Lagos State status is attested by its extraordinary role in all areas of life In Africa. With over 9million people you’d be grateful to God you do not get tired of the bustling, I once had a friend who Came to Lagos, hoping to enjoy the environment but couldn’t because He wasn’t use to the Rush Hour Lifestyle, Having stayed for about two weeks, Bro, said He needed to go see his people. It was the last I heard from him.
Its a different scenario for me, I get bored easily when I don’t see such hustling & bustling, Being born in Lagos is not a curse afterall, You are open to different opportunities and people.
Below, are the Things You Need To Know Before Coming to Lagos Nigeria:
Land Of Opportunities
Lagos is very popular for this. What do you think when you hear 9 million as its population?, a very small state but over populated. This speaks ‘Industrious’, One of the most industrious City in Nigeria and in Africa, Investors number one choice. As hard as it may seem to get a Job in Nigeria, You can literally find money on the streets of Lagos and the opportunity to eat Thrice a day if you know how to legally manoeuvre your way to get the petty job before the bigger one.
Soul Of Entertainment
Whether its Nigeria or Africa, Lagos state is rated high in the entertainment world. Nollywood, Musicians, Radio/Tv stations will always be thankful. The number of ‘I Must Blow’ upcoming/ Up & Coming acts rushing to Lagos everyday can’t be over emphasize. My South Africa ( A wizkid Fan) sent me a message back then that He’d love to come to Lagos, When I asked him why, He said-
‘Here in South Africa, We See the city as the heartbeat of entertainment In Nigeria’. He doesn’t even know any other state in Nigeria.
No Sleep
There’s no difference between night and day. Your Night is when you sleep, whether afternoon or evening. Every day is like every other day. Don’t tell the suya man at Ojuelegba or Ikeja to go inside, except you want a fight. The indomie guys at night are the one making the big bucks, you can call it the kids choice but in Lagos, reverse is the case, ask the people at Fela’s shrine Ikeja. The girls at Allen avenue will always be there at mid – night for ‘customers’- Didn’t understand me? ask your friends in Lagos.
THE PLACE at Ikeja, QUILOX at Vi to mention but a few, The Friday Night Club is a ‘party Hard Situation’ after working your ass through the week, The relaxation is inevitable.
Tell me, Why we shouldn’t embrace the Nightlife, when private offices close anytime, some offices on the island close by 11:00 PM, The amazing thing about this is…….. The employees even enjoy it, ‘No Hold Up, the road will be free by then' that’s the language you get to hear from most of them because after 6PM in Lagos,………….
………the ‘Go Slow’ begins. How long you stay depends on where you work. This became part of us.
If my friend from Ibadan had waited a little longer, may be, just may be - He would have caught the bug and flow along. The ‘good’ about the city is when you get to know the ‘good thing’ and share in it. We pretend to see the bad as temporary because it helps us stay focus and consistent, The enjoyment is ‘yours’ and ‘yours’ alone when it begins.
The Police Harassment
You don’t need to be told about this. Its a popular situation in Lagos, One can never understand if He/She is not a Lagosian, Help yourself with this Post - 10 Things My Lagos Police Friend Told Me
The harassment is a common thing even Psquare could attest to that in ‘Oga Police’ Song. Irrespective of who you really are, whether celeb or lawyer, Police can only be your friend with cash in hand.
Ikeja, known as the city of police is famous for ‘Stop & Search’, Still don’t get me? Never mind, Just make sure you’ve got receipt to everything in that your Car or Laptop bag,- Receipt to laptop, bag, tires and even receipt to your ID Card(Kidding) but as awkward as it may appear, no one can predict these set of people in black shirts. You are never on your right until they say so.
City Of Junkies & The Beggars
Not every mad man we see on the street of Lagos is actually mad, some of these guys are junkies(Cocaine addict), Sometimes, we get to meet with the gentle ones who would beg you until you drop a penny. 50% of the beggars in Ikeja are Junkies, I use ‘Ikeja’ because its one of the busiest in Lagos. The little penny they manage to accrue for the day goes in to the tiny white stuff which they cherish and might kill for it.
This is the only state flooded with Beggars(physically challenged or not), With the ‘No Money Syndrome’ We still spare our 10, 20 & 50 naira, whether walking or crawling.
Hot Girls
A day wouldn’t pass without the hot girls, whether you stay in Agege, Ojuelegba, Surulere, if you are unlucky enough, you get to meet the fake hot girl with the fake british accent but hey that’s what makes us tick in Lagos. Its hilarious, its interesting. You Just never know,…..The beautiful girl with a good job who stays your street is not left out as well. Wait till Friday, Then you know how she gets to boogie down in the club. She just want to have a good time and nothing more, She’s different from the girls at Allen Avenue.
Agbero
The guy in a white singlet, white slippers(Flipflop) on blue jeans with bunch of cash ‘Owole’ kindly folded and a heavy wrap of indian hemp(Igbo) in the right hand checking on every bus and Okada(Bike). You don’t want to mess with him, do you?
Big Boys
Depends on what you term ‘OBO’ some of the guys are selfmade, while others are living under the glory of their rich parents……. what does it matter anyways, they are rich that’s all we know.
You might as well lose your beautiful girlfriends to them. Among them are ‘Yahoo Boys’ They get their groove on every weekend.
Ashawo
These set of girls have a fixed night shift, you see them at every nook and crannies in Lagos, a handful of them at Allen Avenue Ikeja, Other parts of Oshodi, Bariga, Agege, Ikoyi, Lekki, Vi. Just So you know that not all the beautiful girls we encounter on the streets ready for a serious relationship. You pay for the pleasure and leave’, When next you are in this city that never sleeps make sure you have the money for that your stubborn sexual urge.
PS: Use condom
BRT
The long bus is a dream come true. Until the emergence of Fashola ‘Former Gov. Of Lagos’ Danfo and Molue( commercial buses) have long deprived us of better transportation.
Note: When you hear them shout ‘fashola’ around you, don’t be shocked, its not the Governor, it the BRT bus that was named after him.
It is cheaper, safer with professional drivers. We stay on line to board a BRT bus to anywhere and since they have their own lane, you've got the privilege to escape the traffic *Sometimes*.
Whether you are igbo, Yoruba or hausa, one thing is certain here in Lagos ‘ We are all Lagosians’ But its not a ‘No Man’s Land’ Contrary to popular believe, It has its own history like every other states.
Do you Live in Lagos or outside, What’s your Story. I will like to hear from you too.
PEACE OUT!!!
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