[I Love Nigeria]

I wish that a foreigner had written this article... I would have written a rejoinder! castigating the written as a basher of Nigerians.

So much violence to language and generalizations about ALL Nigerians Dr. Phil apparently is shy of the use of the word SOME?

MsWoman expressed some of what I felt..when she wrote :Na so-so exaggeration from beginning to end Writer's license?

Arriving at the check-in counter, I saw a white gentleman waiting patiently for the check-in time.
Says Dr. Phil...(ILN asks...gentleman waiting patiently abi)?
At the stroke of 9 a.m., there was only hand full of us as most of the would-be Nigerian passengers were still in bed or milling around New York City in preparation for their trip when they should have been at the airport


After a spiteful head to toe visual inspection characteristic of a true Nigerian woman?Says Dr. Phil....(ILN asks.....characteristic of Nigerian women???

What could he be doing with that many suitcases? Not surprising, the line was dis-organized as Nigerians tried to out-muscle one another. It looked like a complete war-zone replete with gory chaotic Lagos scenes that added aplenty to the already mounting stress of traveling.

By now they were garnering attention and for fear of security agents swooping in on them for unruly behavior, a charge that might lead to the discovery of other illegality such as lack of proper legal papers, etc, decorum reigned even tenuously with both warring parties encasing their swords. But at the counter, decorum had been set aside as I heard another set of Nigerians arguing very loudly with the counter attendants; had they used as bullhorn they would not be any louder. It appeared that every point was contested, every suggestion rebuffed and every refusal by the airline staff cast in racist light. ILN....asks Dr. Phil...HABA!????


Even the obvious was debated and argued to no shameful end as the Nigerian passengers basked in an uugly spat of babarism. ILN asks Dr. Phil, say WHAT???

In one of the suitcases, I saw what was tantamount to Wal-Mart - toaster, mouthwash, hotplates, stereo, radios, speakers, cloths, dry fish (from US to Nigeria? For what?), laundry soap, picture frames, cordless phones, etc. All these were in one suitcase leaving one to wonder what could be in the others – his house and car? Says Dr. Phil and ILN asks... Have heard of poverty before? These Nigerians travel once a year and they have to bear gift for their poor folks at home... who but of course expect them to bear these gifts.... it is poverty stupid?

This was very disgraceful as the airline staff shook their heads in amazement, almost in disgust of the uncultivated behavior of Nigerians . But perhaps, even more perturbing was the fact that the Nigerians passengers expected to be checked-in as though they had arrived on time. They saw nothing wrong with arriving at 1:30 p.m., the original departure time for the flight.

On a closer inspection of the line, I saw a young white couple with very little luggage, only two small bags. Yet again, my curiosity got the best of me and I approached them. I asked how long they intended to stay in Nigeria? They indicated that the lady's parents were Baptist missionaries in Owerri and they were going on a visit for about a month and half traveling through Nigeria and West Africa . It is noteworthy that most Nigerians going home do not spend a month and half. The average time is about three weeks, still, all of those in line had well over the luggage limit towering all over the place as if they expected America to not to be there upon their return. Says Dr. Phil, and ILN asks... Have heard of poverty before? These Nigerians travel once a year and they have to bear gift for their poor folks at home... who but of course expect them to bear these gifts.... it is poverty stupid? These Baptist couple may be frequent travelers and they do not have to bear gifts .... or how many poor relatives do these Oyinbo priests have in Nigeria/Africa?





“Which flight”, asked the attendant whose face bore elements of surprise. But how could she be surprised, she must have been used to this sort of tardiness by Nigerians





Is this a microscopic evidence of the larger problem of greed and avarice that have ravished our nation and earned it the most corrupt country in the world year after year? Why do Nigerians feel the need to travel with the world in their suitcases? I was told of a young Nigerian gentleman of great scholarly reputation who traveled to the US from Nigeria with only one small suitcase. Rather than heaping praises on him for traveling light, a feat rarely seen amongst Nigerians, the US Immigration and Custom Services interrogated him suspecting a foul motive for his trip. All this was based on his arrival with a small single suitcase for a three-week working visit. Satisfied that he was a visitor with noble intentions with no criminal past, they joked with him that if more Nigerians traveled the way he did, their jobs would be made easier.



Please, I must fly today, “pleaded the desperate Nigerian whose lateness bore ample evidence of the loathsome burden of a nation. The attendant looked at her watch as if to say, ‘why didn’t you arrive on time.’



“I am sorry, but we have to check you in on the next flight, assuming we have seats for you and the small passengers,” the attendant said politely but with a measure of finality that sealed the fate of the late comer.



Finding none among the other passengers, she fell on her knees in the true Nigerian fashion and continued pleading to the bemusement of all.



All of the passengers had either left or were leaving for the boarding gate but for this tardy Nigerian kneeing on the floor in her Sunday's best. If only Nigerians can learn to be on time

Dr. Phil is a Nigerian... he is ALWAYS on time;

I was told of a young Nigerian gentleman of great scholarly reputation who traveled to the US from Nigeria with only one small suitcase

; and ILN is a Nigeria, he is ALWAYS on time... there are SOME Nigerians who are never on time.... So, Nigerians should learn to be on time.... OK, I got that point... But UNRULY Nigerian Travelers? (SOME)?