I wanted to watch AFCON finals live but it will cost 5 months’ salaries — Law Professor

News Express |10th Feb 2024 | 248
I wanted to watch AFCON finals live but it will cost 5 months’ salaries — Law Professor

Prof Joy Ezeilo, SAN




A Professor of Law, Joy Ezeilo, SAN, has decried the cost of flight ticket to Abidjan, Cote DVoire, saying she dreamt of watching the final of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) live but was shocked with the price of ticket which is estimated at over N2.1m.

Daily Trust reports that there has been an outcry over the high air fare to Abidjan, a West African nation which is less than one hour, 30 minute flights from Lagos.

Nigerias Air Peace, Asky, Air Côte dIvoire are a few of the airlines flying to Abidjan.

Many Nigerians have frowned at the price of ticket to the neighboring country despite the distance.

Voicing out her concern in a post on her X Handle (formerly Twitter), the don said the N2.1m quoted as a return air fare to Abidjan is equivalent to her five-month salary.

She wrote: I am dreaming of watching AFCON 2024 live, and I enquired about flights to Abidjan to watch our Super Eagles play in the finals. I believed that Ivory Coast being so close (an hour and 35 minutes) wouldnt cost me too much.

However, my travel agent of over twenty years sent me a price quotation of N2,183,000.00 (two million, one hundred and eighty-three thousand Naira), which was a huge shock.

I did the math and realized I would need to save my five months salary as a Professor of Law on the last professional step to buy one return ticket to a West African country.

This is a sad reflection of our current economic realities. Please refrain from attempting to convert to US dollars- its extremely depressing and demystifying of a full professor position. This will push the resolve of brilliant young ones were training and mentoring to take over from us farther away from the classrooms to becoming political aspirants/election delegates.

My alternative plan is to cut down on expenses. I have recharged my DSTV for N19,800, and I plan to buy twenty litres of fuel to generate power because we didnt have electricity during the Semifinals. The match is a must-watch for me as it will be a breath of fresh air and a chance for me to forget about Nigerias many woes. I want to make a public notice for those asking for help that I have been posting that we havent been paid. Kindly note that my salary, which I received yesterday, has been mortgaged in arrears. Please be patient, and lets hope we get the 8-month arrears from the ASUU strike or that NLC and FGN reach a new deal that will increase my wage. The struggle continues! Good luck to our Super Eagles! Youre in my thoughts and prayers! (Daily Trust)




Comments

Post Comment

Saturday, October 4, 2025 12:47 PM
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on

GOCOP Accredited Member

GOCOP Accredited member
logo

NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.

Contact

Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State.
+234(0)8098020976, 07013416146, 08066020976
info@newsexpressngr.com

Find us on

Facebook
Twitter

Copyright NewsExpress Nigeria 2025