I am going tosettle in Port Harcourt - any useful tips?What is the weather there? How expensive is it to live?

Question

What are the people like? Are Christians safe ? What sort of food is eaten there? Is it easy to get house maids?

Answer 1

Hi there--good luck on your impending relocation! Here is some information I think you may finds useful:

http://www.portharcourt.com/ - this website is the official Port Harcourt site and has good basic information on weather and basic life there.

http://www.thephctelegraph.com/ - this is one of the local newspapers in Port Harcourt and also has good day-to-day information on what it is like there

There are some serious safety issues that you may want to research before your travel. Please check out the info here:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_928.html

The most recent travel warning for Nigeria states:
This Travel Warning is being re-issued to note the deteriorating security situation in the Niger Delta region. It supersedes the Travel Warning for Nigeria issued January 20, 2006.

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Nigeria. The lack of law and order in Nigeria poses considerable risks to travelers. Violent crime committed by ordinary criminals, as well as by persons in police and military uniforms, can occur throughout the country.

The security situation in the Delta region has deteriorated significantly. Travel to the region remains very dangerous and should be avoided. On January 11, 2006, one American and three other expatriates aboard an oilfield service vessel were kidnapped off the coast of Bayelsa State. Over the last several months, the region has been subjected to a series of attacks on oil company facilities that may be coordinated and have resulted in the death of over twenty security personnel. A militant group claiming responsibility for the recent kidnapping has made public threats against oil company employees and their families, demanding they leave the region.

In recent months, Lagos and Abuja have also witnessed spikes in crime. Some expatriates have been robbed in the outlying Lagos suburb of Lekki, and in Abuja, the Maitama area has seen a series of home invasions. In a working class section of mainland Lagos, an October 2005 clash between police and residents left several dead. Even Victoria and Ikoyi Islands, which are generally safer than other parts of Lagos, have experienced attempted bank robberies, and have seen an increase in smash-and-grab car robberies, including some involving expatriates.

Religious tension between some Muslim and Christian communities results in occasional acts of isolated communal violence that could erupt quickly and without warning. The states of Kano and Kaduna are particularly volatile. Rival ethnic groups have clashed violently in the Niger Delta region around Warri city and in Southeast Plateau State. Senior al-Qaida leadership has expressed interest publicly in overthrowing the government of Nigeria. Links also were uncovered connecting Nigerians to al-Qaida in 2004.

Road travel is dangerous. Robberies by armed gangs have been reported on rural roads and within major cities. Travelers should avoid driving at night. Because of poor vehicle maintenance and driving conditions, public transportation throughout Nigeria can be dangerous and should be avoided. Taxis pose risks because of the possibility of fraudulent or criminal operators, old and unsafe vehicles, and poorly maintained roads. Road travel in Lagos is banned between 7:00 and 10:00 AM on the last Saturday of every month for municipal road cleanup; police vigilantly enforce the ban.

Most Nigerian airlines have aging fleets, and maintenance and operational procedures may be inadequate to ensure passenger safety. Domestic passenger airliner crashes in October and December 2005 resulted in numerous deaths. Because international flights tend to meet higher safety standards than domestic Nigerian flights, travelers should attempt to get direct international flights to/from their Nigerian destination, rather than transiting another Nigerian city such as Lagos. For domestic travel between Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, the U.S. Government encourages its employees to use Virgin Nigeria Airlines or Aero Contractors.

Some Nigeria-based criminals conduct advance fee fraud and other scams that target foreigners worldwide. These fraudulent activities pose great risk of financial loss. Recipients traveling to Nigeria to pursue such fraudulent offers have been subject to physical harm, and local police authorities are often unwilling to help in such cases. No one should provide personal financial or account information to unknown parties. Under no circumstances should U.S. citizens travel to Nigeria without a valid visa -- an invitation to enter Nigeria without a visa is normally indicative of illegal activity. Furthermore, the ability of U.S. Embassy officers to extricate U.S. citizens from unlawful business deals and their consequences is limited. Persons contemplating business deals in Nigeria are strongly urged to check with the U.S. Department of Commerce or the U.S. Department of State before providing any information or making any financial commitments. See the Department of State's publications “Tips For Business Travelers To Nigeria” at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_2113.html, and “Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud” at http://www.state.gov/www/regions/africa/naffpub.pdf.

Americans who travel to Nigeria despite this Travel Warning should obtain the latest health information before departing the U.S. The websites of the U.S. Center for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov and the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int have up-to-date information on outbreaks of contagious and tropical diseases. Americans considering travel to Nigeria should also read the Department’s Fact Sheet on Avian Influenza at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html and consult with their personal physicians concerning avian influenza.

U.S. citizens who travel to or reside in Nigeria are strongly advised to register through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. Periodically, travel by U.S. mission personnel is restricted based on changing security conditions, often due to crime, general strikes, or student/political demonstrations or disturbances. U.S. citizens should contact the U.S. Embassy in Abuja or the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos for up-to-date information on any restrictions. The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria can be contacted by phone at [234](9) 461-4000. American citizens may contact the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos at 011 [234](1) 261-1215 during business hours. For after-hours emergencies call [234] (1) 261-1414, 261-0195, 261-0078, 261-0139, or 261-6477. You may also visit the embassy’s website at http://nigeria.usembassy.gov.

I wish you the best of luck in your travels and hope you find this information useful!

Answer 2

Yes xtians are safe and yes it is safe if you work for an oil company. There is a variety of community there so don't worry u will fit right in and at home in no time. Also the food there is great. They have all sort but it is better if you like sea food. House maid, no problem. Just keep them away from your husband

Answer 3

The people are nice depending on how you treat them. And yes Christians should be save I do not know of any brutality. Hope this helps It is a beautiful city.

Answer 4

Nigeria has a beautiful place like Abuja,Lagos,Kano,Port Harcort. But i will advice you to go to Abuja,You will not like to leave there .