A visit to Lagos will make you see new and surprising things daily. It could be a price variation within the same axis, a brawl between members of the same motor park, an epic dance display on a busy road, a traffic delay, or a policeman who refuses to let you go for a crime you didn’t commit, or the agbero ( tout) that feels you should pay him for passing. These things play out every day. Lagos is the drama.
There is a reason Lagos is both the Center of Excellence and a city of different drama themes.Lagos exposes you to a variety of TV shows, acted live on different streets and parastatals.How about the Night? If these different shades of paparazzi happen during the day, don’t you think the night isn’t too dark for a different level of turbulence?
If you arrive in Lagos late, it’s fundamental we begin with the Dos and don’ts of Lagos City.
Things you shouldn’t do in Lagos ( for the new in town)
1. Not knowing where you are going :
Lagos is a land of bliss. However, there is a reason why Lagosians are tagged “street smart“
I understand if you’re new in town, and you possibly don’t know your way around, as an edge, you should have a near knowledge of where you are going so that when you don’t seem to get the road , you can always ask any stranger you see on the road with more audacity.
When you ask questions, you should wear some confidence so you are not perceived to be in total confusion. If you appear that way, you are likely to meet either of these persons.
You could meet the angel that takes pity on you and chooses to show you the way for nothing. You could also meet a loiter who will only exchange information for some cash. Most especially if you are in areas where we have more street boys.
Now, imagine if you don’t know the way and you have to pay everyone to get the next direction. It’s another level of frustration
More victims have been recorded to have lost their belongings on their first day in Lagos. Hence, the reason why you need to know your way, this is so that even when you ask questions, you don’t ask with confusion written all over you.
2. Always prepare a place to stay ahead of time :
Amongst many things, not preparing a place to stay makes you more vulnerable to folks who are looking for freshmen and women to exploit. As stated earlier, Lagos is a land of bliss and premium drama, to get a space to crash for the night or a few days isn’t much of a big deal.
Hotels are seemingly expensive, and crashing in for a few days can be demanding for those who want a good stay and still maintain their budget. However, as mentioned earlier, you should get a room ready before you travel down to Lagos.
Why is that ?
- There’s a high tendency for Lagos traffic get to you, be it late at night, early in the morning, or under the scorching sun.
Traffic jams are a part of Lagos already. You can’t escape it in most cases.
- The probability is also high that finding a hotel that fits your budget might take you a while to get. Here’s a suggestion that has worked for me and a lot of Lagosians to prepare ahead.
Hostel.ng is a platform where you can book a room ahead your arrival. It’s a platform that gives you the same access to luxury as any where else. However the luxury is pocket defined. There is a room for your budget. Getting your rooms with hostel.ng also helps you to avoid the hassle of trying to find a pocket-friendly price. The prices are pocket friendly. There’s room for your budget.
All you need to do is to create an account via this link
[ Hostel.ng ]
The link will allow you to do the following :
a. Check through the available rooms online
b. Find the best location for yourself
c. Book a room and make payment.
It’s a simple process that will cost you only 2min. Ensure you try it out.
3. Never enter Lagos with a low battery
A low battery is another level of frustration. Most of the things you need to survive your first day in Lagos are on your phone.
- Booking a room with hostel.ng will only happen when your phone is on.
- Ordering food or getting a Uber driver can only happen when you have your phone on.
- Your loved ones might be familiar with the entirety of Lagos Drama and tension, so they are probably worried about you. Hence, you want to be sure your phone doesn’t die.
To avoid risking its life span, get a power bank. You might get stuck in traffic and you’re left with no option but to use your phone to keep busy.
Things you should do in Lagos ( for the new in town)
1. Always check in to be sure you have your wallet –
I can’t but forget the experience of a young man whose first day in Lagos is nothing but a cluster of frustration. It started with missing his bus stop. Less I forget. I know how Lagos traffic can be, but never sleep off in the bus if you’re traveling by road. You might miss your bus stop.
Back to the story of this young man. The ordeal started with missing his bus stop, and at some point, he had to pay extra for going beyond the agreed location. The painful part was that while he exchanged words with the driver, holding on to the wallet in his right hand carelessly in the center of a busy road, a young lad snatched it and ran away.
It was painful and funny at the same time. The drama was intense. I wouldn’t want the same for you.
I’ll suggest you have your money, and make use of transfers for things that wouldn’t necessarily need a cash payment. For instance
a. Rooms – Hostel.ng allows both transfers and card payment.
b. Uber, Food, and other necessities, stick to using mobile transfer. It’s safer this way.
How about we continue with my tales on Lagos in the next article?
At the top right corner is the follow button and a notification bell. Click them both so you can read the next post.
