It’s within the DNA of Lagos to welcome guests and make them really feel at house, regardless of the size of their keep.
A standard saying, loosely translated, praises Lagos for having room sufficient for “house owners of the home, the visitor and the lazy.” It’s what this metropolis has accomplished over the centuries, attracting merchants, explorers and migrants of all sorts. As Nigeria’s business and leisure capital, Lagos stays a magnet for folks, Nigerians and foreigners alike, welcoming them with its heat, vitality and colour.
Earlier than you make your journey to this thrilling metropolis, listed here are a number of ideas to bear in mind to expertise Lagos like a neighborhood.
What Covid restrictions are nonetheless in place?
Early in April 2022, the Nigerian authorities introduced a revised Covid-19 journey protocol, successfully opening up the nation once more to inbound vacationers. The excellent news is that absolutely vaccinated vacationers now not require PCR checks or isolation of any variety, although they do nonetheless must register on the Nigeria International Travel Portal.
Discuss to your physician about stopping malaria – even should you’ve been right here earlier than
As a result of Lagos is within the tropics, malaria is among the extra widespread well being dangers of touring within the area. Your physician will prescribe the best medicines to hold together with you; it is usually advisable to even have mosquito repellents as backup. Nigerians overseas normally take such precautions if they’re visiting for the primary time shortly.
Trip-share apps are the easiest way to get from the airport and across the metropolis
Whenever you roll your baggage previous arrivals, go for a ride-hailing service (like Uber and Bolt), most popular by locals for more-comfortable commutes across the metropolis. Alternatively, you may plan to have a resident meet you, avoiding the stress of getting to determine which of the authorized taxi operators – all of whom loudly name out to arriving patrons within the terminal – to choose.
All the time have money on you, simply in case – and know deal with it
You possibly can pay for just about something in Lagos with a debit card, whether or not for additional room nights or having your hair styled. Rising numbers of distributors now personal point-of-sale (POS) machines, making on a regular basis buying and selling transactions lots sooner and seamless.
Nonetheless, it’s advisable to have some Naira notes – particularly in denominations of N50 ($.12), N100 ($.25), N200 ($.50) and N500 ($1.20) – on you always, for these awkward moments when the cell networks fail and money transfers don’t undergo. ATMs all through the town make withdrawing money straightforward. When paying for purchases (or giving or amassing any merchandise, for that matter) ensure to take action along with your proper hand; older Lagosians think about it disrespectful handy over money with the left hand.
Pack your summer season clothes it doesn’t matter what month you arrive
Lagos has humid climate, with the typical temperature is within the area of 32°C (90°F), generally reaching 35°C (95°F). So T-shirts, denims, cotton pants and shorts are probably all you’ll want throughout your keep. Town experiences wet (Could–August) and dry (November–April) seasons, which you need to think about as you intend the very best time to go to.
Brace for the noise
As a primary time customer, you’ll instantly discover that Lagos is a packed metropolis: one of many smallest states in Nigeria, it’s additionally essentially the most populous, with over 20 million residents. It additionally has a relatively excessive noise degree, because of honking often, sermons from megaphones in spiritual facilities, bus conductors calling out for passengers and different boisterous sources. If you happen to keep in a lodge close to a church or mosque – each of which dot almost each a part of the town – anticipate companies all through the week to chop into your quiet moments.
All the time issue highway visitors into your plans
With water transportation nonetheless largely underdeveloped and a light-rail community nonetheless underneath development, Lagosians rely closely on roads to go about their every day lives. In consequence, visitors congestion is notorious within the metropolis. Public transportation is a disorderly mixture of licensed mini-buses (danfo), taxis and cabs (kabu-kabu) working from garages and roadsides, all of which criss-cross the numerous vibrant neighborhoods of the town.
Three-wheeled transports (keke marwa) are perfect for neighborhood shuttles, as are motorbike taxis (okada) – although the latter are formally banned on a number of routes state-wide, together with on main highways. Whereas buses cost mounted charges on their routes, you’ll must agree on a worth earlier than your journey utilizing any of the opposite choices.
Benefit from the avenue life, however keep alert
Day and night time, Lagosians know to maintain their wits about them when taking a stroll or purchasing, as smartphones have been reported as stolen in crowded markets or at indoor occasions. Even so, ignore dire warnings and plunge into the town’s unparalleled city tableau, which will likely be considered one of your most lasting reminiscences of Lagos.
Island or Mainland? You determine
Lagosians usually consult with themselves as Islanders or Mainlanders, relying on which facet of the Lagoon they discover themselves on. All over the place, nevertheless, residents affectionately consult with their hometown as Lasgidi.
For administrative functions, Lagos is split into 5 broad areas that collectively kind an acronym (IBILE), for Ikeja (the capital), Badagry (the far west), Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe (the jap finish of city). Wherever you select to remain in Lagos, each half comes with its personal vibe, with loads of enjoyable and unbelievable issues to see and do in each district.
Study some pidgin
Lagos is dominated by the Yorubas however incorporates residents hailing from virtually each ethnic group in Nigeria. Whereas English is the official language of on a regular basis speech and enterprise, pidgin – a homegrown variant – is spoken and understood by virtually everybody; in reality, Lagos might effectively be the nation’s pidgin capital. It’s a good suggestion to be taught a number of widespread sayings earlier than you arrive, to make use of as you’re going in regards to the metropolis:
• The way you dey? (How are you?)
• How now? (How are issues?)
• Wetin you tok? (What did you say?)
• Abeg (please)
• Na so (That’s true)
• E don do (It’s sufficient)
• Lai lai (unimaginable/by no means)
Lagosians gentle up when foreigners chat them up in pidgin, or within the native Yoruba language.
Get a Cowry card
In some unspecified time in the future throughout your keep, you need to strive the benefit and comfort of a BRT (bus speedy transit), one of many extra profitable public-private partnerships geared toward fixing the town’s transportation challenges. Beloved by many, BRTs journey on devoted lanes from 6am to 8pm and may generally be the easiest way to keep away from visitors as you take pleasure in views of the cityscape.
To get on the lengthy, air-conditioned buses, you’ll want to purchase a Cowry card at any of the principle terminals (Ikeja, Oshodi, Berger, TBS, Ajah or Ikorodu), then high it up with money earlier than you board. As you get on and off, merely faucet out and in to pay your fare. In response to the state authorities, the cardboard will likely be usable on the sunshine rail and shuttle ferries by 2023.
The second half of the 12 months is pageant season, so plan accordingly
The house of Nollywood and Afrobeats, Lagos is enjoyable 12 months spherical – however the metropolis actually involves life within the second half of the 12 months. The humanities scene booms: post-Covid, new galleries have opened on each the Island and Mainland, and a brand new exhibition will get introduced seemingly each different week. Stage performs and musicals have gotten pretty common, too.
August is when the floodgates open, and the town throbs with a number of arty occasions. Whereas some require an invite, most are free to attend. The Lagos Books and Art Festival, Lagos Fringe, LagosPhoto, Lagos Fashion Week, MUSON (with drama, classical music and dance choices), the Lagos International Jazz Festival and the Lagos International Film Festival are a few of the main occasions on the cultural calendar every year.
If you happen to’re round in the course of the festive Christmas interval, you’re in for an actual jamboree. A state-sponsored, weeklong fiesta showcases the very best of Lagos leisure scene from comedy to live shows, as the town closes out one 12 months and begins a brand new one. Go to throughout this era to completely perceive why “Èkó for Present” is a slogan the town embraces proudly.
Weeknights are for bar-hopping and catching up with pals
Lagos is all hustle and bustle in the course of the daytime. And as Lagosians work onerous, additionally they play onerous. On weeknights, open-air and neighborhood bars are full of folks sitting out the night rush-hour visitors, discussing the day’s information and occasions or just catching up with pals. Most have in-house DJs, who add to the enjoyable and pleasure; a few of the bars additionally serve meals, with suya (barbecued beef), barbecued fish and pepper soup all commonplace choices. Notice that suyas and pepper soups are fairly spicy and are to not be rushed – chew and slurp with warning, and sip numerous water to minimize the sting.
If you happen to get an invite to an owambe, settle for it
On weekends, Lagosians take themselves to seashores, malls or cineplexes. And so they gown as much as attend birthdays or marriage ceremony events (owambe), that are some extent of satisfaction right here. If you happen to’re fortunate to be invited to any of those gatherings, settle for directly. This will likely be your free move to a day of pleasure and spectacle, full with ceremonial costumes and spirited dancing. If you happen to want to gown because the locals do, a customized outfit might be stitched to order in 24–48 hours.
Usually, the events are feasts, marked by an virtually unending move of meals and drinks. Starters are small bites (fried puff-puffs, samosas, spring rolls), accompanied by an assortment of drinks. The primary dish could possibly be something from white rice, jollof rice or fried rice to iyan, eba, amala and quite a lot of soups; at buffet occasions, ask your hosts for recommendation on which “swallow” (yam, cassava or rice) goes with which soups, stews or sauce, and which delicacies might be served on the identical plate or taken collectively (ofada rice with bean soup, for example, would appeal to curious giggles). Another factor to bear in mind to dine like a real Lagosian: you might use cutlery for some meals, however the correct approach to eat swallows is along with your fingers, after rinsing in water.
