A professor of Law, Joy Ezeilo, has expressed dismay over the exorbitant cost of flight tickets to Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, revealing her aspiration to witness the African Cup of Nations final in person. 

According to Daily Trust, she was taken aback by the ticket price, which stands at over N2.1 million.

There has been widespread criticism regarding the high airfare to Abidjan, a neighboring West African nation reachable from Lagos in less than one hour and 30 minutes by flight. Air Peace, Asky, and Air Côte d’Ivoire are among the airlines servicing the route.

Many Nigerians have voiced their dissatisfaction with the ticket prices despite the short distance to the neighboring country.

Expressing her concerns on her X Handle, the professor lamented that the quoted N2.1 million return airfare to Abidjan equates to her five-month salary.

She wrote: “I had envisioned watching AFCON 2024 live and inquired about flights to Abidjan to witness our Super Eagles play in the finals. Given the proximity of Ivory Coast (just an hour and 35 minutes away), I didn’t expect it to be so expensive.

“However, my long-time travel agent sent me a price quote of N2,183,000.00, which was shocking.

“After doing the math, I realized I would need to save my five months’ salary as a Professor of Law on the last professional step just to afford a return ticket to a West African country.

“This reality reflects the grim economic situation. Please refrain from converting to US dollars – it’s disheartening and demystifies the role of a full professor. It may deter the brilliant young minds we’re grooming from pursuing academia and instead push them towards politics.

“My alternative plan is to cut down on expenses. I’ve recharged my DSTV for N19,800 and plan to buy twenty litres of fuel to generate power since we had no electricity during the Semifinals. Watching the match is a must for me; it’s a respite from Nigeria’s challenges.

“For those seeking assistance, I’ve been vocal about unpaid salaries. My recent salary, received yesterday, has been used to clear arrears. Let’s remain patient and hope for resolution, whether from the ASUU strike arrears or a new agreement between NLC and FGN for a wage increase. The struggle continues! Good luck to our Super Eagles! You’re in my thoughts and prayers!”