15 Hilarious Yet Real Travel Experiences Every Nigerian Has Faced (No Cap 😅)
If you've ever japa’d, been stuck explaining your name in Heathrow, or nearly smuggled jollof through airport security—this one’s for you. A whole 15 Nigerian travel struggles that'll have you laughing and screaming "SO TRUE!"
Travelling as a Nigerian is not for the weak. It's giving reality show, Olympic marathon, and Naija comedy skit all in one. From overpacking like you’re relocating to explaining to airport officials that yes, Maggi is food, not drugs—our travel life is something else. 🧳🍗💳
Let’s dive into these 15 wild, funny, and lowkey traumatic travel experiences every Naija person has either lived or heard stories about.
1. Overpacking Like You’re Moving the Whole House
It’s just a 3-day trip to Ghana but somehow you’ve packed 12 outfits, 4 shoes, a rice cooker, and your whole skincare routine. And don’t forget the chin chin and plantain chips for "just in case." Nigerians don’t travel, we relocate in style. 😎
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2. "What Did You Bring for Me?" Starter Pack
If you’ve never heard this after coming back from a trip, are you even Nigerian? Sometimes it’s family, sometimes it's immigration officers, sometimes it’s that random uncle you forgot existed. And they always want "something small." 😩
3. Withdrawal Symptoms From Real Food 🍲
No disrespect, but after 48 hours of eating sandwiches and boiled food with no pepper, your soul starts crying. That moment when you miss proper stew or amala hits HARD.
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4. Smuggling Maggi Like It’s Gold
Every true Naija traveler has wrapped seasoning cubes in clothes to sneak past TSA. Because what’s travel without Maggi? Life without flavour is just vibes and suffering.
5. Your Name Is Not Surviving Abroad 😭
"Temisan? Can I call you… Tim?" Bro, just try. Please. We spend half the trip explaining our names, only to get nicknamed some watered-down version. The ghetto!
6. Currency Conversion That Brings Instant Depression
You see $10 and your Naija brain goes, "₦15,000 for BURGER?!" Everything abroad feels like armed robbery when you start doing the math. 🥲
7. No Light? No Wahala. I Brought 3 Power Banks 🔋
We’ve survived NEPA. We came prepared. 2 power banks minimum, 1 solar-powered charger, and maybe a generator if it fits in the hand luggage. 😅
8. The Immigration Office Heart Attack
You're in line, passport in hand, sweating bullets even though you’ve done NOTHING wrong. The green passport paranoia is real. You act innocent but deep down you're praying, "God, let them just stamp and go."
9. Calling Uber Drivers "Boss" in London
We can’t help it. Saying “Yes sir”, “Boss”, “Madam please” is built into our DNA. Abroad, we still use it on Uber drivers, baristas, even vending machines.
10. That Pidgin Eye Contact 👀
You lock eyes with another Nigerian abroad and instantly switch to low whisper Pidgin like: “Guy you dey see this thing?” Boom, instant brotherhood unlocked.
11. You Packed Like You're Opening a Mini Mart
Gala? Check. Plantain chips? Check. Peak milk? Of course. Bread? Maybe. You're not just travelling, you're setting up shop in case your cravings come calling.
12. The Family Travel Plug™
Once you've japa’d once, everybody suddenly thinks you're a visa consultant. “How did you apply?” “Can I use your address for my application?” 🙃
13. Turning Minor Inconveniences into Nollywood Monologues
"So basically yeah, the flight was delayed for like 2 hours and I didn’t eat, and my phone died. It was MAD!" Nigerians don't just travel—we create content. 🤳
14. Wi-Fi Is Oxygen
First question in any new country: “What’s the Wi-Fi password?” We won’t even greet first. We just need to update the group chat that we landed.
15. Coming Back With Small Accent + 99 Stories
You left for 1 week in the UK and now it’s “bruv” this and “innit” that. We know it’s fake. You know it’s fake. But let us shine small abeg. 🌍
Final Vibes: We No Dey Carry Last
Being a Nigerian traveler is stress, vibes, culture shock, and soft life all in one. We adapt. We gist. We chop life and come back with stories for days. If you’ve experienced at least 5 of these—you’re officially Naija Travel Certified™. 🏅
Drop Your Own Wahala Below 👇
Which one of these hit you in the chest? Or did I miss your fave travel wahala? Drop your own experience in the comments! Let’s gist.
Share This With That One Friend Who Always Japa-ing
You know the one. Always posting airport selfies. Always forming “global citizen.” Tag them and say: “Na you wey dey carry Maggi go Canada!”
“If you laughed, shouted 'facts!' or even cried—please share this with your squad!”
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