Thinking of Travelling from and to Nigeria? Published on January 22nd, 2010
The new policy of United States of America placing Nigeria in terrorism watch has become effective with travellers from and to the West African country, irrespective of nationality now going through tight security and safety scrutiny.
Sharpedgenews.com’s team took time to observe the operatives of immigration officials at Nigeria’s international airports in Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt. The team also observed operations in New York, Detroit, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Major airports in Europe were also observed.
In Nigeria and airports across the United States every traveler regardless of nationality, is subjected to the same level of body and luggage checks. Immigrations and flight attendants are no longer casual in ensuring standard body search.
The average flight at Lagos Muritala Mohammed Airport would be delayed at least for another hour because multi-layers of checks have been put in place.
Sharpedgenews.com noticed that only one magneto gram, metal detector and luggage screening conveyor is available to all the airlines presently leading to serious delay in passenger and luggage checks. Officials also use manual screening options. Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said that 3D image scanners have been ordered for all points of entry and departure from the country. Four of the high-tech scanners are said to be designated for Muritala Mohammed airport Lagos. An estimated 4 billion naira is expected to be spent for the purpose.
Handicapped and other individuals who require special assistance is obliged but they still go through the same degree of body screening like other travelers.
An official at the Lagos international airport speaking under anonymity said that they could not take chances as everyone is already scandalizes by the Umar Farouk Abdul-Mutalab’s misguided bomb attempt in Detroit, Michigan. U.S.
Coming in and out of American airports is different now. From when passengers disembark from any plane and goes through the tube, immigration officials are already in position to do body search.
Apart from looking for unusual behaviors, immigration officials in the U.S. look for contraindications in stated objectives for coming to the U.S. at place of visa application and what the individual says at the point of entry. They look for individuals who are already on terrorism watch list. When caught, they are immediately arrested or taken back into the waiting airplane for immediate deportation back to their countries of origin.
A Nigerian medical doctor, who also doubles as a lawyer for forgetting that he had been granted visa to attend a program in Orlando, Florida was deported and banned from future entry to U.S. for mistakenly stating Miami, Florida as his destination. U.S. immigration officials are stern yet polite but serious about keeping everyone safe.
The story is different in European airports in Amsterdam, Heathrow, Gatwick, Paris and Frankfurt. Travelers holding Nigerian passports are usually made to undergo embarrassing wait and humiliating questions. They are usually grouped and made to state everywhere they have been and how they came about the money they spend.
Nigerians holding permanent residence cards of U.S. or elsewhere face similar fate. It is not different for Nigerians who have changed citizenship to countries other than their original home country.
The United States, by far still ensures that no individual rights are violated in ensuring safe air travel.
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