Nigerian Travel Creator Alma Asinobi Falls Short of World Record Amidst Visa Challenges
Nigerian travel content creator Alma Asinobi has announced she will not achieve the Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across all seven continents due to visa-related delays, which prevented her from reaching Sydney, Australia within the required timeframe. In an Instagram update on Sunday, Asinobi revealed that her total travel time will be 71 hours and 35 minutes, falling short of the current record of 64 hours, set by American veteran Johnny Cruz Buckingham in February 2025.
In her remarks, Asinobi pointed out that if she had been aiming for the previous record of 73 hours set by Indian travelers in 2022, she would have succeeded. However, as of her announcement, she had already spent 63 hours, 54 minutes, and 33 seconds traveling, making it impossible to surpass Buckingham’s record.
Alma Asinobi encountered numerous obstacles throughout her attempt, largely stemming from complications linked to her Nigerian passport. She faced denial of boarding on her flight to Perth, Australia, which forced her to change her plans and book a later flight to Sydney. In her Instagram post, she wrote, “From slide 9, you can already tell that it would take me 71 hours and 35 minutes to land in Sydney, Australia [Continent 7]. If I had been competing against the initial record, which was 73 hours 5 minutes set by Indian travelers Sujoy Kumar Mitra and Ali Irani in December 2022, I would have beaten it.”
She lamented, “Unfortunately, in February, the record was reset to 64 hours, and GWR took a few weeks to verify and announce it in March 2025. I know that I could have beaten this record were it not for the hurdles I faced. I don’t know why the Heathrow fire incident compounded it all… But the most important thing is that I’ve chosen to finish.”
Reflecting on her experience, she expressed a mix of disappointment and resolve, stating, “So close, but so far away. I may not have won this one, but we can definitely win the next one together. While my eyes may be swollen from all the tears I’ve cried, I promise to find moments of laughter in between.”
Despite falling short of the record, Alma Asinobi emphasized that her journey was about more than mere numbers. “When I land, we will catch up on lives and pour our hearts out to each other. For now, let’s finish this! I truly hope this attempt meant something for a Nigerian out there,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Asinobi is now preparing for her homecoming event scheduled for March 30, where she intends to pursue another record by gathering Nigerians to sign a national flag in solidarity. “We still have one more record to break at the homecoming event on March 30. We will make history by signing our Nigerian flag made by #motthelabel. I can’t wait to see you all there—I can’t do that one without you. So please show up for me. Thank you for stimulating discussions and supporting me through it all.”
Throughout her journey, Asinobi has been vocal about the challenges posed by her Nigerian passport, which involves complex visa applications, costly travel arrangements, and flight cancellations that jeopardized her record attempt. Her experience has ignited important conversations about passport inequality and the barriers faced by individuals from certain nations when it comes to global mobility.
While Asinobi may not take home the Guinness World Record, her supporters have rallied to celebrate her efforts, deeming her a champion. Commenting on her post, one supporter said, “You did win! A personal win, a win for Nigerians, a win for me as a fellow black girl navigating the world without passport privilege,” said #chloeanabraidy.
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