and have everyone here bitch at you for it....rather than live in that complete sh$thole.

When we flew in there we never stepped foot off the plane (Kano and Lagos). I've stayed on the plane for 24 hours before. A few years before I started with that company when they flew C-130's in there a mechanic died there from some stomach virus. Having dinner one day and I think a couple days later he died.
Not to mention the stories all the guys would tell me about people getting killed in the city, middle of the day, for NOTHING. Body just laid there for a day or two.

When human garbage makes up a country, you get garbage for a country.

Just dumb to live there.

 

[taz]

But, in places like Africa, the money you are making just ends up being a number you see on your bank account webpage, but the reality of life is what determines if you are actually happy and enjoying it. You can be making loads, and be hating life.[/quo
This is also true for this country as well!
Ask any Major or regional pilot. they all see numbers and hate their life.
Then the go to Africa Korea China India and make more money and are more miserable than before.
Happyness starts within!!!!
Happy Landings
T

 

[Fly91]

This is also true for this country as well!
Ask any Major or regional pilot. they all see numbers and hate their life.
Then the go to Africa Korea China India and make more money and are more miserable than before.
Happyness starts within!!!!
Happy Landings
T

I have friends who flew for the majors here for 15-16 years. Now a few of them live abroad in places like Macau, Jakarta, Biejing, Shanghai, Russia, etc.... they all now think that the USA is a complete arm pit to live in and they LOVE where they live now, and they make more money then anyone can make here in the USA.

To each his own I guess. It would take a hell of a lot for me to move out of the USA to fly. $200K minimum and a great schedule. Because I like living here.

Africa though....only people that actually like living in Africa are the corrupt scumbags that drain the life out of their own people and country.

 

[TWA]

Happiness is completely independent of location, and dependent on the individual. Only YOU can control your own happiness.

 

[414Flyer]

Completely independent? After living in some third world places, you just cant say it is happiness and location are completely independent.

Most people would be extremely unhappy in a place like Nigeria. India was hard enough after a while, but that was a fond memory after being in places like Saudi and Mali.

Some people can be happy anywhere, but there are places where life is depressing and keeping upbeat and positive is going to be difficult, if not impossible at times.

 

[TWA]

Ok, I worded that horribly wrong. The point I am trying to make is that just because it is a third world country does not automatically mean you are going to be miserable. Everyone is responsible for their own happiness.

 

[avbug]

You'd be better off flying for someone here in the states for free and have everyone here bitch at you for it....rather than live in that complete sh$thole.

When we flew in there we never stepped foot off the plane (Kano and Lagos). I've stayed on the plane for 24 hours before. A few years before I started with that company when they flew C-130's in there a mechanic died there from some stomach virus. Having dinner one day and I think a couple days later he died.
Not to mention the stories all the guys would tell me about people getting killed in the city, middle of the day, for NOTHING. Body just laid there for a day or two.

When human garbage makes up a country, you get garbage for a country.

Just dumb to live there.

Such confident words seeing as you "never stepped foot off the plane."

Should you really be the one to carry on about what a terrible place it is to live...when you wouldn't know?

Rather presumptive of you. But then...you've read about it, and heard about it...and that qualifies you to make such statements?

Tell us about other things you've never done, such as space walks, and walking and chewing bubble gum at the same time, expert.

 

[414Flyer]

Well Lagos and much of Nigeria IS a dangerous place, lets not be too hasty to judge him for not wanting to get off the plane.

 

[Rick1128]

I am presently flying a Hawker 800SP out of Abuja. It is not as bad as so make it out. It is definitely much better than Kabul. We live at a reasonably good hotel, I will not name it for security purposes. We are paid in USD deposited into our US accounts and have US benefits. We do not have guards to and from the airport. We do have a driver, as you really don't want to drive here. And I feel reasonably secure.

Lagos is a totally different kettle of fish. I have been told that the population of 'greater' Lagos is around 40 million. It is a $h-thole. It is definitely not a secure place. Anywhere on the Niger basin has security concerns.

ATC is the pits. Don't be afraid to as them to repeat slowly. They do NOT follow standard ICAO ATC procedures. There is only one radar that works (sometimes) and that is in Abuja. So get use to doing full procedures and holding. ATC's radios are World War One surplus, I think, they are so bad.