Well, might comfort some, but I sure hope my kids don't get the bug to go there anytime soon.

<i>but the worst area is the north with all the oil business</i>

The north is where I was, working at a refinery for a few weeks in Kaduna. Oil is produced in the delta, nowhere near the north. The north is dangerous because of the ethnicity of the locals. The problem is that the damn British Empire manufactured Nigeria like they did with many other countries, especially in the Middle East. Historically Nigeria is basically three distinct peoples and three distinct religions. It will always be in turmoil thanks to the legacy of British colonialism.

The only way up to Kaduna was via big oil corporate jet. We had to wait for some fellows from Houston. Three of us were holed up in a hotel in Lagos for three days waiting. We couldn't go to town because the taxis could get no gasoline! We didn't really want to leave the bar and the pool anyway after hearing about the situation outside the gates of the hotel compound.

I think this thread now has enough information about Nigeria and medical issues.

Can anybody think of anything else?

For those who are interested, "Scruffy Young Man" has left the building and is on his way cross-country from the Bay Area to New York:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...e-building.cfm

Pray that Elvis guides him.

I think he's going to need someone to guide him. Apparently he somehow missed his first bus - to Oergon. Then took a difernt bus but forgot to get off and ended up somehwre random. Got a bus back ad it now rock climibing somewhere 100 miles form home.

And is planningo on hitching cross coutry (perhaps he doesn't realize it's illegal in many places).

I hadn't seen the US post. SYM is destined to be an international incident, if he can even make it to London.

"UK immigration has a reputation for being tough (but so is US, Australian etc), but they work strictly to rules and cannot just turn him way at the whim of an individual official."

I think you'll find this is not the case - often the initial decision is left to the judgment of the officer in front of you...then the fun starts....

I'm sorry if I'm repeating others advice but - if he states that he's "Staying with friends" he is greatly decreasing his chances of entry.

what immigration are concerned with is that he will leave the country and not try to stay/work get welfare......staying in backpackers etc is fine, small money is fine.....just so long as they are convinced he has good reasons to leave/move on or go home he'll be fine.

i doubt if he'll be the first hippy they've seen either.

ttt

WHY?