By Nkeiru Ezeonyido
The very first time I was traveling to England from Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos, (I have always used Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport for my international travels)
I got to the immigration check point where they would search my bags and I stood in the queue. Someone was being attended to by the immigration officer on desk so I stood at his back waiting for my turn. The officer asked the guy: Do you have any oil in your luggage?
The guy: Yes
Officer: Let me see it.
The guy reached into his Ghana must go bag and brought out a container of palm oil (about 4 or 5litres) and handed to the lady.
Officer took the oil from him and asked the guy to zip his bag and go. The palm oil was confiscated 😥. The guy was shocked and confused at the same time that I could see tears forming in his eyes. I think he is a first time traveler. Then he started explaining to the officer and pleading but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
While all these were happening, two other officers were standing there very close to me and observing. One of them said to me: Find me something so that you can go and check your bags in. In my mind I said: see free passage 🙈😂.
I reached into my bag and brought out two N1k note and handed to him. He took it and said I should go this way. He left immediately. While I made to go, the second officer who obviously saw what transpired asked me: Do you have food items in any of these bags?
Me: Yes while indicating the bag with the food items to her.
Her: Carry your bags to that check point (pointing towards the direction) and go and pay for your food items 🙆♀️
Me: 😳😲
Me: But your colleague asked me to go. I pointed at the man who was already at the other end of the hall.
Officer no even send me o. She insisted I go to the other checkpoint and pay. I carried my bags to the point as she directed. The people there charged me 2,300. I didn’t have change so I just gave them 3k.
Theirs was better because they issued me a receipt and put a tag on the bag that contained food items.
They actually did not search the bag and all my items remained intact although the bags had been previously scanned at the entrance.
E pain me say them scam me for inside airport in broad day light. A whole me 😩. I couldn’t help but feel these were all their setup. I was feeling bad about my situation then I remembered the guy whose palm oil was confiscated, I had to console myself. At least my palm oil was still chilling in one of the bags 😁
What have you experienced in the hands of the officers at the airport?
Peoplesmind
