Michael Palin in Nigeria

I’ve loved it

We really enjoyed it, I have always enjoyed Michael Palins programmes.

I watched with great interest. One of Lynne`s carers is from Nigeria, so it will give me something else to talk about with Michael.

I like Michael Palin, but have no interest in Nigeria. My cousin used to work there often and he told me tales to make your hair curl about life there. Suffice it to say, it’s not a safe country to travel to.

We've recorded it and will watch later. My cousin and her DH lived there for years and a friend went to work there after university.
It's a country of extremes. Half of the population live in great poverty yet it is a very rich nation.

We lived in Nigeria as a family for five years. I haven’t seen the programme yet but am looking forward to doing so. One thing I can safely say, you’ll never be bored in Nigeria. There’s always something happening, even when you’re stuck in a huge traffic jam, don’t have any power or are out searching for what are everyday items in the UK but can be scarce in Lagos.

Tried to watch but both of us too weary. Saved for another day. Dad worked there in the 70s. Oil industry. Can’t have been easy.

i thought how much older MP looked, he seemed thin, frail in the way he moved.
to be expected i suppose, but not noticed before.

There is nothing positive about Nigeria, they are fighting terrorists in the north, a civil war against Biafra in the south.
Modern slavery is a fact of life, probably worse than 17th century, its a morass, but nobody cares.

I agree Katie.
It’s not a country I’m interested in.

I enjoyed it. I love Michael's programmes. He comes across as such a gentleman. I think it's interesting to see other countries even if we wouldn't want to visit them.

I think I’m disinterested because my cousin spoke about the enormous level of corruption there, including the necessity for bribes. It has made me uninterested in the country. I don’t suppose Michael Palin will be reported on that.

I lived there for 5 years, so i hope i get a chance to watch. Terrible place is all I can say about it!

I have watched other programmes made by Michael Palin and found them very interesting.

Hi! Sounds as if you had the same experiences as me! Driving around looking for salt, no power, no water, teefmen!

I meant I don’t suppose MP will be reporting on that. Michael Palin is unlikely to report on how unsavoury Nigeria is.

Didn’t record but would love to watch this. Michael Palin is a gentleman and I love to see his enlightening travels.

Tt message was for Suedonim!

Bigred, it was my cousin who went there regularly. He told me enough to ensure that I will never go there. It’s not a very safe country by his account, requiring bribes to get things done, and a lack of safety, especially for white people. I suspect Michael Palin’s programme will be sanitised and romanticised.

It always makes me laugh when people go to these countries and say “but the people are so lovely” when they’ve only met the head waiter and a cleaner in their hotel who will be expecting a good tip!

Really like Michael Palin though.

Michael did indeed mention the corruption.

He also went to a slum area. I don't think it's supposed to be promoting Nigeria as a tourist destination.

Bigred18

Tt message was for Suedonim!

We enjoyed our time there, actually, Bigred and still miss it on occasions. We made some good friends there, with whom we’re still in contact. I enjoyed not doing any housework for five years, I will admit! I got involved with charity work and that was very rewarding, with visible results right there in front of you.

My dd went to school there and she counts it as really giving her an understanding of how much of the world works and a different point of view to the Western eye. One comes to realise how privileged we are in the developed world, even with all its flaws.

You do need to be aware of your own safety but nothing worse happened other than feeling threatened, which I’ve also felt in UK cities. Nowhere is 100% safe. We’d previously lived in Indonesia, at the time of the Bali bomb, so I suppose we knew what to expect.