Anyone worked.contracted in Lagos?
Discussion
Mods - this isn't for the holiday or travel forum, I want to know about working conditions and not 'things to do'. Thanks.
I have the opportunity to contract in Lagos Nigeria for a short while. My knee-jerk reaction is 'absolutely not!' - kidnappings, shootings, scammers etc. But then I'm also thinking plenty of other folks seem to work there unscathed...so should I consider it? But then again the oil guys are probably well-built young lads who you wouldn't want to mess with, and I'm an old pale podgy IT bloke.
It is IT contracting for an oil company, so I'm told it's in a 'compound' (I have images of stacked portacabins and barbed wire) with transport arranged to and from the airport and between the hotel and place of work. Which then sounds to me like going outside is a bit of a no-no.
I've done some googling and the results seem to be either 'safe as houses' or 'don't venture out without an armed guard'. So has anyone any first-hand experience of working in Lagos...and I guess more importantly, would you choose to go back?
The only reason I'm slightly tempted is the offer of higher rates than the UK (danger money, or just discomfort money?). Although I've been asked to 'name my rate' I'm sure that's the first offer before we get down to haggling. But is there any sort of indication as to what the uplift should be versus a UK rate? 20% more? 50% more? 100% more
- and if that's the case I'm packing my bags! Seriously though, I know I'll be asking more than my UK rate, but I have no idea how much. I get the 'just ask what you'd be prepared to work for', but no-one likes to find out later that they're on the lowest rate there.
At this time I'm probably 60:40 for don't do it/do it; but if the rate uplift is truly spectacular and the conditions/personal safety aren't as bad as I think, then I could be tempted.
So any help, comments, suggests from anyone that's been there and done it gratefully received.
I have the opportunity to contract in Lagos Nigeria for a short while. My knee-jerk reaction is 'absolutely not!' - kidnappings, shootings, scammers etc. But then I'm also thinking plenty of other folks seem to work there unscathed...so should I consider it? But then again the oil guys are probably well-built young lads who you wouldn't want to mess with, and I'm an old pale podgy IT bloke.
It is IT contracting for an oil company, so I'm told it's in a 'compound' (I have images of stacked portacabins and barbed wire) with transport arranged to and from the airport and between the hotel and place of work. Which then sounds to me like going outside is a bit of a no-no.
I've done some googling and the results seem to be either 'safe as houses' or 'don't venture out without an armed guard'. So has anyone any first-hand experience of working in Lagos...and I guess more importantly, would you choose to go back?
The only reason I'm slightly tempted is the offer of higher rates than the UK (danger money, or just discomfort money?). Although I've been asked to 'name my rate' I'm sure that's the first offer before we get down to haggling. But is there any sort of indication as to what the uplift should be versus a UK rate? 20% more? 50% more? 100% more
- and if that's the case I'm packing my bags! Seriously though, I know I'll be asking more than my UK rate, but I have no idea how much. I get the 'just ask what you'd be prepared to work for', but no-one likes to find out later that they're on the lowest rate there.At this time I'm probably 60:40 for don't do it/do it; but if the rate uplift is truly spectacular and the conditions/personal safety aren't as bad as I think, then I could be tempted.
So any help, comments, suggests from anyone that's been there and done it gratefully received.
I had a mate work out at Port Harcourt (not sure how different it is to Lagos) ... lived in a compound for oil workers in a nice apartment, there were tennis courts etc... he ventured out occasionally, only 1 report of his convoy being shot at in 3 years...
depends if you have any dependants back home ? if its just for a short while, i'd go for it tbh!
depends if you have any dependants back home ? if its just for a short while, i'd go for it tbh!
Edited by Lynchie999 on Friday 12th May 12:37
Having IT contracted in Luanda for 3+ years back at the end of the war (not too far removed from Lagos TBH) I'd say go for it,
Those years I spent amongst the close-knit crew of people are the favourite of my career so far and I'd go back tomorrow if given the chance.
In fact OP, if you decide not to go for it, or there's more than one position available, please get in touch as I'm very motivated to contract outside of the UK again.
Day rate wise, when I left Luanda in 2011 I was on just under £500 a day + $80 per day local allowances.
With the downturn in the industry I would expect day rates to have dropped a little to be honest, depends on what exactly the role consists of though.
Those years I spent amongst the close-knit crew of people are the favourite of my career so far and I'd go back tomorrow if given the chance.
In fact OP, if you decide not to go for it, or there's more than one position available, please get in touch as I'm very motivated to contract outside of the UK again.
Day rate wise, when I left Luanda in 2011 I was on just under £500 a day + $80 per day local allowances.
With the downturn in the industry I would expect day rates to have dropped a little to be honest, depends on what exactly the role consists of though.
There was an amazing thread on here of a guy that replied to a advert in a newsagents window and a week later he was flown to the arse end of Africa for a job, similar to this but 20 years ago, sounded amazing.
Id be wary of "name your price" , reminds of Austin Powers when he asked for 1 million dollars, you could sell yourself short straight away, can you find out what the going rate is?
Id do it if I didnt have kids/pets/othr half
How much holiday/how long/how much?
If I was on a 40k a year perm job in UK and they offered £150k tax free for a year in Lagos...id be off in a flash
What type of IT is it?
Id be wary of "name your price" , reminds of Austin Powers when he asked for 1 million dollars, you could sell yourself short straight away, can you find out what the going rate is?
Id do it if I didnt have kids/pets/othr half
How much holiday/how long/how much?
If I was on a 40k a year perm job in UK and they offered £150k tax free for a year in Lagos...id be off in a flash
What type of IT is it?
I worked in PH for about 8 months then moved to Lagos and did about 18 months in the Eko Meridien hotel.
If you can blinker yourself to the incredible poverty and some really disturbing things going on then you might enjoy it. I really enjoyed my time in the country but I'd just come from Venezuela and the Philippines and a few other dodgy places so I was kind of used to s
ttiness. Traffic is a nightmare, the roads are completely wrecked, you get ripped off everywhere no matter what currency you're paying in, the beer embalms you from the inside out, it stinks, it rains a lot and floods, you cant buy even simple stuff in some places. There was a fantastic expat scene though, we all used to meet on a Friday night and go to a restaurant and then to one of the expat bars or casino. I was there in 2003/4 so it has probably changed quite a bit since then. Had a few dodgy experiences with the police stopping taxis, area boys in Warri and nights out in PH were like Mad Max. I never felt in as much danger as I did in Caracas.
Go into it with your mind open and just accept it's not home and that you're going to have to be uncomfortable at times. You'll be better for it and hopefully enjoy it. Oh and think long and hard about not taking Malarone if you're offered it, horrendous stuff!
If you can blinker yourself to the incredible poverty and some really disturbing things going on then you might enjoy it. I really enjoyed my time in the country but I'd just come from Venezuela and the Philippines and a few other dodgy places so I was kind of used to s
ttiness. Traffic is a nightmare, the roads are completely wrecked, you get ripped off everywhere no matter what currency you're paying in, the beer embalms you from the inside out, it stinks, it rains a lot and floods, you cant buy even simple stuff in some places. There was a fantastic expat scene though, we all used to meet on a Friday night and go to a restaurant and then to one of the expat bars or casino. I was there in 2003/4 so it has probably changed quite a bit since then. Had a few dodgy experiences with the police stopping taxis, area boys in Warri and nights out in PH were like Mad Max. I never felt in as much danger as I did in Caracas. Go into it with your mind open and just accept it's not home and that you're going to have to be uncomfortable at times. You'll be better for it and hopefully enjoy it. Oh and think long and hard about not taking Malarone if you're offered it, horrendous stuff!
Of all the dodgy African countries I have been to, Nigeria is actually high up the list of places I would activley seek to go back to work in - not because it is particularly safe, or at all nice - but the main reason for this is how well it is organised (by my company at least) - picked up at the airport, security breifings, armed escorts with plenty of MOPOL around you, compound with watchtowers - the works. Depending on who's compound you are on will depend how enjoyable your time off is, but at the end of the day, you are there to do a job and swell your bank balance.
This of course comes with the fairly big caveat that the company you are going there with knows what they are doing.
If you have never been to Africa, it will be a bit of a shock - the poverty is eye watering (although personally, Luanda in Angola was much worse than anything I have seen in Nigeria). It will really change your perspective on the world and the way it works. It will also make it clear that the stories of corruption in the news are barely scratching the surface. It is something I am glad I have witnessed - even if it does make me roll my eyes a bit when people bang on about people in the UK who have it tough - but that is a different argument...
Having been in PHC and Lagos, Lagos is much nicer, but still not exactly where you would choose to go for your holidays. Keep your wits about you and follow instructions and you should be fine.
This of course comes with the fairly big caveat that the company you are going there with knows what they are doing.
If you have never been to Africa, it will be a bit of a shock - the poverty is eye watering (although personally, Luanda in Angola was much worse than anything I have seen in Nigeria). It will really change your perspective on the world and the way it works. It will also make it clear that the stories of corruption in the news are barely scratching the surface. It is something I am glad I have witnessed - even if it does make me roll my eyes a bit when people bang on about people in the UK who have it tough - but that is a different argument...
Having been in PHC and Lagos, Lagos is much nicer, but still not exactly where you would choose to go for your holidays. Keep your wits about you and follow instructions and you should be fine.
As with cars, the cr*ppiest countries are the ones you remember most.
If you are prepared for heat, traffic, poverty, illness, poor healthcare, spontaneous violence, group hysteria, and corruption, Lagos is a fascinating place to work for a short while. Good to get out of the Western bubble (and expat bubble) for a bit and see how 50-70% of the world really lives.
Check with the British and Nigerian Embassies that the job offer you have is real. Nigeria is famous for its job scams (as their government readily admits).
If you are prepared for heat, traffic, poverty, illness, poor healthcare, spontaneous violence, group hysteria, and corruption, Lagos is a fascinating place to work for a short while. Good to get out of the Western bubble (and expat bubble) for a bit and see how 50-70% of the world really lives.
Check with the British and Nigerian Embassies that the job offer you have is real. Nigeria is famous for its job scams (as their government readily admits).
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