PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION SEMINAR (PDOS)

PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION SEMINAR (PDOS)

FOR NIGERIA

Ekaro (Good day).

This information is for FIRST-TIME OFWs (New Hires) going to Nigeria and assuming you already got a Nigerian Visa or in-process.

For Filipinos Only

New Hires bound for Niger Delta or working for oil companies may have separate orientation on personnel movement and security procedure.

About Nigeria.

1. Nigeria is the largest country in West Africa. It is bordered by Benin Republic in the West, Cameroon in the east, and Niger Republic and Chad Republic in North.
2. Lagos state is the former capital of Nigeria. Today, the capital is now Abuja, located in the central part of Nigeria. Lagos remains the commercial capital of Nigeria.
3. Southeast Nigeria, also commonly referred to as Niger Delta or the Oil Areas is where plenty of Filipinos are working in oil companies and support companies (aircon, generator technicians)
4. Lagos, especially Victoria Island, is usually the main office of the oil companies and the heart of country’s commercial and financial activities.
5. Nigeria is an English-speaking country.

Things to prepare if you will work in Nigeria.

1. Get a Yellow Fever vaccine and Thypoid vaccine. Never mind malaria. Asian malaria is a weaker strain than the African malaria. If you get malaria in Nigeria, use the prescribed Nigerian medicines.
2. While there are ‘imported’ medicines and vitamins, you might want to bring Philippine-made medicines.
3. Bring at least 400-500 USD. In 1, 5, 10, 20, 100 denomination
4. Get the contact numbers and names of people who are supposed to pick you up at the airport.
5. Bring an ‘open-line’ GSM cellphone

At the airport

Philippines

- when you arrive at NAIA, you go to the POEA/OWWA desk to have your OEC stamped

- Show the OEC to immigration as you pass by the checkpoints

- Pay Terminal Fees

- Check-in your baggage, get to your plane.

- I only know Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines that have direct connecting flights (same airline) from manila to lagos, nigeria. If Emirates, stopover at Dubai. If Ethiopian, stopover at Addis Ababa.

Paalala : Libre and pagkain at inumin sa eroplano. Kaya huwag mahiyang humingi – at kumain.

Dubai International Airport

- assuming your plane is Emirates, you will have a stopover in Dubai varying from 2 – 10 hours.

- There is Jollibee and Mcdo inside the airport.

- There is Duty-Free also. You can pay in dollar and dirham.

- If you have long wait (10+ hours), Emirates will give free dinner and breakfast. So ask where is the Emirates club. You can even ask for a transit visa from the Emirates office at the airport, allowing you to go out of the airport.

- There are sleeping areas in the airport to rest.

- Be careful with your handcarry baggage.

- There are 2 free internet kiosks you can use. They also serve as smoking areas.

Lagos (Murtalla Muhamed International Airport)
Time of arrival: 2:30PM/2:55 PM

- If you have other Filipinos on the flight, don’t be shy to ask and chat with them in the Lagos-bound plane.

- You will pass immigration for stamping of your passport. Make sure you are on the right-side line.

- After immigration, wait for your baggage in the carousel area.

i. If you brought half of your kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, you may need a baggage trolley at 1 USD per trolley.

- Never give your passport to anybody after you have the immigration stamp. There are fixers inside the baggage claim area. They will take your passport pretending to help with your baggage and then ask plenty of money for the return of your passport.

- After you get your baggage, follow the line where other expats are passing. Don’t be afraid. They will just check the baggage claim tickets.

i. There is a line for Exit, Customs and Currency declaration. Even if you have plenty of pesos or dollars with you, you do not need to declare currencies. It is only for businessmen bringing large amount of cash.

ii. Stay in the Exit line.

Go outside of the terminal. On the left side is the refreshment area where you can exchange your dollar for Naira.

i. You can relieve yourself or eat and drink there.

ii. If you have naira by now, buy a GSM SIM Card, either GloMobile, Zain or MTN SIM card.

iii. Call your contact if you did not see anyone holding a placard with your name on it at the waiting area.

iv. Stay in the airport terminal premises until your pick-up arrives.

v. Ignore the ‘cargo boys’ and ‘taxi boys’ offering you baggage assistance. Like in Pinas, they will try to force you and confuse you. Do not engage in long conversation with them.

vi. If you need to ask for information, look for uniformed personnel or from the store clerks in the airport passenger lounge area.

Welcome to Nigeria.

CULTURE SHOCK

- Nigerians are generally very polite people and locals have high regard for all foreign visitors.

- It is common to use polite words to address another person such as Mastah (master), Sah (sir) or Oga (boss). You can use this also to address an officer of your company or any Nigerians for that matter.

- When you enter a place or office for the first time, the standard greetings will be “You’re welcome” – meaning, ‘You are welcome (here)’. Just reply “Thank you”. They will follow it with “Well done.”

- Expat workers of all nationalities not coming from Africa will be called as “OYIBO” – meaning, “white man” in Yoruba. In Southeast Nigeria, the word for foreigner is “ONIYOCHA”.

- When you get to the office and you met local office employees and officers of your company, shake their hands using your right hand. If you need to give something to a local, use the right hand – especially when you are meeting somebody of high position or a chief. It is rude to use the left hand in shaking hands or passing/receiving something.

- Nigerians are non-smoker in general. No smoking inside establishments or government buildings. To be sure, ask if it is allowed in the premises.

WEATHER

- Nigeria has a generally dry weather. But they do have a rainy season starting April to September.

- Lagos has a ‘burst and spurt’ rains in April – September. I swear the wind and rain in Nigeria sounds like a typhoon category already but locals just call it ‘ordinary’ rain.

- From October to March, almost all Nigeria experience the ‘harmattan’ weather or dry winds. You are advice to wear long sleeves if your job requires field work or travel, and take a bath twice a day to avoid skin irritation. Harmattan winds carries fine sand from Sahara that causes eye and skin irritation. But it also gives cold weather in the night.

CONVERSATION/LANGUAGE

- There are three major languages in Nigeria. Yoruba (Southwest), Hausa (North) and Igbo (Southeast). Yoruba is the local language in Lagos.

- Nigerians are very conversant and fluent in English (reading and writing). It is their second language. In fact, the average-schooled Nigerian speaks better English than his/her Filipino counterpart.

- Don’t be shy in spokening dollars. Broken or pidgin english is acceptable here.

- One peculiar word that will surely confuse first-timer is ‘don’ – sounds like “don’t”.

i. If you ask if the job is finished, the local will reply “I don do am”. Do not be angry. What he meant was that he has ‘done’ the job.

ii. Avoid using “don’t” if you mean he should not do it. Use ‘never’ or ‘ do not’, or paraphrase your question to avoid saying ‘don’t’.

- Words with 2 or more syllables ending in “-en” are pronounced as “-on” if preceded by a consonant.

i. ‘heav-en” is “heavon”. Even = evon’. Eleven = ele-von. Happen = happon

- Words with “er” in the middle or at end, are pronounce as ‘ah”.

i. Example: master – mastah. Sir – sah. Never – nevah. Expert – expaht. Perm – pahm. Caretaker – caretakah. Safer – safah. Far – fah

- Shhhh. They pronounce “S” like “sh”. But this only applies to local words and not english words. So if you read Nigerian placenames starting with “s” – like Somolu, it should be pronounce as “Shomolu”. Also: se (you) – she; o se (thank you) – o she.

- Disappearing consonants. Local words have double consonants. In such words, the first consonant is not spoken (“y” is not a consonant). Here: Ogunsanya – ogusanya. Funmigation – fumigation. Igbo – ibo. Sourvenir – souhvenir.

- Spell please. If you are talking to a local on the phone and you need to know the spelling of the word, you may find your ears bleeding trying to figure out certain letters. Be familiar with some uniquely pronounced letters:  ‘r’ is ‘arro’;  ‘m’ is ‘emmo,  ‘z’ is ‘zed’;  ‘h’ is ‘hetch’.

- Number ‘0’ is sometimes read as ‘not’. If you ask for a cellphone number that starts with 080, it will be read ‘not-eight-not’

- Do not laugh if you hear somebody says ‘she-dool’ for schedule.

Trivia: Nigeria has the most number of english-language daily newspapers and prints the most number of publications in West Africa

Paalala: “You have something for me?” – this is the most common phrase you will hear from locals. It’s another way of asking for money or ‘dash’. Just politely say no.

DRESS CODE

- Lagos state is a metropolitan state. There is really no dress code in public. Unless your office requires a uniform, you can wear casual attire.

Women may wear casual dress. On weekends, one can wear shorts and sleeveless – in daytime.

This casual attire applies only to South Nigeria. Northern Nigeria has predominantly Muslim States and Sharia Law is observed. It will be safer for women to cover their head and dress modestly in public if a Pinay will work there.

ACCOMMODATION

The usual norm is that the company provides a fully-furnish housing and transportation. With cook, cleaner and driver.

- Observe the security policy in your housing. Meron din akyat-bahay sa Nigeria.

SHOPPING/RECREATION

- Cost of living : Relatively Cheap. But since most stores do not carry price tags, you have to haggle hard to reduce the price. Locals have the propensity to triple the price of goods if you are an ‘OYIBO’ buying in small stores.

- In Lagos and Abuja, there are several malls, famous are Shoprite and Park n Shop.

- There are cinemas, restaurants, bars, gyms, fastfoods, nightclubs and casinos.

- There are always grocery stores they call “supermarket”.

- Nowadays, all things you need can be bought from the ‘supermarket’.

- Because there are plenty of Lebanese, Indian and Chinese businesses here, you will always find Asian food items like rice, sardines, carne norte, noodles, and maggi bouillons, except sinigang mixes.

– Meat (pork, beef, goat, ram, bush meat), poultry products (dressed chickens, eggs), fresh fish, fruits/vegetables (talong, pechay, squash, amplaya, malunggay, sitaw, upo) can be bought from malls or Sunday markets.

- No western name fastfood chain. But there are plenty of Nigerian-owned fastfood chains patterned after western menu. Also fine African-cuisine restaurants.

- There are 3 ‘go-to’ beaches in Lagos: Eleko Beach, Lekki Beach, Banana Island. Offers boating, windsurfing, and speedboat cruises.

- There are golf courses in Lagos. Most accessible are Ikoyi and Ikeja.

Paalala: Mahal ang ice cream sa Nigeria. Kaya pakasawa na kayo bago pumunta rito.

TRAVEL and SECURITY

i. For Niger Delta-bound persons, observe your company’s security policies.

— If you need to go out of the compound, consult your security personnel or your housemates.

ii. Never go out of your compound alone if you are not familiar with the streets.

iii. Never bring any local person inside your compound without clearance from security

iv. Nigeria is a left-hand driving country. Observe traffic rules and signs.

– If you want to drive in Nigeria, you may apply for Nigerian international driver’s license. Always carry xerox of that driver’s licenses. Nigeria is left-hand drive.

- Make sure the car you are driving has updated & complete papers (xerox and originals). These are called “particulars“

- Always lock your car doors and windows, especially if you get stuck in traffic. If some vendors knock on your side of window, ignore them.

- If your vehicle is stopped by police in a checkpoint, let the driver do the talking.

- If you can help it, do not take okada bike.

- If you have to take taxi, haggle the price first before boarding (no meters). If you have to take a bus, be careful with you pockets, cellphones or wallets. There are pickpockets here also.

v. Photocopy you passport (front and back) and VISA. If you have CERPAC, xerox it front and back. Carry the xerox copies at all times.

vi. Observe security in your place of accommodation. Remember, your indiscretion might compromise the security of the rest of your housemates.

vii. Always have companions when going to public markets.

Paalala: if you are travelling in the city and your car got stuck in the traffic, do not panic if your driver will tell you there is ‘holdup’. In Nigeria, ‘holdap’ means ‘traffic jam’.

MONEY MATTERS

- You cannot send dollars thru Western Union. Nigeria prohibits sending out of dollars thru WU, but allows incoming dollars. You can only do so through bank-to-bank deposit.

i. If your company is expat company and your salary comes from overseas, then decide how you will divide your salary. It maybe 60/40. 60% is deposited by your company to your family’s bank account in the Philippines, and 40% is given to you in Nigeria (in dollars or pounds or naira)

ii.If your entire salary is local issued, you may have to open a dollar and domicilliary bank account here in Nigeria

Requirements:

Copy of passport, visa, certificate of employment, endorsement from company officer. Opening balance is 100 USD.

Keep your extra money in the house. Bring only enough money for shopping or when you go out with friends.

HEALTH and FOOD

- It is advisable for all newcomers to Nigeria to take antimalaria prophylaxis (prevention). Look for Fanzimef or malarone, and take as indicated. Other doctors advise Nivaquine, but contra-indicated to persons over 40 years of age. Take any of these prophylaxis drugs (only one) after arriving in Nigeria. You can buy the drugs at any pharmacy in Nigeria. We were informed that you cannot find these in the Philippine pharmacies, except from government provincial/regional hospitals.

- Medicines are not a problem. Just be wary if you think you are buying imported medicines. Better to buy locally made ones as these are cheaper and sure to work.

- Never drink or use in cooking plain tap water. Always use bottled water or filtered water.

- Never try eating from local carenderia out of curiosity.

- Spray insecticide once a week in the entire house.

- Never swim in lakes or rivers

- Never make ‘kinilaw’ out of freshwater fish, shellfish

- If you feel fever in early afternoon and headache in the evening, go for a blood test in your company-accredited hospital. Never ignore headaches and fevers.

- Take vitamins regularly

- Always iron your clothers, especially underwear, if you left it hanging outside the house overnight.

- If you are drinking beer in pub, drink from bottle, and not from glass.

- If you intend to bring your children, make sure they have polio and measles vaccination.

RECREATION and PINOY BARANGAY

Companies provide OFWs with recreational facilities in their housing. Others may have common facilities if living in an estate (subdivision).

Most of the time, Pinoys just go to another kababayan’s place to hang out and have a drink.

Each Filipino group, depending on locations and jobs, have their own hang-outs during weekend.

In Lagos, there is Family Day gathering every first Sunday of the month at the barangay clubhouse in Ikeja, Lagos.

There is weekly basketball game with other expats. Also, Monthly sabong.

There are Filipino communities in major states. Try to get in touch with them.

INTERNET and COMMUNICATION

There are several wireless internet provider in Nigeria. From wireless dial-up to broadband. You can choose between Multilinks, Swifttalk or Starcomms, IPNX. Other states may have different providers, all wireless or satellite-base.

There are several cellular phone companies and offers texting to Philippine GSM companies.

• Zain can text to Smart (Roaming partner)
• GloMobile and MTN can text both Smart and Globe (roaming partner)
• Etisalat

There are also CDMA-based mobile phone companies (Reltel, Starcomms, Multilinks) and VOIP services that offers cheaper long distance calls.

Brand new and latest model of laptop, PCs and electronic gadgets are available in Nigeria.

WORSHIP

- There are plenty of Catholic, Anglican and Protestant Churches here.

- In South Nigeria like Lagos and Niger Delta, majority are Christians.

- Southeast Nigeria is predominantly Roman Catholic.

- Even INC has solid community assembly on Sunday in Lagos.

FILIPINO CONTACT :

Philippine Embassy:

Phone: +234-805-175-2187

e-mail: abuja_pe@yahoo.co.uk

Note: Philippine Embassy in Nigeria handles entire West African countries as well.

Lagos contacts:

Engr. Buddy Salvador: 08025270478

Filipinos in Nigeria Yahoogroups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naijapinoy/

Blogsite: http://philbrgysocietyinnigeria.wordpress.com/

If you see somebody looking like a Pinoy, do not hesitate to greet and exchange numbers.

Common Yoruba words:

Ekaro (informal) – Good Morning/Day Ekabo (formal)	ekaso – Good Afternoon/evening
Eeh – Yes Mba – No	Ba wo ni? / She dada ni o? – How Are you ? Reply: Beni
O she (inf.) – Thank you E-she (formal) Kotopwe – You’re Welcome	o (e) she gong – Thank you very much Udaro (inf.) /Udabo (formal) – Goodbye
Kelu shele? (also ‘wetin hapun?”) – What happened? Kelu de – what is it? Kelu so? – what did you say?	Dodo – boiled plantain Borli - grilled plantain
e joo / jo wo – Please Eko Udon – Happy New Year Omo eko - Lagos man	Oya werri! – You are mad! Mumu – moron!
Oga – boss, sir, master Oya – get going (usually, “oya, go.”) Pikin – child	Arewa – pretty/beautiful (as in ‘omo giye arewa’ – that girl is pretty.
Kpele – I’m sorry.	Wa! – Come! (call someone to come to you) Mo mbo – I’m coming.
Abi? – Is it not? (used after a statement, for emphasis)	Naija (nai-dja) – colloquial term for Nigeria

Nigerian Words & Phrases (Slang):

Today-today – today, or else	Small-small – a little or very small
Big-big – really big	Now-now – immediately
Chop – eat	ibi mpami – I’m hungry
Fine-fine – very good/fine	Area boys – neighborhood toughies.
A dey come/go – I’m coming/going	Okada – motorbike for public transport
Yo dey craze – you’re crazy	Wahala – problem/trouble
She o ye e? – Do you understand?	Na lie – it’s a lie / lie-lie – you’re really lying
ori mfumi – I’m sick ototu mo mi – I’m feeling cold (aircon is strong)	Mo le so yoruba die. (diye) – I speak Yoruba a little She o fe shun pelu-mi? – Do you want to sleep with me?
How far? – what’s up? (common greeting)	Na-wow! – expression of disbelief/dismay
Biro – ballpen	Na-wow for you! – shame on you! (said jokingly)
Wer yo dey? – Where are you now?	Why now? - Why? (ask to explain)
A/C – aircon (“Off the A/C.” – turn off the aircon)	Ah-ah! – expression of disapproval/disagreement
E-heh! – Correct! / Right !	Do you see/hear the smell? – Do you smell something?
How yo dey? – How are you (today)? Reply: I’m fine-fine. Thank God – oh.	Dash – tong or kotong money
No bi so? – Isn’t it so? (reply: “ na so” – it is so.)	You do Christmas for me. – Give me Christmas gift.
Naija Pinoys – OFWs in Nigeria

Nigeria reference:

http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/

http://babawillyentertainment.com/p.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/nigeria

http://www.ngex.com/personalities/babawilly/