It is good to know one's right, but it is also good to know when to claim those rights.
I remember when Tosin was travelling in July 2012, he had just gotten the new ECOWAS passport because the previous one he was carrying had expired. so he got to the airport, checked in his luggage and proceeding to the security checks/ screening with his boarding pass.
As He got through the checks, one senior immigration officer accosted him and asked for his passport which he handed over to him. Seeing that it was a virgin passport, he asked if Tosin was travelling for the first time to which he replied no and produced the old expired passport. He promptly handed Tosins documents to a mean looking female immigration officer who took him and about 3 others to an office nearby.
REWIND: Tosin got to the airport very late that day and the check in counter was about to close so he was skating on very thin ice and could actually have missed that flight. Don't jump to any conclusions, He didn't plan to come late, but He had just spent 3 hours getting to the airport from Gbagada, a journey that shouldn't take more than 15 minutes all things being equal. However the traffic on this faithful day was totally incomprehensible. He had to walk the rest of the way with his box in tow when the traffic became standstill.
Back to the matter at hand.
They got to the office and the lady asked for Tosins invitation letter, I thought the invitation letter was meant for the embassy of the other country to ascertain that an individual had a valid reason of travelling before granting a visa. So what business does the immigration have to ask for the letter? The other country had already granted a visa to enter their country! All the immigration needed to do was make sure the prospective traveler possessed the appropriate travel documents and also make sure he was not carrying any illegal items aboard the plane. Well, she used this as a delay tactics knowing fully well that
Tosins flight was already making a final boarding call. She asked him to go and print the letter, Tosin replied that he could show her the soft copy of the letter his laptop but she insisted on having the hard copy. She also instructed another officer to locate the luggage Tosin had earlier checked in and bring it out in-case He didn't make the flight. What was he supposed to do?
Tosin knew quite alright that they had no business asking for a letter of invite and could claim his rights, but he also knew that by the time he finished claiming his rights, He would have missed his flight so Tosin asked the lady what she can do to assist Him. She promptly asked him to drop something and then show her the invite letter on his laptop so she would be able to tell her boss that she has sighted the letter. Let us just say that in the end, someone got $100 poorer while another person got $100 richer (as there was no change and that was the smallest bill on the poor guy).
Apparently, his colleague James, who traveled a week before Tosin went through the same ordeal. He tried to show the Lady the invite letter on his tablet but she bluntly refused until he dropped $50 and this makes me wonder how many people go through the same ordeal daily at the international airport.
So in your Opinion, what could Tosin have done? What can be done to avoid such situations ?
Oh lest i forget, The immigration officers at the check in counter actually collected #3000 from Tosin so he could pass quickly. I am wondering, is that not a way that an illegal or dangerous substance can get on board easily?
NB: The character Tosin is totally fictional but the event is a true life story
I remember when Tosin was travelling in July 2012, he had just gotten the new ECOWAS passport because the previous one he was carrying had expired. so he got to the airport, checked in his luggage and proceeding to the security checks/ screening with his boarding pass.
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| Screening /security area |
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| Lagos Traffic |
Back to the matter at hand.
They got to the office and the lady asked for Tosins invitation letter, I thought the invitation letter was meant for the embassy of the other country to ascertain that an individual had a valid reason of travelling before granting a visa. So what business does the immigration have to ask for the letter? The other country had already granted a visa to enter their country! All the immigration needed to do was make sure the prospective traveler possessed the appropriate travel documents and also make sure he was not carrying any illegal items aboard the plane. Well, she used this as a delay tactics knowing fully well that
Tosins flight was already making a final boarding call. She asked him to go and print the letter, Tosin replied that he could show her the soft copy of the letter his laptop but she insisted on having the hard copy. She also instructed another officer to locate the luggage Tosin had earlier checked in and bring it out in-case He didn't make the flight. What was he supposed to do?
Tosin knew quite alright that they had no business asking for a letter of invite and could claim his rights, but he also knew that by the time he finished claiming his rights, He would have missed his flight so Tosin asked the lady what she can do to assist Him. She promptly asked him to drop something and then show her the invite letter on his laptop so she would be able to tell her boss that she has sighted the letter. Let us just say that in the end, someone got $100 poorer while another person got $100 richer (as there was no change and that was the smallest bill on the poor guy).
Apparently, his colleague James, who traveled a week before Tosin went through the same ordeal. He tried to show the Lady the invite letter on his tablet but she bluntly refused until he dropped $50 and this makes me wonder how many people go through the same ordeal daily at the international airport.
So in your Opinion, what could Tosin have done? What can be done to avoid such situations ?
Oh lest i forget, The immigration officers at the check in counter actually collected #3000 from Tosin so he could pass quickly. I am wondering, is that not a way that an illegal or dangerous substance can get on board easily?
NB: The character Tosin is totally fictional but the event is a true life story
These Immigration officers are just mean. Its a pity our government cannot do anything about this neither does Tosin cos he had to make the flight at all cost. Taking the matter up when he returns might be another option. I will YELL at the lady and create a scene on my arrival and show proof of her receiving the money from me.
ReplyDelete-Chekwas
That is if you have proof.
DeleteThey will just waste your time, the moni wey you no wan give them, dem go make sure say u spend am re-booking another flight. heartless pple
Delete