” If I keep mute on these terrible experiences in Mauritania, it will be a disservice to humanity, it may continue to happen to other people, and coupled with the fact that this whole scam is perpetrated in all aspect of the economy on foreigners.“
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The otherwise nice talking Nigerian Kunle Adeyanju who is on an epic ride from London to Lagos by motorbike, has lamented his ordeal in Mauritania, describing the place as next to hell. .
The London-based Nigerian who commenced the cross-country charity ride from London to Lagos on a motorbike has crisscrossed many countries and said many nice things about the areas.
The happy ride continues until Adeyanju reached Mauritania where he met unfriendly officials of police, customs, immigration and even regular citizens. He came to the conclusion, “to me Mauritania is the worst shit-hole anyone can be, and a place I never want to visit again.”
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On his Twitter handle, @lionheart1759, Adeyanju, who began the journey on April 19, took pictures in all the countries he touched except Mauritania where he said there is nothing worth taking.
He said the harsh treatment he received in Mauritania is the lot of many foreigners there, saying he had to let the world know how bad the place is.
Here him: “But if I keep mute on these terrible experiences in Mauritania, it will be a disservice to humanity, it may continue to happen to other people, and coupled with the fact that this whole scam is perpetrated in all aspect of the economy on foreigners.
“I experienced it in the hotel, restaurant, fuel stations and government agencies. For me, Mauritania is not a country I ever want to visit again for anything, honestly in my opinion its next to hell.
“The Police, Immigration, Customs all worked together as a cartel to extort and make life hell for foreigners. In the heat of all these problems I had no choice but to part with $300,” he said.
Adeyanju said the fraud in Mauritania is so organised that foreigners are charged ten times more than their citizens.
He said: “And this experience was not with the security agencies at the border alone, it cuts across all aspect of the economy I interacted with. At a restaurant, hotel, fuel station it was all the same. And all through I just kept wondering why everything is so expensive here.
“I later learnt that the country re-denominated its currency some months back, by knocking off one zero from the exchange rate. An example the euro used to change for 400um. When they redenominated, it became 1euro = 40um
“However, the whole country still fraudulently sell things to foreigners at the old rate, thereby charging you ten times more for purchases. And this cuts across all aspect of their economy i patronised, hotel, restaurant, fuel station and government agencies.”
Adeyanju is expected in Nigeria later in the month in the race which is meant to raise funds for charitable cause.