American tourist and Ifa devotee Nathan Lugo recently shared his experience on social media at Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport in Benin Republic.
He compared this experience with his time at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Nigeria. Lugo expressed his favourable impressions of the Cotonou airport in a Facebook post, stating that it exceeded the Lagos airport in terms of quality and service.
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Additionally, he emphasized the absence of discrimination he encountered as an Orisa devotee at the Cotonou airport, distinguishing it from his experiences at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
He wrote:
“I’ve been to Yorùbáland on the Benin Republic side on several occasions for several years now. My first time was in 2018.“But, this was my first time flying directly into Cotonou, Benin Republic, and flying directly out of Cotonou, Benin Republic.
And, just for a frame of reference, I’ve been flying to Yorùbáland on the Nigeria side ANNUALLY through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport of Lagos since 1998…That is 25 years!!!
But, this was my first time flying directly into Cotonou, Benin Republic, and flying directly out of Cotonou, Benin Republic
Annually since 1998! That is 25 years!!!“Last year I flew through the airport of Lagos in and out 4 times throughout the year. One thing I can say is that there are massive differences between the Cotonou Cadjehoun International Airport and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport – Lagos.“The airport in Cotonou is puny by comparison.
It also has a pleasant design. The inside of the airport is clean. Their bathrooms are clean and fully functional with soap dispensers and hand dryers. Its car park is clean.“There aren’t ọmọ ìta, like the ones in the airport in Lagos, all around trying to hustle you.
The staff were balanced in their demeanor, professional, and friendly.“Did I mention that the air-conditioning system at both the departure and arrival areas of the airport at Cotonou works? Yes, their a/c works!!!
They are not making human suya out of travelers leaving the country. Can you imagine that???“And, both at the airport and most everywhere else throughout the Benin Republic, I felt overwhelmingly safe and like I was in any other country where people seemed “normal”, for lack of a better word.
“Here is the most important part: Not one customs official nor immigration officer nor airline staff tried to ask for a bribe nor extort money from me nor ask “what did you bring for me.”
No one.!!! Is that not a normal airport?“From now on I believe I will be calling the airport at Lagos the ‘Murtala Muhammed Flying Circus of Lagos.’ To our ‘yOu CaNnOt CoMpArE bEnIn RePuBlIc To NiGeRiA’ people – You are absolutely 100% correct!!!
