Two Brazilian tourists, whose names were withheld, have raised serious allegations of extortion and intimidation by officials upon their arrival in Nigeria for a business-tourism visit. The visitors say their experience at Murtala Muhammed International Airport left them distressed and uncertain about returning to the country they regard as a cultural and ancestral homeland.
According to their account, the incident occurred on 26 January 2026 when they arrived in Lagos aboard Air France. They had originally planned to travel alongside Alhaji Musibah Akanni, President of the Nigerian Community in Salvador, Bahia, who arrived separately via Royal Air Maroc.
The tourists stated that shortly after landing, they were detained by immigration officials who accused them of improperly completing arrival documentation. They alleged that two officers demanded payments totaling 100 U.S. dollars and 50 British pounds as a condition for being granted entry into the country.
One of the visitors described the experience as deeply humiliating. According to the testimony, officials allegedly delayed their clearance, threatened to deny them entry, and summoned additional personnel during the interaction. The tourists further claimed that after receiving the money, the officers directed them toward a surveillance camera and compelled them to declare that the payment was a “gift.”
They said the situation created fear and confusion, particularly as first-time visitors seeking business partnerships and cultural engagement. “We came with respect and enthusiasm,” one of them reportedly said, “but what we experienced was intimidation. If this continues, we will never step into Nigeria again.”
Alhaji Musibah Akanni, who hosted the visitors throughout their stay, expressed disappointment over the reported treatment. He emphasized that the tourists had traveled to Nigeria with genuine interest in economic cooperation and heritage exploration between Brazil and Nigeria.
“It is painful that my visitors passed through such a terrible situation in Nigeria,” he said. “I urge the authorities to identify those responsible and remove such elements from the airport system so the nation can move forward. Bola Tinubu cannot do everything alone — citizens and institutions must uphold integrity.”
The allegations have drawn attention to longstanding concerns about transparency and accountability at points of entry into Nigeria, particularly at major international gateways. While no official response had been issued at the time of reporting, observers note that the Nigeria Immigration Service has in recent years pledged reforms aimed at improving traveler experience and strengthening anti-corruption measures.
Nigeria remains a significant destination for Brazilian visitors, especially those from Salvador, where Afro-Brazilian spiritual, historical, and cultural ties to West Africa remain deeply rooted. Many travelers view visits to Nigeria not merely as tourism, but as reconnection with ancestral heritage, cultural identity, and economic opportunity.
For the two tourists at the center of the allegations, however, the journey intended to strengthen Brazil-Nigeria relations instead became a troubling encounter they say should never happen to any visitor.
The visitors said they experienced genuine warmth and hospitality throughout Nigeria, noting that in many places they felt truly at home. They explained that their only unpleasant experience occurred at the airport and expressed hope that the authorities would identify and remove the few problematic elements within the Nigerian Immigration Service so the nation can continue moving forward.
Their testimony now adds urgency to calls from diaspora leaders and tourism stakeholders for improved professionalism, transparency, and hospitality standards at Nigeria’s international entry points , a step many believe is essential for safeguarding the country’s global image and honoring its historic ties with the Afro-Brazilian community.
