Hi Guys,
I promised to tell you of what we experienced entering the U.S, after our Nigerian Underwear bomber messed our image abroad.
For those who don't really understand the gravity of what he has done, you need to make a trip and find out how bad it is and how his singular action, has changed the world of flying and the security risk involved with such.
From what we deduced at the airport, this is going to continue for as long as it takes, as the United States has found out that no matter how secure they seem to be, there are guys out there, who would go through all lengths to try and bring the country to its knees. They are in it for the long haul and Nigerians would be at the receiving end of the stick, as fore-runners to air traffic safety & security.
If this is happening at the airports, I can second guess what is happening at the embassies across the world, where Nigerians go to renew or apply for a visa to the United States.
Nigerians are a bunch of travelling people (more Nomadic than anything else).
London Experience:
We left for the U.K as a start, on the 28Th, 3days after the Christmas incident and plans were to do another European country, before heading out to the U.S.
Murtala Airport was a breeze, as it was business as usual and no different from what is normally experienced.
"Oga anything to declare"
"Oga, anything for the boys"
Just before boarding at the final departure hall, we were frisked (Patted down). VIP or not, you were rubbed down, shoes taken off, belts, laptops, bags searched, the works.
It was done in a very friendly and professional manner and then you were allowed to board.
On arrival at the Heathrow Airport, the captain announced that all passengers should have their passports at hand before they disembark, as airport security/customs/immigration, were at the door to check.
As we dis-embarked from the plane, as said, they were all there at the aircraft door, with the sniffer dogs and we had to queue in a single file to walk past them.
The dogs ran around in circles around you and then went on to the next passenger.
Clearing customs and immigration in London was a breeze and we were out in less than 10Min's from when we disembarked from the plane.
Plans changed and we decided to spend the New Year in London and head to the U.S on the 4Th.
U.S Experience:
Heathrow check in: At the baggage check-in counter, plenty questions, as you check in.
Whether flying 1st, business or economy, you were asked the same questions.
Then you went into passport control, body scanners and xrays for hand luggage, jackets, shoes, belts etc.
Here you are also patted down, then allowed to proceed.
Normally, when going through the final boarding, they have 2 lines for those flying business and those flying economy.
This time around, 1 line was used.
We went through the same process of taking off our belts, shoes, emptying out our bags, turning on laptops to see if they were not bombs etc.
It was a long queue and tiring process, as you were moved from 1 person to the other.
That was when my wife and I realised that we were the only blacks going to board the flight, with 228passengers, headed to Boston.
The damming part, was that we were Nigerians.
On board, people would look at us and take their faces away, when you stare back at them and if you did keep looking at them, they smiled with that look of "I know what you are planning and I'm going to stop you"!
I just had fun on board. drank as much as I could, played with the cabin crew and took to walking up and down the aisle, when I got bored of using the onboard entertainment.
The look on every ones face, was that of amusement, mixed with fear.
It was a plane filled with people returning home after holidaying in the U.K.
Arrival at Boston Logan Airport:
Got to Immigration. Hall filled with about 500+ passengers (2 Planes came in at the same time).
Immigration officer nice and chatted with us. Asked the normal questions, on what we were here for and how long we were staying.
Stamped us in.
Moving over to baggage claim, an officer walked up to us and said we should follow him.
Now the wahala started.................
There was a barrage of questions and you need to be quick with your answers.
Don't tell a lie, as this would be very counter productive.
Where are you coming from?
Do you live in the UK?
How long are you in the US for?
How long are you staying in Boston?
Where else are you visiting?
Do you have Family there?
What is the name of of your sister?
Her husband's name?
How old are you?
How old did you say you are?
How old is your sister in Houston?
(All answers written down)!
Is your sisters maiden name the same with yours?
How much do you have on you?
Is this for both of you or just you?
How much has your wife got with her?
What do you do?
To wife:
What do you do?
Where did you study?
Which University in Boston?
Which High school in Vermont?
What mountain are you both going skiing on?
How many mountains are in New Hampshire?
Where did you work in New York?
(All answers written down)
Then he goes through our wallets, bags and passports.
Leaves us and heads to a door where 2 other officers were standing:
Discussion between the 3 to which we could overhear:
What age are we looking for?
43?
Falls within that age?
Height and build?
About same?
They both walk back and one takes our passports, walks over to a computer and starts punching in data.
2nd officer comes to us and starts questioning again:
How old did you say you were?
What is your sisters date of birth
(My Sister's is a year older on the 17th of January and I would be there)
I told him same and answered just as fast as we answered all questions thrown at us.
The 2nd officer walks up to us and shook his head, stating that we were clean and cleared.
Then I asked if we were on the 5000+ watch list?
He said there was no watch list but a general list.
Goes on to tell us that this was what they were mandated to do and presidential orders were to check all Nigerians coming into the US.
I was tempted to tell him that the plane had Pakistanis, Arabs and North Africans on board.
Some really did look like terrorist!
He now interjected that we stood out.
1. Nigerians
2. Only blacks on board
3. Nigerians and only blacks (Bad combo)
4. Nigerian, Black and travelling via a trip that is similar to that taken by the suicide bomber.
We spent about 30 minutes answering questions and then a clearance slip was brought in, filled by the officer, signed and he now said he would escort us out.
I asked why and he said he could give me the slip, but I would be stopped again.
So he walked us past 2 more stations, where he nodded and showed them the slip, saw us to the final exit and waved us goodbye, stating that we should have a nice holiday.
Over the last 12 years, we have done this trip over 20 times and never been pulled over once.
It could be mind blowing when this happens and you have a problem with being interrogated.
We (Nigerians), would be worse for it, as we have a government that is basically non-existent and one that has always shown utter disregard for its citizens.
Where is your president?
Do we have a vice-president or a toothless dog, who's hands and mouth are tied
Who is running the country?
Many questions, many answers!
We would hope and pray that another suicide bomber caught or has a failed attempt, isn't from Nigeria.
This would be the final nail in the coffin for those who fly internationally, as a part of our business and lifestyle.
Its well and Nigeria Go survive.!!!
Badvibes
I promised to tell you of what we experienced entering the U.S, after our Nigerian Underwear bomber messed our image abroad.
For those who don't really understand the gravity of what he has done, you need to make a trip and find out how bad it is and how his singular action, has changed the world of flying and the security risk involved with such.
From what we deduced at the airport, this is going to continue for as long as it takes, as the United States has found out that no matter how secure they seem to be, there are guys out there, who would go through all lengths to try and bring the country to its knees. They are in it for the long haul and Nigerians would be at the receiving end of the stick, as fore-runners to air traffic safety & security.
If this is happening at the airports, I can second guess what is happening at the embassies across the world, where Nigerians go to renew or apply for a visa to the United States.
Nigerians are a bunch of travelling people (more Nomadic than anything else).
London Experience:
We left for the U.K as a start, on the 28Th, 3days after the Christmas incident and plans were to do another European country, before heading out to the U.S.
Murtala Airport was a breeze, as it was business as usual and no different from what is normally experienced.
"Oga anything to declare"
"Oga, anything for the boys"
Just before boarding at the final departure hall, we were frisked (Patted down). VIP or not, you were rubbed down, shoes taken off, belts, laptops, bags searched, the works.
It was done in a very friendly and professional manner and then you were allowed to board.
On arrival at the Heathrow Airport, the captain announced that all passengers should have their passports at hand before they disembark, as airport security/customs/immigration, were at the door to check.
As we dis-embarked from the plane, as said, they were all there at the aircraft door, with the sniffer dogs and we had to queue in a single file to walk past them.
The dogs ran around in circles around you and then went on to the next passenger.
Clearing customs and immigration in London was a breeze and we were out in less than 10Min's from when we disembarked from the plane.
Plans changed and we decided to spend the New Year in London and head to the U.S on the 4Th.
U.S Experience:
Heathrow check in: At the baggage check-in counter, plenty questions, as you check in.
Whether flying 1st, business or economy, you were asked the same questions.
Then you went into passport control, body scanners and xrays for hand luggage, jackets, shoes, belts etc.
Here you are also patted down, then allowed to proceed.
Normally, when going through the final boarding, they have 2 lines for those flying business and those flying economy.
This time around, 1 line was used.
We went through the same process of taking off our belts, shoes, emptying out our bags, turning on laptops to see if they were not bombs etc.
It was a long queue and tiring process, as you were moved from 1 person to the other.
That was when my wife and I realised that we were the only blacks going to board the flight, with 228passengers, headed to Boston.
The damming part, was that we were Nigerians.
On board, people would look at us and take their faces away, when you stare back at them and if you did keep looking at them, they smiled with that look of "I know what you are planning and I'm going to stop you"!
I just had fun on board. drank as much as I could, played with the cabin crew and took to walking up and down the aisle, when I got bored of using the onboard entertainment.
The look on every ones face, was that of amusement, mixed with fear.
It was a plane filled with people returning home after holidaying in the U.K.
Arrival at Boston Logan Airport:
Got to Immigration. Hall filled with about 500+ passengers (2 Planes came in at the same time).
Immigration officer nice and chatted with us. Asked the normal questions, on what we were here for and how long we were staying.
Stamped us in.
Moving over to baggage claim, an officer walked up to us and said we should follow him.
Now the wahala started.................
There was a barrage of questions and you need to be quick with your answers.
Don't tell a lie, as this would be very counter productive.
Where are you coming from?
Do you live in the UK?
How long are you in the US for?
How long are you staying in Boston?
Where else are you visiting?
Do you have Family there?
What is the name of of your sister?
Her husband's name?
How old are you?
How old did you say you are?
How old is your sister in Houston?
(All answers written down)!
Is your sisters maiden name the same with yours?
How much do you have on you?
Is this for both of you or just you?
How much has your wife got with her?
What do you do?
To wife:
What do you do?
Where did you study?
Which University in Boston?
Which High school in Vermont?
What mountain are you both going skiing on?
How many mountains are in New Hampshire?
Where did you work in New York?
(All answers written down)
Then he goes through our wallets, bags and passports.
Leaves us and heads to a door where 2 other officers were standing:
Discussion between the 3 to which we could overhear:
What age are we looking for?
43?
Falls within that age?
Height and build?
About same?
They both walk back and one takes our passports, walks over to a computer and starts punching in data.
2nd officer comes to us and starts questioning again:
How old did you say you were?
What is your sisters date of birth
(My Sister's is a year older on the 17th of January and I would be there)
I told him same and answered just as fast as we answered all questions thrown at us.
The 2nd officer walks up to us and shook his head, stating that we were clean and cleared.
Then I asked if we were on the 5000+ watch list?
He said there was no watch list but a general list.
Goes on to tell us that this was what they were mandated to do and presidential orders were to check all Nigerians coming into the US.
I was tempted to tell him that the plane had Pakistanis, Arabs and North Africans on board.
Some really did look like terrorist!
He now interjected that we stood out.
1. Nigerians
2. Only blacks on board
3. Nigerians and only blacks (Bad combo)
4. Nigerian, Black and travelling via a trip that is similar to that taken by the suicide bomber.
We spent about 30 minutes answering questions and then a clearance slip was brought in, filled by the officer, signed and he now said he would escort us out.
I asked why and he said he could give me the slip, but I would be stopped again.
So he walked us past 2 more stations, where he nodded and showed them the slip, saw us to the final exit and waved us goodbye, stating that we should have a nice holiday.
Over the last 12 years, we have done this trip over 20 times and never been pulled over once.
It could be mind blowing when this happens and you have a problem with being interrogated.
We (Nigerians), would be worse for it, as we have a government that is basically non-existent and one that has always shown utter disregard for its citizens.
Where is your president?
Do we have a vice-president or a toothless dog, who's hands and mouth are tied
Who is running the country?
Many questions, many answers!
We would hope and pray that another suicide bomber caught or has a failed attempt, isn't from Nigeria.
This would be the final nail in the coffin for those who fly internationally, as a part of our business and lifestyle.
Its well and Nigeria Go survive.!!!
Badvibes
