Q: I have been contacted by an old and very respectable European firm for a managerial position for their subsidiary in Lagos, Nigeria. The firm is in the dairy and cooking oil business and quite successful in my country. I would like some info especially by Europeans and N. Americans that worked there: How safe is it? I am not a risk averse person but I like to know what I'm up against. Does violence targets all foreigners, just Americans or just oil workers? I am Greek Canadian and we (both Greeks and Canadians) tend to be well thought off. How much (more or less) can a manager of a multinational company get? I can price myself anywhere in Europe and N America but Nigeria was not in my plans. Are there any medical facilities to par with European (cost is no matter) Txs
A: I lived in Nigeria for a year. There was good times and bad times. Lagos is a city that has 25mil people with the infrastructure of a town with 1mil people. I will go back at the right price. For your job I would take no less than 1.5 times your current salary, it sounds a lot but that is the min going rate. Avoid places like the delta. This is where I was, constant killing of people. Violance is not just toward foreigners, in fact as a foreigner you are safe. I know a few guys that was taken hostage, they had a "good" time. They were fed like at home, aircon rooms and so on. They take hostages for money not for killing. Health is difficult. You will have European doctors, but supplys are limited. Medivac is one thing that you have to demand. You will be flown to the top European hospitals in no time at all in case of any emergency. Go there and have a look before you make any dissicion.