West Africa – Would you/have you worked there?

I worked off Angola, mobbing / demobbing in Point Noire, Congo. Weather was nice, people were eager to get rid of the rubbish – they were emptying the skips before they even landed on the quay side. The locals are very resourceful – they removed the system decklead over night while the LARS was on the quayside!!
Airports were a bit chaotic – had to pay an exit tax of one tin of mozzie spray to an official!
Had a good time and would go back again.

Okay, Without bullshit and to the point !
Anybody offering you a job down there (West Africa) should be looking at around 750:00 POUNDS STERLING , Yes that is what I have been offered a few times. BUT declined the offer. ! WHY …….. Because it is a shithole of a continent where life is cheap and corrupt.
Get in contact with the foreign Orifice to check out the state of play before excepting any job !
EVERY YEAR there are people abducted or murdered who work for the Oil industry down there and OUR industry is small so you have a fairly good idea how close nit this industry is !
Wanting to get a job in Our industry is all well and good But is it worth having your money ripped off , Jailed , Assaulted , Kiddnapped or murdered ? Think of your family before you accept a contract not just the money ! If you do go down there ( After all the comments and warnings from people like myself who HAVE been there ! ) And something happens to you , You will get No sympathy from me and I would not donate a penny to someone Stupid enough to to take the gamble !
Big grown man or not , Your’e still daft to except it !
But if you want the Dare devil adventure……………… Go ahead , Only You have been Warned !
Root beer anyone ?

HI
I have been working Angola, Congo, Nigeria, OK its many years ago but i am never to return again, never.

Wouln’t it be great , If………………. All Expats Downtooled and went home 😀 The middle east would stop working , There would be Chaos and Africa would grind to a halt 😆

Oh,

Congo as well,- No problem.

Monkey 8)

I’ve done a wee bit of work down them there parts over the last few years, all as marine crew.

Ivory coast, we were there just after the last load of bad curfews, no problems at all.

Pointe-Noir, once again no problems at all.

Malabo, Had a month working there and no problems.

Luanda, No problems worked from there for a while last year.

Lobito, No problems at all.

Just from my own personel experiences only though folks. I stood my ground over Nigeria though. I stated I was willing to walk if they tried to send me there and stuck to my guns.

Hope this helps.

Pascobal.

Africa = Not good……

Best avoided been there on various projects, had to buy my way though customs etc.. usually third word issues,corruption, massive crime, lack of education, bad medical care if you go keep your eyes and ears open you will be reasonably ok, dont carry cash that way they cant steal it off you, only use debit cards at real banks etc dont use in hotels or stores you will be ripped off…this is a a common problem..

with all the hassle i would rather pay the tax in Norway…..

Just be careful i would avoid if you could..

Totally agree with this,

I would only go there if i had no choice, and i am very glad to say i have not had to go there for years! 🙂

but never say never……. and when i was starting out i would have gone to the gates of hell for piss poor pay to "get in" so if you do go,
BE CAREFUL, especialy if your a newbie.

h20