Nigerian travel content creator Alma Asinobi has missed the chance to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across all seven continents due to visa delays that prevented her from reaching Sydney, Australia, within the required time.
In an Instagram update on Sunday, Asinobi, who is still en route to Sydney, confirmed that her total journey time will be 71 hours and 35 minutes, falling short of the current record of 64 hours, set in February 2025 by American veteran Johnny Cruz Buckingham.
Reflecting on her attempt, she noted that if she had been competing against the previous record of 73 hours, set by Indian travellers in 2022, she would have surpassed it.
However, due to multiple setbacks, she had already spent 63 hours, 54 minutes, and 33 seconds travelling when she made the announcement, making it impossible to surpass Buckingham’s 64-hour record.
Asinobi, who has faced several challenges due to her Nigerian passport, was also denied boarding on her flight to Perth, Australia, forcing her to rebook on a later flight to Sydney.
In her Instagram post on Sunday, 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], and if I was running against the initial record based on the time I first announced it, which was 73 hours 5 minutes, held by Indian travellers Sujoy Kumar Mitra and Ali Irani in December 2022.
“Unfortunately, in February, the record was reset to 64 hours by Johnny Cruz Buckingham, an American veteran, and GWR took a few weeks to verify it and announce it in March 2025.
“When I land, we will catch up on lives and pour our hearts out to each other. For now, let’s finish this! I really hope this attempt was worth something for a Nigerian out there,” she added.
Asinobi is now shifting her focus to her homecoming event on March 30, where she aims to break 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 the 30th of March, where we will make history by signing our Nigerian flag made by #motthelabel.
“I can’t wait to see you all there. I totally and physically cannot do that one without you. So please show up for me. Thank you for sparking conversations and being there with me through it all.”
In her post, Asinobi also expressed hope that she had inspired others to take on challenges that scare them and not let external limitations hold them back, just as she took on a challenge beyond her reality, control, and limitations.
Throughout her journey, she has been vocal about the visa and travel setbacks she faced due to her Nigerian passport.
Unlike travellers from countries with better passport privileges, she noted that she had to navigate complex visa requirements, expensive travel arrangements, and flight cancellations that threatened to derail her record attempt.
Her journey has also sparked discussions about passport inequality and the barriers restricting global mobility for citizens of certain countries.
While she may not be taking home the Guinness World Record, supporters have rallied behind her, calling her a winner.
“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,” commented #chloeanabraidy.
