5 things we love to hate about Lagos
Conde Nast Traveller just released a list of the friendliest and un-friendliness cities in the world. Lagos occupied the 9th position on the unfriendly city list. There are a number of factors which make Africa’s most populous city ‘unfriendly.’
CN Traveller’s readers agreed that we, the locals bubble with personality and are friendly in contrast to the city we live in. Here are 5 things we love to hate about Lagos:
Horrible Traffic: From the Apapa gridlock to the Third Mainland Bridge standstill at rush hour, it is a well-known fact that traffic in Lagos is horrible. The government tried to step in the 80s by assigning driving days on the road to car license plates with odd and even numbers. Still, it persisted. Wait a minute! Is traffic not synonymous with living in the city? Ask those impatient New York drivers.
Terrible Stench: If open gutters are left without cleaning, they will stink. If you walk by a refuse dump in Lagos, it will stink. Again, in densely populated areas, the trash and litter accompanied by stench multiply. All those traffic has a plethora of cars and vehicles that emit fumes and smoke. This may be the awful scent cocktail, which you perceive. Remember though that even the romantic River Seine in Paris stinks.
Trash Everywhere: I agree that in a city where there is a dearth of strategically located dustbins/trash cans, few people have mastered the art of keeping their trash until they see one. There are hardworking men and women that clean the major roads in Lagos. However, it is an arduous task to clean up after 20 million people.
Even when the mandatory environmental sanitation Saturday comes by, many find it hard to summon up the motivation to clean. In this aspect too, Lagos is not alone. Trash is the reason why a densely populated city like Philadelphia spots the moniker, Filthadelphia.
Expensive Price: Sigh! I know that this hurts. The cost of living in any city that is commercialized will always be on the high side. Still, there are choices. Everyone doesn’t have to live and eat in the highbrow areas and you can always live a lifestyle within your budget. If you are complaining about getting your money’s worth, seek recommendations before a purchase for life in the city IS highly priced.
Lagos Danger: So many things make Lagos dangerous. From the daredevil okadas/motorcyclists that speed through the smallest opening in traffic to menacing street urchins that accost commercial bus drivers. Or could it be the dilapidated state of the roads that cause the stout-hearted of drivers to fret? There is indeed danger, but nothing compared to the gangs of Chicago.
This is no attempt to trivialise the drawbacks that come with Life in Lagos. However, these identified elements of unfriendliness are what breathe life to the resilience of the city and its inhabitants.
Lagosians are friendly despite the hostile environment they live, work, and raise families in because when life gives you lemons, making lemonade will be a friendly gesture.