LASGIDI

Being May27, when she marks her golden jubilee, she celebrates her 50years of existence, commercialization, survival, thrive and haste!
Lemme tell you about this city:
“THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE” – LAGOS STATE!

Welcome to Lagos where you don’t ask questions as a stranger, else you get a dumb response or totally misled.

Welcome to Lagos where you need to hold your change in a public transport else… you’re on your own

Welcome to Lagos where everybody is automatically a “Yoruba”. Everybody speaks Yoruba to everybody.

Welcome to Lagos where everybody in a marccopolo bus is shouting “Owa Oooh”!

Welcome to Lagos where passengers jump into a moving vehicle… I almost fell off the bus the first time I tried that.

Welcome to Lagos where everybody is always on transit, with or without a destination.

Welcome to Lagos where cars are more than the stars in the sky. 

Welcome to Lagos where everybody in a wealthy home have cars; even their dogs.

Welcome to Lagos where you don’t expect to be told “Sorry” even if somebody hits your breast as you walk along the road…just continue Dey waka Dey go, But first stop to check if any part of your body is missing.

Lagos is the only state where you can be in Lagos and still take a bus to Lagos.

If Ebola was for real, everybody would have perished in Lagos. With the way people are parked like sardine in a Marcopolo bus; with some seated on the chairs, some hanging, and some sitting on the floor.
All these people put together comprise the good, bad and the ugly. Some giving ‘Unsolicited Romance’ to people’s pockets, automatically claiming ownership of people’s property, some arguing, others quarreling, conductors throwing cusses and punches at hardcore passengers who refuse to pay, some meditating on the music playing on their earphones while the others chewing gum or sleeping.

Survival of the fittest…that’s the life in Lagos. You see those upcoming artists jumping up and down to Lagos, don’t blame them, they need to be there to make it! That’s the heartbeat of music!

That man you’re sitting beside in a public transport has 3cars, but because of traffic wahala, parked all his cars in his compound, and prefers to share the bus with you. Don’t commonize him.

The rudeness with which the “Danfo driver” excuse private cars from the road during traffic gives out a loud meaning – Survival of the fittest- “We die here today”.

Everybody is struggling for something.
The agility in the conductor’s voice shows how eager he is to make it in life. They can fight with you with their last sweat if you nor pay complete.

The heat of the smoke from the Aboki man’s suya announces that he too doesn’t want to die poor. 

Anything you do in Lagos will thrive … By Anything I mean any kind of TRADE you take up in Lagos will thrive.

Those selling bitter kola and Tom Tom in Lagos are building houses in IKORODU.

The gala man in traffic will explain better what the word “Hustle” means. He’s ready to give up his slippers in a race just to sell one sachet water to a buyer through a car’s window.

You see that traffic, it is an “INDUSTRY” because it has succeeded in creating employment for people, even more than the nation itself. It has elevated people from the streets to become “Winners of Bread”!

If you newly built a house or rented an apartment and you intend to furnish it, just get stuck in a traffic in Lagos, and your problem is over, cos you’ll get anything you need to furnish the house in Lagos traffic. You’ll even find building materials there sef. What else do you need? Lol

Somebody will leave his house very early in the morning dressed in suit, and tell his family he’s going to the office, only to go and resume hawking of earpiece and charger at a park.

As overpopulated as Lagos, their taxi still carry only four passengers. No overload. But come to Warri,

The regular “PURE BLISS” biscuit and “EVA WATER” we know, tastes sweeter if you buy it in Lagos traffic. The taste is the difference, the difference is in the traffic.

 
Lagos traffic has saved marriages from breaking; it has become a solace for lying and cheating spouses:
        Honey where are you?
        Im stuck in heavy traffic oh. (Meanwhile, he is somewhere smooching) Smh
In Lagos, you can be minding your business as you walk on the road and a car will jus Coman hit you either from the right, left, front, back, below or even above, and you begin to wonder … but I wasn’t on the road na

Lagos state – Nigeria’s DIASPORA!

Indeed a Center of Excellence… only if we could see other States as we see Lagos!

Without Lagos State, Nigeria is half baked;

Without Lagos, Nigeria is Inconclusive;
No Lagos, No 9ja.

Happy 50th LASGIDI – The LEGENDARY CITY 

#ItzPr0gr3X

Author

I am a people-centered Writer and Storyteller with over 12 years experience. I curate stories, articles and essays using lived experiences.

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