My partner works in the oil industry and has been offered an excellent position in Nigeria. Does anyone know anything about working in Nigeria as we are worried about the safety issues before he accepts the job.
2007-02-16 04:41:58 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ Other - Africa & Middle East
i wouldnt advise it
2007-02-16 04:46:35 · answer #1 · answered by becca b 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Hi, I worked in Nigeria in the oil field for over a year. At the moment in Nigeria there is an upcomming election and this is always a violent time.
Working out of Lagos or Abuja would probably be the safest, but I use the word "safe" in loose terms. Port Harcourt and Warri, which are the main oil towns, are at the moment a vertual no go area (as is most of the Nigerian delta area). The foreign office advises againt all but the most nessasary travel to the area. When you arrive into PH or Warri or Lagos you are escorted by armed guards to and from hotels etc. So that gives you an idea what it is like. There is a constant and very real threat of kidnapping. If he is going to be on the offshore rigs he will be safer but even then armed men have taken over rigs in the past and held it ransom. One of the rigs I was on had navy men with machine guns posted on the rig to protect the installation and its workers.
From a point of view of a westerner going to Nigeria, it has a lot to offer with regards to gaining life experience both positive and negative. There is some trully wonderful people there getting by in the worst conditions you could ever imagine. I have never seen poverty like it. I am glad I experienced Nigeria but I would not like to go back.
It really just boils down to how much risk you and your husband are prepared to take. He could go out there do his job and be perfectly ok but on the other hand....they dont offer good money for nothing, the oil companies know the risks and are willing to pay you for it.
Check out the BBC website and look under Africa and Nigeria and there are some interesting articles about the history of the oil conflicts and all the problems that are going on out there, especially the Niger Delta area.
I dont mean to talk Nigeria down, but make sure you and your husband go into this with your eyes wide open.
2007-02-16 21:26:22 · answer #2 · answered by fergie68 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might want to have alook at these 2 articles. This is is not something that is just for now, it has been happening for a long time. The country is fine to live in, but I'm nt comfortable by a foreigner working in the oil industry. There are many foreigners working there in other industries and that is fine. But oil in Nigeria has always been a sensitive issue. And Nigerians are not bad people. Your partner will be fine.
2007-02-19 03:19:55 · answer #3 · answered by DolphinLami 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Expats working for a respectable company can be sure of good protection, that is in Lagos though. Some nice places to live in on Victoria Island. The mainland is a no go without escort. Port Harcourt and in the Delta gets a bit tricky as guards collude with the rebels. In any case, they won't kill you, for the time being they just want the publicity and airtime. It's just very inconvenient to wear the same underwear for a month as a hostage! Just go, the pay is good! Plenty of expat wifes to play cards with too!
2007-02-16 22:44:39 · answer #4 · answered by Bossie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well some information are correct some are not.
it is true that i would advise that your friend if the job that is he offering to get is in Niger-Delta area please i would advise to think twice before accepting it.
but any other place is free to work especialy Lagos and Abuja.
but since is an oil ompany i dougt him/her not working in the eastern part of the country which is NIger-Delta area
for the political time that other person is talking about, Nigerians youth i believe has come of age in which they will be using for political violence, everybody want this democracy to survive in Nigeria we want a smooth transition to another political party.
so as your friend is preparing to work in Nigeria i wish him/her good luck.
2007-02-16 22:09:25 · answer #5 · answered by phemmy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read February's issue of Vanity Fair (Demi Moore on the cover). There is a really informative article on the oil issues in the Nigerian delta. It's a must read - especially if he is considering employment.
If you can't find the magazine, check out vanityfair.com......
Good luck....
2007-02-16 05:58:19 · answer #6 · answered by tureeza 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a colleague working there and he's fine in Lagos hes british by the way
i would go go on the net and gather info
2007-02-16 04:46:22 · answer #7 · answered by cazmo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋