Stranded in Nigeria

[tango15]

Are your friends in contact with the consulate in Lagos, OFSO? Having had a number of dealings with the FCO, I am only too aware that they work at the speed of a constipated snail, but things do happen eventually. I wonder if the Nigerian authorities are being obstructive (nothing new there!) and to be fair, the FCO may be struggling to get dip clearance for repatriation flights.

I see that the Change.org petition has almost reached the target, so fingers crossed.

[OFSO]

Yes they are. And yes they do. In my own limited travels I always accepted that the last people to turn to would be the staff at the FO. Luckily I carried a Sonderausweiss and knew the Germans would look after me...

[Capetonian]

983 have signed. Let’s get to 1,000!
Thanks to your support this petition has a chance at winning!
We only need 17 more signatures to reach the next goal - can you help?

[tango15]

983 have signed. Let’s get to 1,000!
Thanks to your support this petition has a chance at winning!
We only need 17 more signatures to reach the next goal - can you help?

Why has the target now jumped to 1500?

[OFSO]

All the guys are still in Lagos, living in a modified container. Eight days now but there are British seamen who have been there far longer. In strict lockdown between both locals and crews of ships in the port. British authorities say there will be flights, no idea when, no idea for whom.

[k3k3]

Do any of the unfortunates have connections with Torbay? If they do then send me some information and I'll forward it to my MP Kevin Foster.

[OFSO]

All the ones that I know are offshore oil men. Special residency circumstances as unless recession, they spend little time in U K. But now the oil industry has collapsed......

[OFSO]

Good news, it seems....... More in a few days time.

[1DC]

Any news OFSO?
I was talking to my window cleaner this morning and he had a friend who was contracting in the oil industry in Nigeria, it took him two months to get home, eventually got a ship as far as Teneriffe and then waited a week before he got another ship to the UK..

[OFSO]

My friend picked up a local contract for some weeks, on a maintenance/supply vessel due to return to Scotland after the current job ends. Hence if there is a continuing dearth of repat flights, he will remain on board for the trip back.

[1DC]

A nice win win...

[OFSO]

One of the other guys made it home yesterday on a repat flight, after more than 20 days living in a container, I believe. Repat flights are the only international aircraft landing permitted in Lagos, says the Nigerian government, although FR24 would indicate otherwise. I understand the same government's desire to keep Nigeria completely free of Covid-19 as they claim it is now, by locking down the airport. Although one hears differently from people in Lagos and PHC.

[Rwy in Sight]

Good news for the first one I hope the rest follow suit

[OFSO]

My friend is on his support and supply vessel, waiting to leave the port and, well, support and supply the rigs. And eventually steam. off home.

[G-CPTN]

And getting paid for it?

[OFSO]

Oh yes. Contract, diving supervisor (famous for getting difficult jobs done safely) plus free voyage home if necessary.

[Rwy in Sight]

So he is working rather returning home!

[OFSO]

Finally on their way home, just left Lagos on a rented Embraer Legacy 600, vis on FR24 north of Abeokuta..

Lat 7.471 Long 3.158

[tango15]

Finally on their way home, just left Lagos on a rented Embraer Legacy 600, vis on FR24 north of Abeokuta..

Lat 7.471 Long 3.158

Excellent news, OFSO. Relief does not begin to cover it, I imagine.

[OFSO]

Just coming up to the coast of Algeria. The last of Africa for a long long time I would guess !