Police Road Blocks Long Abolished In Nigeria

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

http://allafrica.com/stories/201202140884.html

Just an FYI to those interested in visiting.

They have been replaced by American style roving patrol except they do not pull vehicles over but respond mainly to emergencies on the road.

My Wife and I drove an approximate 1,000 miles two months ago over 4 states and did not spot a single police road block. There were customs inspection sites along known intra border routes and safety inspections for commercial trucks just like in the US.

I haven't seen a police road block since January 2012.

This link is also a good one from the view point of a non Nigerian who lived in Nigeria with 3 other "white" American students.

http://northoflagos.wordpress.com/tag/titilayo-oyinbo/

Enjoy.

[forchika 4]

That is a good thing, because they were so dishonest and hassling people with those road blocks. We were stopped by one when I visited and taken to the police station on a shake down. They did not take any of the money I had on me but, they did get money from my in-law. I was not having any of that. I gave the police chief a $1.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

That is a good thing, because they were so dishonest and hassling people with those road blocks. We were stopped by one when I visited and taken to the police station on a shake down. They did not take any of the money I had on me but, they did get money from my in-law. I was not having any of that. I gave the police chief a $1.

The current trend now is to use hidden cameras to expose bribe takers.

Many police officers have lost their jobs due to YouTube videos of them taking bribes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxToYb__JfQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSyEe6CK8Cg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K64G7JYLqhE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO9hhyep6xE

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

But have the kidnappings stopped ? Until you can leave place A and have a reasonable expectation of getting to B alive it is still not a place ot visit ( and I am not referring to deaths because the roads are so dangerous )

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/nigeria

"Around 117,000 British nationals visit Nigeria each year."

And yet we don't hear of 117,000 Britons being kidnapped each year in Nigeria.

I continue to maintain that Nigeria is relatively safe, IMHO. Just like any country in the developing world, there are certain areas of concern. We all have individual level of safety requirement and of course one shouldn't intentional put oneself into what one believes to be a hot zone.

Edited November 3, 2013 by Gowon

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

So Nigeria is don't travel, travel only if your life depends on it and travel at your own risk. If even 1 person is kidnapped that is too many. Just how many British travelers are kidnapped in the US each year ? ( out of a lot more travelers )

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

I agree with the British government that it is safe to travel to Nigeria.

Here is what they said and they are much closer to Nigerians as a former colonist so I trust their data personally.

"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

• Borno State
• Yobe State
• Adamawa State
• Bauchi State
• Gombe State
• Kano city
• Okene City
• Riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States
• Warri city"

So only 8 states out of 36 are on the DO NOT travel list, not all.

[camden 20]

I agree with the facts shown. Thanks Gowon. Personal opinions of people who rarely visit mean nothing to me.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

http://www.expatarrivals.com/nigeria/expat-experiences-in-nigeria

Just in case my views are continued to be simplistically seen wrongly as being nationalistic, please read the above link for feedback from expatriates living in Nigeria. Some of whom haven't moved back to US/UK even though their Husbands have returned.

I started this thread for " those interested in visiting."

I live in Los Angeles and their are certain suburbs where I wouldn't go, even in broad daylight for safety reasons. One must always be safety conscious where ever one might travel to. It's as simple as that.

I was on Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun state two months ago and there were two foreign Women having lunch there. They had a driver sure but they weren't cowering in the back seat of a car being shielded from evil police men or some other such nonsense. Nobody was kidnapping them or strong arming them for money.

http://logbaby.com/encyclopedia/olumo-rock_12493.html#.UnbVv_msim4

[His Glory 25]

that's too bad about warri.....I have so many friends that live there. They always have to travel to see me when Im in lagos. they wont let me come to them