Lagos is a famous and glittering city, abundant in natural beauty and surrounded by sea, with its diverse culture, happy-go-lucky attitude, economic growth, and superb accommodation, it is no surprise that the city is Nigeria’s most dynamic city. Lagos offers a great variety of attractions – there’s plenty to see and do in this city, no wonder most people prefer to live in the city.
Lagos is one place in Nigeria that has got affluence and glamour, much more like Miami and New York City. However, people from other Nigerian cities believe that the glitz and glam attractively presented about Lagos too good to be true or are not real at all. We’ve also heard people say that no matter how amazing Lagos is being portrayed, it is a perilous place to live.
However, we believe a lot of things about Lagos have been exaggerated, that is why we have rounded up a list of 6 things about Lagos that people from other cities exaggerate about:
1. Lagos is a land of opportunities
Lagos is indeed a land of opportunities for many Nigeria. It is a city where a hardworking pauper from Makoko slum turns into someone living in one of the most expensive people in Lekki or Victoria Island. However, do not jump the next bus to Lagos expecting to be rich overnight if you have no plan, house and support from friends or family because Lagos is not as easy as it is made to be. Money does not grow on trees in Lagos because you have to work to earn a living. Unfortunately, jobs are limited in Lagos.
2. The legend of Area boys
Photo Source: Dailypost.ng
You must have heard a lot of stories about the thugs in Lagos, who are called ‘Area boys’; thanks to some Nollywood movies. These exaggerated stories drive fear in the mind of people visiting Lagos for the first time. Even though, these thugs are virtually everywhere, but do not expect to be harassed by them just like that. We are not saying that they are harmless but it is only when you end up at the wrong place that things may get ugly for you. The availability of Lagos Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) can help you avoid the discomfort of bus conductors in some parts of the city.
3. Lagos is ‘small London’
Lagos is filled with colourful architectures and iconic landmarks that have this seductive charm that perfectly blends with the wide span of clean roads. The city is home to one of the richest and the most impoverished areas in Nigeria. It is not every part of Lagos that looks heavenly; some parts such as Ajegunle, Makoko, Ijora Badia and others, are shanty towns, sweat shops and slums. Most of the stunning things you see on newsprints or television about Lagos may have been edited to suit the producers.
4. The cost of living is expensive
Lagos is an attractive destination, decorated with affluence and luxury but it can be surprisingly cheap. You can get things – from sophisticated to standard, extravagance to essential, bohemian to natural. The cost of living in Lagos may be on the high side when compared to cities like Akure, Ibadan or Benin. However, Lagos is not as expensive as we are made to believe it is. The city has been built in such a way that anyone can easily blend in. Surprisingly, you can even do a lot of things under N2000 in Lagos.
5. The crime rate is high
Do not be carried away with stories that everyone in Lagos has criminal tendencies. Some people have been warned never to ask for directions when they are in Lagos but end up getting missing. The crime rate in Lagos is not as high as it has been exaggerated. Actually, security is paramount in the city to allow crime to rule the day.
6. Traffic Jam is unbeatable
You cannot come to Lagos and miss traffic (‘go-slows’). We know that almost every motorway is often jammed with absurd traffic hams and speed freaks. It is not true that you are going to spend half of your day stuck in traffic if you do not leave your house early in the morning. The menace of traffic is gradually losing its grip, thanks to BRT lane and the train service that have made it easier for people to escape the Lagos traffic. Traffic is not as horrible as it has been painted in Lagos; all you need to do is know your route and how to move around.
Have you heard other exaggerated things about Lagos? Share with us in the comment below:
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Good information to intending tourist but try and mellow down on the crime rate. There is no day a crime is not committed in the city of new York in US, but news or dailies don’t report as our journalists do here, this does not help the industry.
its fun tho.. my LagOs my LaGos
Interesting Post- People tend to exaggerate what they do not know.
It is usually believed that Lagos is a ‘no man’s land’. When the people outside Lagos hear this, they come with the mentality that it is so to come & build. Lagos originally belongs to the Awori’s, Egun’s & Ijebu people. Other group of people go them (Omonile) to purchase land before using…
The mentality of it “originally belonging to” is half of the African problem en masse. It doesn’t matter who used to own all the land 200 years ago if the land has been built on, worked in and sweat and tears of another man made it what it is today. Lagos was very undeveloped when the tribes initially started selling off the land, and it was other’s money and labour that helped those people make it what it is today, white men and other tribes. That’s claiming achievements that were made after you stopped being involved.
Lagos is a no-mans land because it is mostly owned by global companies that never set foot on Nigerian soil in their lives. Those tribes you mention, (all subsets of the Yoruba tribe) are responsible for those sales and likely for that western investment. I dare say that might tell you where to look for the problems they have brought.
Look at Eko Atlantic, a whole city made by foreigners that’s shinier and better looking than everything in Nigeria and will probably be 50 to 75% foreigner inhabited. Where’s the benefit for Nigerians? Jobs and tax money for govt? Labour? Sure.
@ Taiwo Adewale: Thank you so much for your comment. I hope Mr or Mrs Travel Start is reading this.
The city of lagos is the best place anyone wishes to visit.thanks to my uncle who made me a lagosian.i love this city
eko akete…but at least these stuffs highlighted are still found within the city…its fun being in Lagos though, but the stress and strife is quite unbearable for me though…I had to settle in Abeokuta where I schooled and am enjoying it
I realy like dis.
lagos commercial buses are always on constant move in that anyone who wants to board any of the buses must be a naija ninja.true????
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Please leave your comment…I can’t live in Lagos because it is over populated. Most part of it is very dirty also. It is even more noisy too. So much inconvenient traffic jam made me hate Lagos.It also harbours more nuisances than necessary.
Lagos “ilu ogbon” Eko onibaje o
Opportunities for the youth:
Lagos also has built in mechanism that allows the youth to thrive either on the negative or positive platforms depending on their preference and upbringing. The platforms for either formal or informal education is quite strong and huge. The youths have a chance for apprenticeship and training under informal platform as often denoted by the one on one training offered through various SMEs scattered all over the state. while the formal education platforms is championed by the many formal education institutions scattered all over the state in form of private primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions scattered all over the state.
The entertainment industry also provides a good platform for the youths to project their creative minds and turn this into a major revenue platform for themselves.
So Lagois is indeed a good place for our youths to thrive and succeed with good guidance and strong determination on the part of the youth.