Working in Lagos, Nigeria

[tonyw3]

If you were offered a year's contract working in Lagos, Nigeria, would you take it? Salary OK, accommodation provided, chauffeur driven to work, and armed escorts home when you leave the office late.

Wife doesn't want to go and would not visit.

[apenn]

Then isn't the real question, would you go without your wife and without seeing her for a year!?

-A

[expat]

Salary would have to be a lot better than OK.

Would they also pay for you to fly home at least Monthly?

[woofmarkthedog]

Tony..

Are you in the oil industry..?

Met a client the other day who is, he's been working there & described it thus

" The armpit of the industry "

Other than that, sounds " interesting "

BUT having written a post like this ,have you ever considered a job in "Sales".....?

"Salary OK, accommodation provided, chauffeur driven to work, and armed escorts home when you leave the office late.

Wife doesn't want to go and would not visit."

No..?

W**F

[karter]

Would it put a strain on your relationship?

I would not go, but that's me.

[MrBen]

I'd do the risk / reward maths - risk to personal safety and for your relationship with your wife vs the reward of an "ok salary" and the cultural experience that comes with living in an expat bubble (behind 12 ft walls of concrete).

I reckon it's one of those interesting offers that instantly gets you dreaming of an escape from the hum drum of London office life but which also doesn't live up to the dream in reality.

The one I always wanted as an employee was New York, Sydney or Singapore. Then you'd be talking.....

[tonyw3]

First of all thanks everyone for your responses to this one. It truly actually helps.

Flights home would be every 3 months - with 2 weeks off.

No I am not in the oil industry (IT) which probably has equally smelly armpits.

MrBen, do you by any chance have the formula for the risk/reward maths?;-) And I would jump at any job which offered me either Singapore or California.

Has anyone on this forum ever worked in Lagos?

[Horsebox]

tonyw3 Wrote:

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> First of all thanks everyone for your responses to

> this one. It truly actually helps.

>

> Flights home would be every 3 months - with 2

> weeks off.

>

> No I am not in the oil industry (IT) which

> probably has equally smelly armpits.

>

> MrBen, do you by any chance have the formula for

> the risk/reward maths?;-) And I would jump at any

> job which offered me either Singapore or

> California.

>

> Has anyone on this forum ever worked in Lagos?

My sister infrequently travels there with work, unless she can otherwise avoid it. She's got very few good words to say about the place. Slightly grim, 24/7 security for foreigners and encounters with locals (all men, all aggressive) have been less than pleasant.

Obviously, with the 24/7 security she's limited to who she can meet and where she can go, so very little chance to scratch the surface of the place. If you were based there for some time and 'on your own' as it were, being a man you might have a completely different and interesting experience. As it is, and from what I understand, the only benefit for her is the additional money she is paid to work there, and even that is not enough to entice her back unless absolutely necessary.

[SteveT]

I was talking to a Lagos native some months ago, he said it was either 40 degrees, or it was p!ssing down.

The friends I have in the FO say it's a hell hole and they get extra pay for such a posting.

Your wife seems to know more than she's letting on.

My nephew lived there for the most miserable couple of years which he would certainly not duplicate.

He changed his job and employer rather than return.

Hope you make the right decision.

[northlondoner]

No long term experience there, but people I know describe it as the New York of Africa. UK expat I work with has a ball there. Very expensive but huge party city. If you want it you can get it.

Very big expansion programme being undertaken there - with serious straight money. I think it would be a mistake to turn it down blind. Go for a trial time with an open mind. Think things have improved since Hal 9000 was there.(Wow I can do predictive posting!)

[HAL9000]

During the early 80s I visited Lagos on a number of occasions and briefly visited Port Harcourt to the southeast and Kano to the north. I spent several weeks in Lagos, all told.

I was an official guest of the Government with 24-hour security. Even so, I never felt safe or comfortable. I was always hassled passing through Lagos airport with threats of arrest or delay unless hefty bribes were paid at each stage of the process. I was robbed by security forces at the airport, military security at a roadblock and was the subject of an attempted robbery in my hotel room. A prominent businessman threatened to have me kidnapped unless he was cut in on a particular deal. Every minister, civil servant and businessman I met was on the take; corruption was rife. I felt that no one could be trusted.

Even when contracts were signed and sealed, further bribes were demanded and many payments due were hijacked, delayed or not paid at all.

During one trip, a Nigerian Olympic gold-medal winner was shot in the head at one of the many impromptu roadblocks that appeared on the streets of Lagos.

On another occasion, the wheels off our official Mercedes were stolen while it was parked on a main road for no more than five minutes.

The level of crime, poverty, disease, corruption and dishonesty were unparalleled in comparison to my experiences elsewhere. In those days, the local food and water represented serious health risks along with the ever-present risk of contracting serious tropical diseases like malaria and a multitude of fevers and parasites - even anthrax.

I?m sure things have changed since I was there, but I vowed never to return whatever reward was in the offing.

One way of evaluating the risk is to find out how much it will cost to get an all-risks insurance policy.

[Horsebox]

HAL9000 Wrote:

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> During the early 80s I visited Lagos on a number

> of occasions...

> I?m sure things have changed since I was there,

> but I vowed never to return...

Hal, I hear things have changed since you were there. Apparantly the bribes are MUCH bigger.

[HAL9000]

The only good thing about Lagos was the nightlife - but ministers took me out so our group always got preferential treatment. The food, despite all the health warnings, was amongst the best I've ever had, but it was all at top restaurants and hotels. If I had not been under the official wing, I suspect things would have been very different.

I doubt whether I would have ventured out of the hotel on my own - just being a white man drew a crowd on the streets.

Anyway, the right person with the right attitude and skills could make a lot of money out there.

[matthew123]

Crikey is this a wind up!? Who the hell is really going to trade London for Lagos when the money is just okay?

As for armed escorts home I think that you gives you an idea of the environment on offer.

[????]

I dunno, away from the missus for ok money....

JOKE JOKE JOKE!

[pablogrande]

An architect I know was doing work for someone over there. They had a tender to design an airport, strangely the son of a high ranking official 'won' the competition, his designs was made of Lego

[SteveT]

One chap I know was walking down the street on his way to a business meeting, stepped into a puddle and went down to his neck, as some kind soul had stole the lid of the sewer, he returned home to shower and change.

If anyone is injured and lying on the street and you try to help, the police accuse you of injuring the victim, a fat bribe is the only way out.

[lozzyloz]

I spent some time in Lagos over 5 years ago. It's a fascinating place, has a vibrant music scene and the vast majority of Nigerians I've met are very hospitable and go out of their way to make sure you're secure and looked after. However, I really wouldn't recommend having your family there if they don't feel comfortable in that kind of environment. It's a tough place. It's fine for a young single guy, but very restrictive for a spouse.

The salary needs to be better than OK to make it worthwhile. You need a driver because it's virtually impossible for a foreigner to drive there (in Lagos it literally is bumper to bumper). If you do decide to take a punt make sure your contract is watertight re frequency of flights home, quality of housing and other benefits. I'm assuming you'll be paid offshore and not in Nigeria. If you have the option, Accra in neighbouring Ghana is a much nicer option. Good luck with your decision.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Tony

You say the wife doesn't want to go and won't visit, but you don't say how she feels about you going. Knowing your wife a little bit, I would suggest making this a very strong factor. But you probably already know this

[katie1997]

Tony - all good advice on here.

Don't underestimate how difficult it can be (IMO) to have a foot in two different continents. For example, those paid visits home every other month sound great but can prove to be difficult periods of emotional adjustment every time you go back and forward between your 'old' life in the UK and the new. (even more so if the culture you are immersed in is vastly different)

A year can go quickly but bear in mind that the company may try to extend your contract and it can be difficult to refuse some offers, once you have 'settled' into your new environment.

But first and foremost, I think you need to consider your wife's wishes (of course, she will be worried about your safety there.)

Then if you can come to some kind of 'compromise' - whether the country holds personal attractiveness to you. If not, whats your motivator? money? experiences? career development (is it a short-term means to a long-term shared goal)

I have been in the same position as you, although not Lagos, and I went on my own.

Good luck with it.

PS. I miss my chauffeur but would rather have him here in London - imagine it?! :))

[Ladymuck]

katie1997 Wrote:

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> I have been in the same position as you, although

> not Lagos, and I went on my own.

Did you leave behind a partner/hubby at the time? If so did he mind (or not)? Or were you on your own anyway? (Sorry, a bit personal - feel free to ignore).

> PS. I miss my chauffeur but would rather have him

> here in London - imagine it?! :))

A bit like Lady Penelope and Parker?:))

['bout now]

One chap I know was walking down the street on his way to a business meeting, stepped into a puddle and went down to his neck, as some kind soul had stole the lid of the sewer, he returned home to shower and change.

Apocryphal myth Steve, that was Dr Foster on an ill fated trip to Gloucester.

[katie1997]

Ladymuck Wrote:

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> katie1997 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I have been in the same position as you,

> although

> > not Lagos, and I went on my own.

Sorry I meant to be clearer it was a similar ish situation.

> Did you leave behind a partner/hubby at the time?

> If so did he mind (or not)? Or were you on your

> own anyway? (Sorry, a bit personal - feel free to

> ignore).

Yes I did. I seem to remember he seemed fairly relaxed and cheerful when the airline car arrived to collect me. As the car turned in our road I seem to remember sseeing him unload crates of his beloved german beer from the garage to the fridge; my memory is a bit hazy but there may have been a bottle of his best armagnac coming out too ;)

> > PS. I miss my chauffeur but would rather have

> him

> > here in London - imagine it?! :))

>

> A bit like Lady Penelope and Parker?:))

Yeah :)

[tonyw3]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

After a long hard think and reading all of the posts I have decided not to go.

Instead, I've opted to go to Kabul because, at least there, I will have armed guards all of the time. Money OK.;-)

[Azul]

funny that while googling about lagos in Nigeria, this one came out among the first ones.

guess I'll find out next week what's it like for real