‘Hey you stop there’ an angry Hausa looking man is shouting furiously with a seemly loaded rifle. What’s going on there I wonder; well that’s their business nothing to do with me obviously! I approach nearer and this Hausa man is almost cheek-to-cheek with me. ‘Are you travelling today?’
Wait, he’s referring to me! Oh how did I miss that? ‘No, I’m escorting my aunty to the airport’ I respond
‘Well, as you can see she’s inside and you are not needed’ He retorts
Flabbergasted by this...I continue to head towards the door.
Another man intercepts. ‘Young lady, step back now’ to hear him is to think that a criminal is on the loose being warned for the last time to step back before fire is opened.
‘But I want to see my aunty off’’
‘If you‘re not flying today you cannot enter the airport. Sorry no ticket no entry’
Since when are airports strictly for flying passengers, (well wait that sounds about right when said out loud)! But do they make no provision for family and friends who want to see their beloved ones off. And wish them 'IJEOMA'?
‘Then why the hell, is that man being allowed in without you even stopping him?’ I don’t care if he looks more English than the Queen herself! Embarrassed by his blatant favouritism against the man; he reassessed and stopped the Oyibo ‘You’re boarding pass please?’
The man looking slightly put out, merely flashed his red passport. And he was inside the airport.
So all it takes to enter this Murtala Muhammed International Airport is to flash a European or I’m guessing North American passport. No problems?
My brother is travelling the next day; so I’d obviously need to be prepared to get into this Alcatraz!
But before that I still need to entry to say bye to Aunty Amara; okay in life when one door closes, there will surely be another door to try!
I not so quietly walked away from entry door one looking back once or twice; and headed towards entry door three. Let me not tempt door two. Three is one of my lucky numbers.
These men seem more polite ‘sister you dey travel today?’
‘My aunt dey inside, we suppose collect something from her’. my broken is a little shaky but it gets the job done.
‘So you want go inside abi’ another is attempting to be playful. But obviously is looking for some small change! My brother hands over N1,000 which I thought was too steep. Surely the man looked like he would have settled for less. Next thing you know we’re in. As we walked back from Ariks’ entrance to BA; we made sure the Hausa man by door number one saw us! They should wonder how we made our way inside.
The mystery of how we got inside still baffled my aunty; and my sister who was still outside - mind you. She thought it was more hassle than it was worth! But Bry and I don't mind one bit at all.
A few hours later; my aunt has boarded and we make our way out of the airport using door number ONE of course.
‘BYE BYE’ I greet the Hausa security guards. They flinch in alarm. And at the corner of one eye I see them giving me very ungracious looks.
The next day we arrive again at the airport to drop my brother off. But now I’m prepared for these Hausa looking men! They clearly remember me; how can you miss this wild curly fro I’m rocking!
With my brother’s hand-luggage in one hand; my passport in another; I’d like to see them try and refuse me entry now!
Obviously today I look the part, they didn’t even bother ask me any questions. And to think I made all this preparations!
Question; why is there so much protocol with seemly normal activities n Lagos? When has it become the norm to add additional layer of nonsense to visiting an airport. Hundreds of airports have all been surviving without such harassments!
So here are my REDUNDANT tips to enter Lagos International Airport: when you are not travelling!
Have a hand-luggage in one hand
Ensure your passport is the other hand
For additional conviction – create a pseudo e-ticket print out!
