Just a flight of stairs!
Has brought us so much tears,
Just a flight of stairs!
Has brought forth our inner most fears,
Just a flight of stairs!
Has taken away a rare Gem,
Just a flight of stairs!
Has Slashed an Iroko right down its stem
Just a flight of stairs!
Has brought down an Angel in its prime
Just a flight of stairs
Many fear it may have been a Crime
Just a flight of stairs
It doesn't help the situation
Just a flight of stairs
Conspiracy theory ? Or plain complication?
Just a flight of stairs
We'll miss your beaming smile
Just a flight of stairs
Your loss tastes like bile
Just a flight of stairs
Keeps me up at Night with a stern stare
Just a flight of stairs
Has Shown we truly Care.
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Monday 21 November 2011
Waiting on Esther....
Its just a few hours to our resumption Esther,
I'll take today's briefing so don't bother,
Please show up early don't be LATE!
I know you'll oblige me, I have faith!
I've been inundated with calls, texts & pings,
All sorts of stories, different things,
Telling me you're not coming tonight!
It gave me a crazy fright,
Who gave you a day off?
I'm ready to call your bluff!
Who am I to hassle about eating late at night?
Or why you didn't close the flight?
In all things, you brought a listening ear,
And I sense you really did care,
A teachable spirit!
My chest hurts, I can still feel it
I really wish I could hug you now!
Even if you squeeze your face or frown
Please Esther come, don't be LATE!
I'll wait up for you by the gate.
I'll take today's briefing so don't bother,
Please show up early don't be LATE!
I know you'll oblige me, I have faith!
I've been inundated with calls, texts & pings,
All sorts of stories, different things,
Telling me you're not coming tonight!
It gave me a crazy fright,
Who gave you a day off?
I'm ready to call your bluff!
Who am I to hassle about eating late at night?
Or why you didn't close the flight?
In all things, you brought a listening ear,
And I sense you really did care,
A teachable spirit!
My chest hurts, I can still feel it
I really wish I could hug you now!
Even if you squeeze your face or frown
Please Esther come, don't be LATE!
I'll wait up for you by the gate.
Thursday 20 October 2011
Oga Prof even you?
Good day people, i know i have never done posts back to back before but i would be off work for a few days so here is today's post, a sort of Part 2 of the last post. This is titled: Oga Prof even you?
Sitting in his University of Portharcourt office, Prof. was visited by the wife and son and they told him that they would like him to accompany them to Cotonou for a few days.
They may have seen the amount of stress he had undergone in the last few years and thought it wise he came along on the holiday. He was reluctant as he claimed, but they kept on piling pressure on him to come along.
Eventually, he succumbed to the pressure, but told them he wasn't packed for the trip (PHC-LOS-COO). The wife and son volunteered to go home to help him pack, and come by the office to pick him up to the airport.
As they packed for him, picked him up at the office and headed to the airport, they must have been excited being able to get the whole family on the trip. The first leg PHC-LOS was a local flight and that went smooth.
They were all checked through and had boarding passes for the LOS-COO sector. So they didn't need to present themselves at check in for the international leg LOS-COO.
The Question: Even you sir?
During the boarding of the flight, with a few passengers to go, it was noticed that Prof. had on him the outdated passport (not the e-passport). Subsequently, he was informed that he would not be boarded.
Observation:
How did you get to the boarding gate sir? Did the immigration officers stamp your passport?
The wife and son eventually went on the flight, and we had to take the Prof. back through immigration to the departure level. The normal procedure is to get the passenger back to immigration so his outward stamp is cancelled.
On approach of the immigration point, the immigration officer inquired as to what transpired (<--hahaha) . After explanation, he made attempt to collect the passport to cancel the stamp. Alas, the passport was never stamped!! So if we had boarded the passenger, there would never have been a record of him leaving the country!
My Suspicion:
He must have realised his mistake at some point and approached an immigration officer to 'Help' him out. Money must have changed hands and off to the gate he came. He had not been stamped out of the country!
He claimed that the immigration officers said it was 'fine', since it was just COTONOU!
He had to sleep in the Airport till the next day, then took a flight back to Portharcourt.
Pay attention to details when travelling people.... PAY ATTENTION!! @lereboy
Sitting in his University of Portharcourt office, Prof. was visited by the wife and son and they told him that they would like him to accompany them to Cotonou for a few days.
They may have seen the amount of stress he had undergone in the last few years and thought it wise he came along on the holiday. He was reluctant as he claimed, but they kept on piling pressure on him to come along.
Eventually, he succumbed to the pressure, but told them he wasn't packed for the trip (PHC-LOS-COO). The wife and son volunteered to go home to help him pack, and come by the office to pick him up to the airport.
As they packed for him, picked him up at the office and headed to the airport, they must have been excited being able to get the whole family on the trip. The first leg PHC-LOS was a local flight and that went smooth.
They were all checked through and had boarding passes for the LOS-COO sector. So they didn't need to present themselves at check in for the international leg LOS-COO.
The Question: Even you sir?
During the boarding of the flight, with a few passengers to go, it was noticed that Prof. had on him the outdated passport (not the e-passport). Subsequently, he was informed that he would not be boarded.
Observation:
How did you get to the boarding gate sir? Did the immigration officers stamp your passport?
The wife and son eventually went on the flight, and we had to take the Prof. back through immigration to the departure level. The normal procedure is to get the passenger back to immigration so his outward stamp is cancelled.
On approach of the immigration point, the immigration officer inquired as to what transpired (<--hahaha) . After explanation, he made attempt to collect the passport to cancel the stamp. Alas, the passport was never stamped!! So if we had boarded the passenger, there would never have been a record of him leaving the country!
My Suspicion:
He must have realised his mistake at some point and approached an immigration officer to 'Help' him out. Money must have changed hands and off to the gate he came. He had not been stamped out of the country!
He claimed that the immigration officers said it was 'fine', since it was just COTONOU!
He had to sleep in the Airport till the next day, then took a flight back to Portharcourt.
Pay attention to details when travelling people.... PAY ATTENTION!! @lereboy
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Never overlook details!!
Good day people, so sorry i haven't been up to date with my postings. Since i started this blog for fun, many things took my time and attention off it. To my utmost surprise, i have been getting messages via twitter, facebook and bbm concerning this site. So i would make it a point of duty to post more often.
The Error:
This Lady had apparently worked with the Immigration service in Ghana and risen to the very top before retirement so coming into Nigeria (or leaving Ghana) with a cancelled passport was not expected from her. Alas the passport she left Ghana with was CANCELLED! she had to be deported.
Today's post is about people that have to suffer just because they don't pay attention to simple details or would i say information as contained in their passports.
The Woman:
Towards the close of my last day shift i was called by the immigration service to their office to sign up forms for a woman about to be deported back to Ghana! i was quite surprised as Ghana is a west African country like Nigeria, so i don't expect a Ghanaian to be deported from Nigeria.
As i approached the office, the Lady was not there, she was at a different corner making frantic efforts to get top government officials to wade into her situation as it was eminent that she would be deported. She was in Nigeria on the invitation of a high powered agency and was even on phone with top immigration officers in Abuja where the meeting was to be held.
Towards the close of my last day shift i was called by the immigration service to their office to sign up forms for a woman about to be deported back to Ghana! i was quite surprised as Ghana is a west African country like Nigeria, so i don't expect a Ghanaian to be deported from Nigeria.
As i approached the office, the Lady was not there, she was at a different corner making frantic efforts to get top government officials to wade into her situation as it was eminent that she would be deported. She was in Nigeria on the invitation of a high powered agency and was even on phone with top immigration officers in Abuja where the meeting was to be held.
The Error:
This Lady had apparently worked with the Immigration service in Ghana and risen to the very top before retirement so coming into Nigeria (or leaving Ghana) with a cancelled passport was not expected from her. Alas the passport she left Ghana with was CANCELLED! she had to be deported.
The Explanaton:
As i approached her, to enquire of her return ticket and how this happened. She claims that she had an ECOWAS passport at home but didn't bring it. She also told me that she had no return ticket on her and that the ticket to go back to Ghana was waiting for her in Abuja. This was not so as all our tickets are electronic and i could not find her name on the flights for the next week when she claimed she had a ticket for.
As i approached her, to enquire of her return ticket and how this happened. She claims that she had an ECOWAS passport at home but didn't bring it. She also told me that she had no return ticket on her and that the ticket to go back to Ghana was waiting for her in Abuja. This was not so as all our tickets are electronic and i could not find her name on the flights for the next week when she claimed she had a ticket for.
The Options:
The options were few and far between as a flight just left to ACCRA as we spoke and made calls. She was about to miss the next and final one if we did not make moves to get her on a flight to Accra and fast, she would have had to sleep over in the Airport , and the Airline would have to pay a fine of $2,000 to the immigration service (which i was still trying to avoid) for bringing her in with invalid documents.
The options were few and far between as a flight just left to ACCRA as we spoke and made calls. She was about to miss the next and final one if we did not make moves to get her on a flight to Accra and fast, she would have had to sleep over in the Airport , and the Airline would have to pay a fine of $2,000 to the immigration service (which i was still trying to avoid) for bringing her in with invalid documents.
A ticket was priced for her 1 way to Accra and was told to pay. She claimed she had no money and that her ticket was in Abuja, when it started to dawn on her that she may sleep on a table in the Airport (considering her status) she opted to pay via credit card.
Eventually, she did pay for the ticket and was returned back to Ghana. She had therefore paid for 2 tickets ACCRA-Lagos-Abuja , and Lagos-Accra without stepping out of the Airport! Both tickets would have cost her upwards of $500. All she had to do was take time out at home or on her way to the Airport to go through her documents. Instead of flying 55mins to Lagos, staying in the Airport for 2hrs and flying out for another 55mins without leaving the Airport.
The moral of the story is......read- @lereboy
Monday 5 September 2011
Cleaners of the Airport ("The Good")
Hello everyone, its been a while since i posted. The Internet service has been really poor of late. I haven't really gotten the hang of the whole word press thing. Today's post is the first of 3 parts namely
Cleaners of the Airport The Good (1), The Bad (2) & The Ugly (3)
The airport complex is very big and has so many people coming through on a daily / hourly basis. The amount of dirt that is generated in 24hrs can only be imagined. This means cleaning the airport is a major task that has to be done.
There are 2 types of cleaners in the Airport here, the first group handles individual airlines, while the second handle the actual airport premises open to all and sundry. Why are these cleaners "Good" ?, one may ask.
Primary Role: Their primary role which is to keep the Airport clean is a really good thing. I cannot imagine how it would look or smell like if the cleaners were off duty for 24hrs. The toilets would be a mess, litter would be every where, spills would be everywhere, it would be a complete mess.
But besides their primary role, they also have other "Unofficial Roles" like helping staff to buy food from the restaurants located outside the Airport premises.
They can also be called on to provide "Yellow Cards" which are required when travelling to certain (if not all) destinations. These yellow cards are suppose to be issued by the Airport Health Authorities, but have found their way into the hands of the cleaners.
Another "Good" that comes from the cleaners would be things like sellotape, jute bags, padlocks and other handy things that passengers may have forgotten to bring with them to the Airport for their travel.
At the boarding area, if you realise that you are low or out of credit, the Cleaners can be called on to provide some. A good number of them actually sell call credit at that side of the airport.
In all we can get almost anything necessary for travel with the help of the cleaners of the Airport so if you do travel, please show some respect to them.
Thank you,
@lereboy
Cleaners of the Airport The Good (1), The Bad (2) & The Ugly (3)
The airport complex is very big and has so many people coming through on a daily / hourly basis. The amount of dirt that is generated in 24hrs can only be imagined. This means cleaning the airport is a major task that has to be done.
There are 2 types of cleaners in the Airport here, the first group handles individual airlines, while the second handle the actual airport premises open to all and sundry. Why are these cleaners "Good" ?, one may ask.
Primary Role: Their primary role which is to keep the Airport clean is a really good thing. I cannot imagine how it would look or smell like if the cleaners were off duty for 24hrs. The toilets would be a mess, litter would be every where, spills would be everywhere, it would be a complete mess.
But besides their primary role, they also have other "Unofficial Roles" like helping staff to buy food from the restaurants located outside the Airport premises.
They can also be called on to provide "Yellow Cards" which are required when travelling to certain (if not all) destinations. These yellow cards are suppose to be issued by the Airport Health Authorities, but have found their way into the hands of the cleaners.
Another "Good" that comes from the cleaners would be things like sellotape, jute bags, padlocks and other handy things that passengers may have forgotten to bring with them to the Airport for their travel.
At the boarding area, if you realise that you are low or out of credit, the Cleaners can be called on to provide some. A good number of them actually sell call credit at that side of the airport.
In all we can get almost anything necessary for travel with the help of the cleaners of the Airport so if you do travel, please show some respect to them.
Thank you,
@lereboy
Tuesday 9 August 2011
3 flights for the price of 1 - "Comedy of errors!"
I have decided to leave the Airport Authority out of today's post (abit at least), it is the story of multiple errors that sounds almost unbelievable. The real culprits here are Airline staff as well as MM2 (the new domestic airport) staff.
Scene 1: Mr A approaches "G Airways" to check in to Abuja. After the check in process, he is advised to proceed to the waiting area which is on the third floor of the new airport (MM2). While he awaits, various airlines are boarding at the same time and he just gets up to "Follow the Crowd" as all checked in passengers wait in the lounge till boarding is announced.
Scene 2: Mr A gets to Gate 3/4 (they both have the same entrance , and split within the Avio bridge to 2 different Aircrafts / airlines).
While "G Airways" to Abuja was boarding at Gate 3 , Gate 4 was occupied by "H Air" boarding to Calabar. He joins the right queue quite alright but misses his way in the Avio bridge only to find himself in the "H Air" flight to Calabar.
He only realised his error when he got to Calabar. He raised the alarm and had to be brought back to Lagos for free, and subsequently handed over to "G Airways" to connect to Abuja. He therefore flew 3 times Lagos - Calabar , Calabar - Lagos, Lagos to Abuja, (about 4 hours) instead of the 1hr Lagos - Abuja flight.
Comedy of errors you ask? Well, 1st was the passenger; "How did he board the wrong airline" their colours are different. 2, While boarding he should have noticed the uniforms. 3, before take off, an announcement of destination is always made!!
Airline staff that boarded the passenger at the entrance of the Aircraft with another Airlines' boarding pass made a grave mistake!! Secondly, how did the Passenger figure on board tally with the manifest? If "H Air" had 90 passengers going to Calabar, and an extra passenger (with G Airways boarding pass to Abuja) boards, the figures can NEVER TALLY, and that flight should never have been allowed to go!
And lastly, there is no security within the Avio bridges to direct passengers so a lot of passengers actually get lost within the bridge because all 6 gates are linked!
Remember, always pay attention to details, read signs and keep your ears OPEN!!
Scene 1: Mr A approaches "G Airways" to check in to Abuja. After the check in process, he is advised to proceed to the waiting area which is on the third floor of the new airport (MM2). While he awaits, various airlines are boarding at the same time and he just gets up to "Follow the Crowd" as all checked in passengers wait in the lounge till boarding is announced.
Scene 2: Mr A gets to Gate 3/4 (they both have the same entrance , and split within the Avio bridge to 2 different Aircrafts / airlines).
While "G Airways" to Abuja was boarding at Gate 3 , Gate 4 was occupied by "H Air" boarding to Calabar. He joins the right queue quite alright but misses his way in the Avio bridge only to find himself in the "H Air" flight to Calabar.
He only realised his error when he got to Calabar. He raised the alarm and had to be brought back to Lagos for free, and subsequently handed over to "G Airways" to connect to Abuja. He therefore flew 3 times Lagos - Calabar , Calabar - Lagos, Lagos to Abuja, (about 4 hours) instead of the 1hr Lagos - Abuja flight.
Comedy of errors you ask? Well, 1st was the passenger; "How did he board the wrong airline" their colours are different. 2, While boarding he should have noticed the uniforms. 3, before take off, an announcement of destination is always made!!
Airline staff that boarded the passenger at the entrance of the Aircraft with another Airlines' boarding pass made a grave mistake!! Secondly, how did the Passenger figure on board tally with the manifest? If "H Air" had 90 passengers going to Calabar, and an extra passenger (with G Airways boarding pass to Abuja) boards, the figures can NEVER TALLY, and that flight should never have been allowed to go!
And lastly, there is no security within the Avio bridges to direct passengers so a lot of passengers actually get lost within the bridge because all 6 gates are linked!
Remember, always pay attention to details, read signs and keep your ears OPEN!!
Friday 15 July 2011
Has the Minister been reading?
I often wonder if our politicians take time out to read newspapers and articles let alone blogs. I was in the Airport a few days ago when the New Minister of Aviation the blue blooded Princess herself paid a visit to the International Airport. As with Ministers before her, and possibly a lot more after her, she went around the Airport with a 'Congregation' of airport / ministry officials and was probably disappointed in the state of facilities.
The question "Has the Minister been reading" has to do with her proclamation that the Underground Car park should be reopen almost 20yrs after it was closed!! Well, cool as that may sound, it is still a political statement as we all know the difference between the 'political will' and the 'practical ability' to make changes. This underground car park as i said a couple of weeks back can ease the movement in and around the airport area, as the new Car park doesn't look anywhere close to completion. The make shift one / staff car park are in terrible conditions as well.
Parking in and around the Airport area is a major eyesore, with many vehicles Jeeps, buses and others parked along the road limiting a two-lane road to one. It stretches from the "D" wing to the "E" wing and gets worse towards the "E" wing with double parking at that end. What this does is limit other passengers and staff that try to leave the airport area for upwards of 30mins to an hour for a stretch of less than 100metres!
There is no gain saying the people that suffer this indiscipline by official and private vehicles that park indiscriminately along the roads are passengers (leaving the designated car park) and staff (that may have been at work for between 6 & 12hrs) only to be held up by vehicles picking up their "OGA's" on the road instead of using the car parks. The towing vans that are suppose to move cars parked along the roads are overwhelmed by the number and status of the car owners. They just drive around to scare the commoners from parking in this zones.
I am not holding my breath as regards the "Pronouncement of the Princess" as politicians have to make such statements so as to look good on T.V during the news.
The question "Has the Minister been reading" has to do with her proclamation that the Underground Car park should be reopen almost 20yrs after it was closed!! Well, cool as that may sound, it is still a political statement as we all know the difference between the 'political will' and the 'practical ability' to make changes. This underground car park as i said a couple of weeks back can ease the movement in and around the airport area, as the new Car park doesn't look anywhere close to completion. The make shift one / staff car park are in terrible conditions as well.
Parking in and around the Airport area is a major eyesore, with many vehicles Jeeps, buses and others parked along the road limiting a two-lane road to one. It stretches from the "D" wing to the "E" wing and gets worse towards the "E" wing with double parking at that end. What this does is limit other passengers and staff that try to leave the airport area for upwards of 30mins to an hour for a stretch of less than 100metres!
There is no gain saying the people that suffer this indiscipline by official and private vehicles that park indiscriminately along the roads are passengers (leaving the designated car park) and staff (that may have been at work for between 6 & 12hrs) only to be held up by vehicles picking up their "OGA's" on the road instead of using the car parks. The towing vans that are suppose to move cars parked along the roads are overwhelmed by the number and status of the car owners. They just drive around to scare the commoners from parking in this zones.
I am not holding my breath as regards the "Pronouncement of the Princess" as politicians have to make such statements so as to look good on T.V during the news.
Friday 8 July 2011
STRANGE BUT TRUE (1)
In this industry, there are many occurrences that just baffle you on a daily basis. Sometimes its the simple, sometimes its the mundane, other times its outright STUPID.
The strange but true stories would be short stories that occur at the airport that just baffle me.
This story is about ignorance, its too often to see passengers that think they know it all. When you ask them questions (cautionary and security) they tell you how they have flown many times. How one was not born when they started to fly. So we tend to analyse passengers and ask such questions in a stylish manner.
So this passenger walks up to the check in desk, confident as usual, trying not to look like a first timer (like its a sin to be one).
Agent: "Goodmonrning sir, may i have you ticket and passport"
Passenger: Here, he says.
After asking all the questions, and bag placed on the belt to be sent to the baggage hall, his boarding pass, passport, ticket and departure form handed over to him.
Agent: Sir, please proceed to the boarding area.
The passenger, climbs up the belt and onto the conveyor belt only to find his way to the baggage hall.
Guess he thought that since his bag went down that way, that means that's the way to get to his destination.
Although his motives were questioned as passengers are not to go down like luggage. Airport security picked him up to question him.
So please, if you do not know the way to the boarding gates when travelling, and you cannot read the signs, please ask ground staff for directions. Don't go down the belt in an effort to get to the aircraft.
The strange but true stories would be short stories that occur at the airport that just baffle me.
This story is about ignorance, its too often to see passengers that think they know it all. When you ask them questions (cautionary and security) they tell you how they have flown many times. How one was not born when they started to fly. So we tend to analyse passengers and ask such questions in a stylish manner.
So this passenger walks up to the check in desk, confident as usual, trying not to look like a first timer (like its a sin to be one).
Agent: "Goodmonrning sir, may i have you ticket and passport"
Passenger: Here, he says.
After asking all the questions, and bag placed on the belt to be sent to the baggage hall, his boarding pass, passport, ticket and departure form handed over to him.
Agent: Sir, please proceed to the boarding area.
The passenger, climbs up the belt and onto the conveyor belt only to find his way to the baggage hall.
Guess he thought that since his bag went down that way, that means that's the way to get to his destination.
Although his motives were questioned as passengers are not to go down like luggage. Airport security picked him up to question him.
So please, if you do not know the way to the boarding gates when travelling, and you cannot read the signs, please ask ground staff for directions. Don't go down the belt in an effort to get to the aircraft.
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Curse of the Virgin Passport (2) - The Prey Wins!!
Many people that read the first story on the virgin passport felt sorry for the passengers and wondered if any one can ever get out of the trap that has been set by the officials in the airport. I would like to let you all know that on the odd occasion, some passengers even with virgin passports overcome this hurdle. Like with the lions and deers in the Savannah, not every trap catches a prey, sometimes external factors make the prey escape.
As a sequel to the "Curse of the Vampire Passport" i had to write this story. It was a friend of mine that tells me about her brother heading to one of the Asian countries for the first time. It was the first time he was ever going to travel and she said i should help as much as i could.
The first thing was to train the young man in a few minutes to be confident, how to answer questions as regards where he was going, how long he was staying, who he intended to stay with and how much he was travelling with. I could only do so much because i was really busy on that day so after instructing him, i left him to go through the immigration point , leaving him with my number in case he had any questions on what to do and where to go.
As i got back to work, running around the Airport as usual,i got a call from a strange number and it was the young man.
Passenger: Sorry sir, they did not allow me to board
Me: who?
Passenger: "...... Airways"
Me: Why? What did they tell you?
By this time, i had started to approach the boarding gate where he was to board. I saw him coming out with another passenger, who was furious. He had actually given one of the immigration officers $100 to secure passage through the screening point, because he had a Virgin Passport!! The Airline had gotten wind of this and instructed him to go back to collect his money as his travel allowance was too low to get into the country he wanted to go. I beckoned on the passenger following him to go back as i would intervene in the matter. As we got to the small room where this "taxing" usually took place the following ensued;
Me: Good morning sirs, my family friend here was unable to board his flight
Officer: Why? did you miss your flight?- looking in his direction
Me: No sir, his Travel Allowance was incomplete so he cannot be boarded
Officer: Why? is it because of the $100 tip you gave us?
(imagine a kid of say 18yrs giving out $100 tip)
Me: I think so, and his flight is leaving anytime soon
Officer: so, where do you work? - turning to ask me.
(i am in full uniform for the love of Christ, everyone in the airport knows this uniform)
Officer: He just gave us a little something oh, and the officer that collected it is not here
Me: Sir, that flight is leaving very soon!
Officer: ehen, which Airline do you work for again
Me: Sir.....
Officer: Okay, can you give him $100 and come back, the officer may be around
Me: Sir i am paid in Naira
He then reaches to the a small corner to pull out a well tucked in $100 note to give to the young man. He smiles to tell me once again "he just gave us oh", "where do you work again?"
I had to rush the young man down to the gates so as not to miss his flight.
So sometimes the green horn wins, remember that. - @lereboy
As a sequel to the "Curse of the Vampire Passport" i had to write this story. It was a friend of mine that tells me about her brother heading to one of the Asian countries for the first time. It was the first time he was ever going to travel and she said i should help as much as i could.
The first thing was to train the young man in a few minutes to be confident, how to answer questions as regards where he was going, how long he was staying, who he intended to stay with and how much he was travelling with. I could only do so much because i was really busy on that day so after instructing him, i left him to go through the immigration point , leaving him with my number in case he had any questions on what to do and where to go.
As i got back to work, running around the Airport as usual,i got a call from a strange number and it was the young man.
Passenger: Sorry sir, they did not allow me to board
Me: who?
Passenger: "...... Airways"
Me: Why? What did they tell you?
By this time, i had started to approach the boarding gate where he was to board. I saw him coming out with another passenger, who was furious. He had actually given one of the immigration officers $100 to secure passage through the screening point, because he had a Virgin Passport!! The Airline had gotten wind of this and instructed him to go back to collect his money as his travel allowance was too low to get into the country he wanted to go. I beckoned on the passenger following him to go back as i would intervene in the matter. As we got to the small room where this "taxing" usually took place the following ensued;
Me: Good morning sirs, my family friend here was unable to board his flight
Officer: Why? did you miss your flight?- looking in his direction
Me: No sir, his Travel Allowance was incomplete so he cannot be boarded
Officer: Why? is it because of the $100 tip you gave us?
(imagine a kid of say 18yrs giving out $100 tip)
Me: I think so, and his flight is leaving anytime soon
Officer: so, where do you work? - turning to ask me.
(i am in full uniform for the love of Christ, everyone in the airport knows this uniform)
Officer: He just gave us a little something oh, and the officer that collected it is not here
Me: Sir, that flight is leaving very soon!
Officer: ehen, which Airline do you work for again
Me: Sir.....
Officer: Okay, can you give him $100 and come back, the officer may be around
Me: Sir i am paid in Naira
He then reaches to the a small corner to pull out a well tucked in $100 note to give to the young man. He smiles to tell me once again "he just gave us oh", "where do you work again?"
I had to rush the young man down to the gates so as not to miss his flight.
So sometimes the green horn wins, remember that. - @lereboy
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Control Thy Anger !!
You pay the price for your anger, for like i often tell my friends "Silence in Anger" is golden.
One recurring decimal of many airlines the world over is the phenomenon of over booked flights. In this industry, everything is expensive, office space, equipment, staff , fuel and everything necessary for day to day running of an airline especially from the Airport. So it is important the world over for flights to be about 80% booked. The truth is with that booking, the number of people that actually come to pay for flights are less, while those that actually fly on many occasions are much less than that.
It is in this regard that Airlines allow for over booking on flights especially on the high season by about 10-20% depending on the capacity of the aircraft. In this scenario, passengers are always advised to get to the Airport for check in early as the airlines are backed by IATA rules in this act.
For those that come in to check in as the flight fills up, the airline makes an announcement of the situation, collects tickets from those present within the time frame (to avoid late comers) and re-books them for free as well as make arrangements for accommodation and compensation.
However, in certain situations, it doesn't go so smoothly, like the case of Mr x. He came in just as the flight was closing due over booking. As tickets were being collated he kept on insisting on being on the flight. All explanations fell on deaf ears and his anger got the better of him. He picked up one of the tensile barriers used to control queues and aimed it for the check in agent behind the counter. His strength took it above the counter onto the display screens where the flight numbers and airline details (departure and arrivals) are constantly changing. This got smashed and trouble ensued.
As others were collecting compensation letters, Hotel accommodation and all, he was whisked away by the Airport authorities to the Airport Cell. The next morning he was taken to the Police station about 5mins away from the main building. He wasn't released for 5 days until he was able to pay for the Airport property that was damaged and this set him back by $10,000 plus 5 days he spent in jail.
He also had to pay for missing the flight he was put on (No show fee) as well as to get onto the next available flight (Date change fee).
Note: when travelling during the high season, endeavour to get to the Airport early, be aware of your rights, keep your cool in all circumstances and don't throw things around OK?
@lereboy signing out till next week.....
One recurring decimal of many airlines the world over is the phenomenon of over booked flights. In this industry, everything is expensive, office space, equipment, staff , fuel and everything necessary for day to day running of an airline especially from the Airport. So it is important the world over for flights to be about 80% booked. The truth is with that booking, the number of people that actually come to pay for flights are less, while those that actually fly on many occasions are much less than that.
It is in this regard that Airlines allow for over booking on flights especially on the high season by about 10-20% depending on the capacity of the aircraft. In this scenario, passengers are always advised to get to the Airport for check in early as the airlines are backed by IATA rules in this act.
For those that come in to check in as the flight fills up, the airline makes an announcement of the situation, collects tickets from those present within the time frame (to avoid late comers) and re-books them for free as well as make arrangements for accommodation and compensation.
However, in certain situations, it doesn't go so smoothly, like the case of Mr x. He came in just as the flight was closing due over booking. As tickets were being collated he kept on insisting on being on the flight. All explanations fell on deaf ears and his anger got the better of him. He picked up one of the tensile barriers used to control queues and aimed it for the check in agent behind the counter. His strength took it above the counter onto the display screens where the flight numbers and airline details (departure and arrivals) are constantly changing. This got smashed and trouble ensued.
As others were collecting compensation letters, Hotel accommodation and all, he was whisked away by the Airport authorities to the Airport Cell. The next morning he was taken to the Police station about 5mins away from the main building. He wasn't released for 5 days until he was able to pay for the Airport property that was damaged and this set him back by $10,000 plus 5 days he spent in jail.
He also had to pay for missing the flight he was put on (No show fee) as well as to get onto the next available flight (Date change fee).
Note: when travelling during the high season, endeavour to get to the Airport early, be aware of your rights, keep your cool in all circumstances and don't throw things around OK?
@lereboy signing out till next week.....
Sunday 5 June 2011
Ah! You called......? Why.....?
It is common practice for passengers to forget items on board aircrafts when they get to their destination. A good number of them are either too tired or to scared during the flight to be so aware of what they have forgotten. In the lost and found cabinet, you would be shocked to see the kinds of things passengers have forgotten over the years: Radios, Ipods, Glassed, bibles, I.D cards, Pens (Mont Blonc type stuff), face caps and a host of others. What most of them remember and come back for are items like Phones, Laptops, and other gadgets of the sort.
It is actually a phone that inspires this story. On arrival of a local flight Abuja-Lagos,after disembarkation of passengers, during security checks and cleaning a GSM phone was discovered.As with normal procedure, it was handed over to the Lost&Found department. After logging it in, the agent scrolls through the phone to check for recently received or dialled number so as to get the exact identity of the passenger that owns the phone as it may have dropped from the passenger onto another seat.
It was during this search that the agent discovered a recently called number stored as "HONEY". So he proceeded to call the number and got the shock of his life:
Agent: Good day, please this phone was found on an Abuja-Lagos flight. We would like the owner to come to our office to pick it up with valid I.D.
HONEY: What do you mean? what game are you playing? Have you stolen this phone?
Agent: No sir, as i introduced myself (******) and i would like you to get across to the owner of this phone so he/she can come pick it up.
HONEY: That's impossible,i just spoke to the owner less than 2hrs ago and she is in Benue, i wonder how you got this phone. I would call her friends and get back to you.
Just as he drops the call, a lady walks in claiming to have forgotten her phone on board. As she made to show the boarding pass with which she came, it was discovered that the phone in question was the same the agent was trying to unite with the owner.
Agent: Oh! you are welcome, we have been making efforts to unite you with your phone. We even called "Honey" so it would be easier.
Young Lady: What? You called "Honey"?
Agent: Yes we did, he is going to call back anytime now.
Young Lady: Who told you to call "Honey" (Now sobbing), why did you call "Honey" (still sobbing), ah! you shouldn't have called "Honey" (now looking weak at the knees), ah, "Honey"! what did you tell "Honey"? ah, you called "Honey", you shouldn't have called "Honey" (with teary eyes)
At this point we were torn between laughing and crying, for she had apparently told the young man she was in school, when she was actually in the airport en route Lagos to meet some other guy. The bubble burst only due to her carelessness. I guess from now on she would be careful about how she saves names on her phone? I think you too should.
It is actually a phone that inspires this story. On arrival of a local flight Abuja-Lagos,after disembarkation of passengers, during security checks and cleaning a GSM phone was discovered.As with normal procedure, it was handed over to the Lost&Found department. After logging it in, the agent scrolls through the phone to check for recently received or dialled number so as to get the exact identity of the passenger that owns the phone as it may have dropped from the passenger onto another seat.
It was during this search that the agent discovered a recently called number stored as "HONEY". So he proceeded to call the number and got the shock of his life:
Agent: Good day, please this phone was found on an Abuja-Lagos flight. We would like the owner to come to our office to pick it up with valid I.D.
HONEY: What do you mean? what game are you playing? Have you stolen this phone?
Agent: No sir, as i introduced myself (******) and i would like you to get across to the owner of this phone so he/she can come pick it up.
HONEY: That's impossible,i just spoke to the owner less than 2hrs ago and she is in Benue, i wonder how you got this phone. I would call her friends and get back to you.
Just as he drops the call, a lady walks in claiming to have forgotten her phone on board. As she made to show the boarding pass with which she came, it was discovered that the phone in question was the same the agent was trying to unite with the owner.
Agent: Oh! you are welcome, we have been making efforts to unite you with your phone. We even called "Honey" so it would be easier.
Young Lady: What? You called "Honey"?
Agent: Yes we did, he is going to call back anytime now.
Young Lady: Who told you to call "Honey" (Now sobbing), why did you call "Honey" (still sobbing), ah! you shouldn't have called "Honey" (now looking weak at the knees), ah, "Honey"! what did you tell "Honey"? ah, you called "Honey", you shouldn't have called "Honey" (with teary eyes)
At this point we were torn between laughing and crying, for she had apparently told the young man she was in school, when she was actually in the airport en route Lagos to meet some other guy. The bubble burst only due to her carelessness. I guess from now on she would be careful about how she saves names on her phone? I think you too should.
Monday 16 May 2011
Thief in TRANSIT?
Thief in TRANSIT?
I never saw the movie boarding gate, but i heard it was a funny movie. Many people that are well travelled know the rules of the "Boarding Gate". Most nationalities can transit for upward of 24hours on the condition that they have a ticket to another city within that period. In West Africa however, citizens of the sub region can travel between member countries VISA free for 90days.
Outside this rule however, airlines that transfer passengers from point to point without valid travel documents would be liable to pay $2,000 each!! If the Secondary carrier also refuses to carry the passenger, the 1st carrier may incur a fine.
That brings me to a funny scene that played itself a few weeks back whereby a "Thief In Transit" was caught. I had gotten reports about a syndicate that usually steals from fellow passenger's bags while on board the aircraft and constantly wonder; How do they buy a ticket (upward of 15,000 i.e $100) for a 1hr flight, and within this flight time manage to steal cash and valuables opportunistically that would be more than that. What if he/she is not successful on the 1st flight (loss?) guess he/she would buy another ticket the other direction 1 way (another 15,000).
On arrival of one of our regional flights, a passenger noticed just before clearing immigration that his wallet as well as other documents were not on him. We have seen this happen a few times only for the passenger to find said documents on his person. As he kept searching, he walked back towards the A/C that brought him and was lucky to find out that the same A/C was operating another flight. He beckoned on one of the staff and intimated him of his suspicion that the young man he sat with may have taken his wallet and documents.
On investigation and thorough search of the passenger seated next to him,it was discovered that he had Naira on him. Sir, "how come you have Naira on you?" are you not on transit? After initially denying being the culprit, he admitted that he took in when the owner left his seat. The offender was transiting onto the same A/C to ACCRA and must have been about 21yrs (he was a student in Accra,with a Cameroonian passport).
He had watched the passenger throughout the flight and struck when he was opportuned, the dilemma was if we could board him to the final destination or hold him in Lagos to face the wrath of the law for the obvious crime he had committed. He would not be charged if he had flown to Accra, as the accuser was alighting in Lagos. Other passengers at the boarding area on the connecting flight became suspicious of the drama and eventually got wind of what had happened.
In order to keep them at rest, the young Thief in Transit was offloaded, and taken to the Airport Police post. He travelled the next day under the watchful eyes of the crew and ground staff.
Please if you are travelling by air, land or sea pay attention to happenings around you. You never know what the other person has in mind oh!
I never saw the movie boarding gate, but i heard it was a funny movie. Many people that are well travelled know the rules of the "Boarding Gate". Most nationalities can transit for upward of 24hours on the condition that they have a ticket to another city within that period. In West Africa however, citizens of the sub region can travel between member countries VISA free for 90days.
Outside this rule however, airlines that transfer passengers from point to point without valid travel documents would be liable to pay $2,000 each!! If the Secondary carrier also refuses to carry the passenger, the 1st carrier may incur a fine.
That brings me to a funny scene that played itself a few weeks back whereby a "Thief In Transit" was caught. I had gotten reports about a syndicate that usually steals from fellow passenger's bags while on board the aircraft and constantly wonder; How do they buy a ticket (upward of 15,000 i.e $100) for a 1hr flight, and within this flight time manage to steal cash and valuables opportunistically that would be more than that. What if he/she is not successful on the 1st flight (loss?) guess he/she would buy another ticket the other direction 1 way (another 15,000).
On arrival of one of our regional flights, a passenger noticed just before clearing immigration that his wallet as well as other documents were not on him. We have seen this happen a few times only for the passenger to find said documents on his person. As he kept searching, he walked back towards the A/C that brought him and was lucky to find out that the same A/C was operating another flight. He beckoned on one of the staff and intimated him of his suspicion that the young man he sat with may have taken his wallet and documents.
On investigation and thorough search of the passenger seated next to him,it was discovered that he had Naira on him. Sir, "how come you have Naira on you?" are you not on transit? After initially denying being the culprit, he admitted that he took in when the owner left his seat. The offender was transiting onto the same A/C to ACCRA and must have been about 21yrs (he was a student in Accra,with a Cameroonian passport).
He had watched the passenger throughout the flight and struck when he was opportuned, the dilemma was if we could board him to the final destination or hold him in Lagos to face the wrath of the law for the obvious crime he had committed. He would not be charged if he had flown to Accra, as the accuser was alighting in Lagos. Other passengers at the boarding area on the connecting flight became suspicious of the drama and eventually got wind of what had happened.
In order to keep them at rest, the young Thief in Transit was offloaded, and taken to the Airport Police post. He travelled the next day under the watchful eyes of the crew and ground staff.
Please if you are travelling by air, land or sea pay attention to happenings around you. You never know what the other person has in mind oh!
Tuesday 26 April 2011
Corruption & The Curse of the Virgin Passport!
One of the single most constant phenomenon in the airport is the level of corruption. We have all uniformed government agencies being guilty of it (there are innocent officers though).
The average Nigerian is fed up with the Nigerian Situation; Electricity, Transport,Heath care are all in shambles, and it is the wish of the vast majority to "check out" like Andrew. The reality of how bad the situation is can be seen when Graduates and Masters Degree holders are deported from foreign countries. Even countries within the African continent are not left out; Egypt, Libya, Gabon, South Africa etc. I read a tale of a graduate that came back home in the wake of the crisis in Libya (She was a graduate working as a house help).
With this in mind, many Nigerians are trooping out to find "Greener pastures". Some go by the land borders,through various countries and even the Sahara desert in a quest to get to Europe. Many end up in countries like Morocco and Libya, only to get stuck. They hitherto eek a living for themselves in these countries with the hope of making enough money to proceed on the journey to take the "boat ride" from Libya to Spain across the SEA!!
Others fly to Countries closer the Northern part of the continent.
The few that can afford to fly out of the country either directly to Europe / South Africa, or to other "Visa Free/Easy to get Visa" countries within the continent have to go through the NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION. For a first time traveller, it can be a really hectic task. With the level of illiteracy / exposure in this country, alot of first time travellers always fall prey to the antics of the Nigerian immigration.
After check-in at the Airport, satisfying the travel requirements of the airline / embassy official (British embassy sends a few profilers to the airport) in terms of documentation, the first time traveller proceeds to/through the immigration point and then on to the boarding gate. On approach, the officer there sizes up the passenger (there is this generic JJC- "New Comer" look); Over dressing, Looking overwhelmed and lost, some times confused shows he or she is new!! He then beckons on the passenger to come forward with his passport. If the passenger has flown a few times he asks a few questions, stamps and sends him on through the screening point and onto the gate.
If it is a "Virgin Passport", the drama begins: "Who did this passport for you?" he is asked (like he can do it in his house). He knows that majority of Nigerians bypass the 1-4mths bureaucracy that is required to get a passport by paying immigration officials to get it in 2-4days. Based on response, he proceeds to ask about how the passenger got the Visa, who his agent is, where he or she is going, for how long, how much BTA/PTA (cash in Airport language) he or she is travelling with, invitation letter, hotel reservation and a whole lot of relevant / irrelevant questions just to knock the person off guard.
Now with all these questions, majority of first time travellers that have no intention of coming back are jittery, their answers start to give them up. They mostly go through agents and other people to get passports, visas and other travel documents. They never seem able to defend themselves, they under declare cash at times, have no address or documentation as regards hotel accommodation. This is where the officer preys on, he tells him that he would be logged down and passport seized, for investigative purposes. He / She is then taken to the inner / smaller room where the real hustling is done.
"You are to travel with $1,500 as PTA(Personal travel allowance) and you have less!!" he'll say, so you cant go! (Silly bureaucrat, in this modern day of Visa and MasterCard, why do i need so much physical cash? Where is your HOTEL RESERVATION? (What? Every major Airport in the world have fliers and brochures, i can get that done on landing, besides if i have one, i just need the ref to check in when i get there!!). With all said and done, he offers a way out. The going rate is $100!! But he starts a whole lot higher say $500. With proper negotiation, he lands at the "going rate". Negotiations are closed and passenger is not "logged in" or investigated for trying to travel out without HOTEL RESERVATION or Less BTA than approved. In all he advices the passenger, they shake hands and all is well.
It is noteworthy to point out that this interrogation puts more pressure on the passenger as he / she can hear the boarding announcements on the airline he/she is flying. The fear of missing his/her flight with its attendant fines (No show fee, Date Change fee, Upgrade Fee etc.) the passenger is most likely to play ball.
After clearing with the immigration he still has the FAAN, NDLEA and Customs service to clear before proceeding to the boarding gate. The drama that unfolds at these points would be brought to you in subsequent editions of myairportstories.blogspot.com
Tell a friend, you don't know who may learn from my stories.
its @lereboy reporting for myairportstories.blogspot.com
The average Nigerian is fed up with the Nigerian Situation; Electricity, Transport,Heath care are all in shambles, and it is the wish of the vast majority to "check out" like Andrew. The reality of how bad the situation is can be seen when Graduates and Masters Degree holders are deported from foreign countries. Even countries within the African continent are not left out; Egypt, Libya, Gabon, South Africa etc. I read a tale of a graduate that came back home in the wake of the crisis in Libya (She was a graduate working as a house help).
With this in mind, many Nigerians are trooping out to find "Greener pastures". Some go by the land borders,through various countries and even the Sahara desert in a quest to get to Europe. Many end up in countries like Morocco and Libya, only to get stuck. They hitherto eek a living for themselves in these countries with the hope of making enough money to proceed on the journey to take the "boat ride" from Libya to Spain across the SEA!!
Others fly to Countries closer the Northern part of the continent.
The few that can afford to fly out of the country either directly to Europe / South Africa, or to other "Visa Free/Easy to get Visa" countries within the continent have to go through the NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION. For a first time traveller, it can be a really hectic task. With the level of illiteracy / exposure in this country, alot of first time travellers always fall prey to the antics of the Nigerian immigration.
After check-in at the Airport, satisfying the travel requirements of the airline / embassy official (British embassy sends a few profilers to the airport) in terms of documentation, the first time traveller proceeds to/through the immigration point and then on to the boarding gate. On approach, the officer there sizes up the passenger (there is this generic JJC- "New Comer" look); Over dressing, Looking overwhelmed and lost, some times confused shows he or she is new!! He then beckons on the passenger to come forward with his passport. If the passenger has flown a few times he asks a few questions, stamps and sends him on through the screening point and onto the gate.
If it is a "Virgin Passport", the drama begins: "Who did this passport for you?" he is asked (like he can do it in his house). He knows that majority of Nigerians bypass the 1-4mths bureaucracy that is required to get a passport by paying immigration officials to get it in 2-4days. Based on response, he proceeds to ask about how the passenger got the Visa, who his agent is, where he or she is going, for how long, how much BTA/PTA (cash in Airport language) he or she is travelling with, invitation letter, hotel reservation and a whole lot of relevant / irrelevant questions just to knock the person off guard.
Now with all these questions, majority of first time travellers that have no intention of coming back are jittery, their answers start to give them up. They mostly go through agents and other people to get passports, visas and other travel documents. They never seem able to defend themselves, they under declare cash at times, have no address or documentation as regards hotel accommodation. This is where the officer preys on, he tells him that he would be logged down and passport seized, for investigative purposes. He / She is then taken to the inner / smaller room where the real hustling is done.
"You are to travel with $1,500 as PTA(Personal travel allowance) and you have less!!" he'll say, so you cant go! (Silly bureaucrat, in this modern day of Visa and MasterCard, why do i need so much physical cash? Where is your HOTEL RESERVATION? (What? Every major Airport in the world have fliers and brochures, i can get that done on landing, besides if i have one, i just need the ref to check in when i get there!!). With all said and done, he offers a way out. The going rate is $100!! But he starts a whole lot higher say $500. With proper negotiation, he lands at the "going rate". Negotiations are closed and passenger is not "logged in" or investigated for trying to travel out without HOTEL RESERVATION or Less BTA than approved. In all he advices the passenger, they shake hands and all is well.
It is noteworthy to point out that this interrogation puts more pressure on the passenger as he / she can hear the boarding announcements on the airline he/she is flying. The fear of missing his/her flight with its attendant fines (No show fee, Date Change fee, Upgrade Fee etc.) the passenger is most likely to play ball.
After clearing with the immigration he still has the FAAN, NDLEA and Customs service to clear before proceeding to the boarding gate. The drama that unfolds at these points would be brought to you in subsequent editions of myairportstories.blogspot.com
Tell a friend, you don't know who may learn from my stories.
its @lereboy reporting for myairportstories.blogspot.com
Tuesday 19 April 2011
MMIA, Lagos - Airport or Museum?
I often wonder if this edifice called the Muritala Muhammed International Airport should be called an Airport or a Museum. With the number of relics at all levels of the Airport, the original designers would turn over in their graves if they see that no significant development has taken place.
In terms of size, it has not been expanded since it was built in the mid-70's. However, other airports around the world that were built about the same time are about 7-10times its size by now (Do i hear forward thinking people?).
At the ground floor, what is most evident it the UNDERGROUND car park. This has not been used for God knows how long!! There are conflicting reports as to why that is, one of which is the NADECO bomb threat of the mid nineties in protest to the annulment of the elections in 1993 (But wait a moment, its 2011!!). Is the threat still high? Could they not device better security? Could it not be limited to only Airport staff (or just security)? What we have there now is rodents and if i do say snakes and monkeys (as have been allegedly seen).
At the ground floor also is where both "Arrival Halls" are located - 'Arrival D' and 'Arrival E'. The cooling system is same as was in the 70's with the introduction of a few 'Standing Units' (this isn't a fast food joint). However, what is required is a modern day central cooling system!! Also of note at this floor in both Arrival Halls is the conveyor belts, there are two in both halls servicing as much as 500 - 1000 people at certain times. This alone makes baggage claim so slow and tiring. It is also worthy to note that the screening process also leaves a lot to be desired before the bags finally come out to the Arrival Halls.
When going up from the Ground floor / Arrival hall to departure, you are advised to use the stairs. The lifts cannot be trusted. In the event that it stops, emergency is not our strongest point (in Nigeria that is)!! The company that maintains the lifts seem to always be working on it, with grease regularly seen on doors, and the floors of the lift. The sound of the fan inside the lift is wuite scary, like from a horror movie.
This airport needs total over hauling, as the scenarios that have been painted spill even to the boarding area where the Avio - Bridges are old and worn out, lifts on that side too are relics.
In subsequent write ups, more evidence as regards what infrastructure needs changing and how that affects the operation of the airport would be focused on.
Its @lereboy reporting for myairportstories>>>
In terms of size, it has not been expanded since it was built in the mid-70's. However, other airports around the world that were built about the same time are about 7-10times its size by now (Do i hear forward thinking people?).
At the ground floor, what is most evident it the UNDERGROUND car park. This has not been used for God knows how long!! There are conflicting reports as to why that is, one of which is the NADECO bomb threat of the mid nineties in protest to the annulment of the elections in 1993 (But wait a moment, its 2011!!). Is the threat still high? Could they not device better security? Could it not be limited to only Airport staff (or just security)? What we have there now is rodents and if i do say snakes and monkeys (as have been allegedly seen).
At the ground floor also is where both "Arrival Halls" are located - 'Arrival D' and 'Arrival E'. The cooling system is same as was in the 70's with the introduction of a few 'Standing Units' (this isn't a fast food joint). However, what is required is a modern day central cooling system!! Also of note at this floor in both Arrival Halls is the conveyor belts, there are two in both halls servicing as much as 500 - 1000 people at certain times. This alone makes baggage claim so slow and tiring. It is also worthy to note that the screening process also leaves a lot to be desired before the bags finally come out to the Arrival Halls.
When going up from the Ground floor / Arrival hall to departure, you are advised to use the stairs. The lifts cannot be trusted. In the event that it stops, emergency is not our strongest point (in Nigeria that is)!! The company that maintains the lifts seem to always be working on it, with grease regularly seen on doors, and the floors of the lift. The sound of the fan inside the lift is wuite scary, like from a horror movie.
This airport needs total over hauling, as the scenarios that have been painted spill even to the boarding area where the Avio - Bridges are old and worn out, lifts on that side too are relics.
In subsequent write ups, more evidence as regards what infrastructure needs changing and how that affects the operation of the airport would be focused on.
Its @lereboy reporting for myairportstories>>>
Introduction to my Airport Stories
Good day Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to welcome you all to this personal blog of mine titled "myairportstories". It is continuous tale of a young man that works in the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. He reveals the happenings in the Airport and how he copes with the many dramatic scenes that are a regular occurrence.
I promise to be as truthful as i can be in every story i write, i may not necessarily write individual names so as to avoid litigation. In cases that it is absolutely necessary, i will. This would be a tale of HUMOUR, CORRUPTION, HARD WORK, and everything you can see in any and every society.
Please endeavour to read as frequently as you possibly can, follow me on twitter (@lereboy) , post comments and observations.
Enjoy subsequent editions.
I would like to welcome you all to this personal blog of mine titled "myairportstories". It is continuous tale of a young man that works in the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. He reveals the happenings in the Airport and how he copes with the many dramatic scenes that are a regular occurrence.
I promise to be as truthful as i can be in every story i write, i may not necessarily write individual names so as to avoid litigation. In cases that it is absolutely necessary, i will. This would be a tale of HUMOUR, CORRUPTION, HARD WORK, and everything you can see in any and every society.
Please endeavour to read as frequently as you possibly can, follow me on twitter (@lereboy) , post comments and observations.
Enjoy subsequent editions.
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