What is it Like to Live in Lagos? 10 Things You Should Know
The City of Lagos popularly called ?Eko? by its approximately 21 million?residents, Located in south-west Nigeria. Bordered by?Ogun State to the north and east. To the west, it shares borders with the?Republic of Benin while its southern borders lead to the?Atlantic Ocean.?The city wears many crowns; it is the largest city in Nigeria, one of the fastest growing cities in the world and a major world economic hub.
The city has become an important location for African cultural identity.? Lots of festivals are held annually in Lagos, some of them are the?Festac Fair, Eyo Festival,?Lagos Black Heritage Carnival, Eko Carnival, Eko International Film Festival, Seafood Festac Festival, Lagos Photo Festival and The Lagos Jazz Series.
So you have decided to visit Lagos or you're still mauling it over and you're wondering what the city could possibly have in store for you? Wonder no more, Here's a comprehensive list for you for ALL you can expect.
1. Lagos is Divided into Two Major Parts
Lagos initially emerged as a?port city with just a collection of islands. These islands are contained in the present day Local Government Areas (LGAs) of; Lagos Island,?Eti-Osa,?Amuwo-Odofin?and?Apapa. The increasing rate of development in the state led to the city growth toward the west of the lagoon to include areas in the present-day?Lagos Mainland,?Ajeromi-Ifelodun?and?Surulere. Present day Lagos is loosely divided into two major districts; Lagos Island?is mainly a collection of islands that are separated from each other by creeks and connected by bridges. ?This part of Lagos is where most business activities and entertainment events in Lagos takes place. It houses most of the upscale residential areas in Lagos. The island also contains many of the city's largest wholesale marketplaces (such as the popular?Idumota?and?Balogun Markets).?The major urban islands of Lagos are Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikoyi and Marina.? Lagos Mainland?is known for its music and nightlife. Mainland local government areas?include?Surulere Yaba, and?Ajeromi-Ifelodun. Metropolitan Lagos suburban LGAs include Agege,?Apapa, Alagbado, Ikorodu, Ketu, Mushin,?Oshodi-Isolo?and?Ikeja (which is the capital of Lagos State and the location of?Murtala Muhammed International Airport).2. The Best Time to Travel to?Visit
The weather in Lagos is mostly humid with a clearly defined rainy season between March and November. The climate is unmistakably tropical although the humidity is a little less in December and January due to the harmattan that dries the atmosphere. Putting all of this into consideration, the best time to visit the city would between December and March. During this period, the weather is warm and less humid, as a result of the Harmattan winds. It is advisable to avoid the city during the rainy months; from May to October, as it is a dreary time of year to explore the city.3. Prepare for Beautiful Sandy Beaches
The coastal city of Lagos, Nigeria has several sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean's shores. ?A few of such beaches are Elegushi Beach, Badagry beach, Oniru Beach, Bar Beach, Tarkwa Bay and Alpha Beach. It also has several private beach resorts including Inagbe Grand Beach Resort and several others.4. How to Get to Lagos
Air
Lagos is served by?Murtala Mohammed International Airport (or MMA as it is popularly called). ?The airport is one of the largest and?busiest airports in Africa?and the top international air passenger gateway to Nigeria.?The airport is the main hub of Medview Airline and Arik Air. Other major airlines such as; British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa.Turkish Airlines, etc operate daily flights to Murtala Mohammed Airport from all over the globe.Road
Road transportation is the most common option used by domestic travellers to get into Lagos. You may choose to make use of your private vehicle or travel with a transport company. Luxury bus operators like ABC Transport, Chisco Transport, Peace Mass Transit?and Young Shall Grow?Motors offer day trips from major cities in Nigeria into Lagos.The price for this bus fares ranges from N7,000 to N10,000. Trips from far locations?like Abuja and Kano take up to 10-14 hours.5. Getting around in Lagos
There are several ways to get around the bustling city.By Bus
Lagos has one of the largest and most extensive road networks in West Africa. Various parts of the city are linked by the city's many highways and bridges.?Yet its highways are usually?congested?during peak hours, due in part to the geography of the city, as well as to its explosive population growth. The city of Lagos has a?bus rapid transit (BRT) system which operates along eight routes using specially designated?bus lanes which run through the city. There are also other buses available known as Danfo, which travel all routes in the city. Aside from the above mentioned, other arbitrary?passenger buses exist. These uses are however not licensed by the state government. Caution is advised, should you choose to make use of them.By Ferry
Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation?runs a few regular routes between Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland. These routes are served by modern ferries and wharves. Private boats also run passenger services on the lagoon and on some creeks.By Taxi
There are 4 major types of taxi or cabs available in Lagos. These provide different quality of comfort for the rider, are available at different locations and have varying costs. The Blue cabs are the official airport taxis, the Metro cabs provide an exclusive service and can be reached on any of their designated numbers. Yellow cabs with black stripes are taxis common to the city, they are sometimes prevented from entering private estates during late hours. The city also has ride-hailing services like Uber, Taxify, Smart Cab and Oga Taxi. These allow people request a taxi online and are safe and convenient.Average Cost Of Transportation in Lagos
The cost of transportation in Lagos varies greatly depending on the distance of the city and it is also unstable due to the economy of the city. The cost of public transportation ranges from N50 to N500 depending on the distance of travel. Cab fare range from N1,000 to N8,000.6. Things to do in Lagos
To get the full experience, there are some places you absolutely have to visit and some things you must try. There are a number of shopping centres and leisure tourist attractions, rich in cultural history which the city has to offer. Tourists here will always find something to suit their tastes. Top places to visit Include:Lekki Conservation Center
KM 19 Lagos- Epe Expressway Opening hours: 8.30am - 5.00pm, including weekends and public ?The Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) Is a 79-hectare urban nature park extending from KM 19 along the Lekki- Epe Expressway to the outskirts of Okun Ibeju Village, Eti-Osa in Lagos Island. Access the park through the Lekki ? Epe Expressway.Things to do at Lekki Conservation Centre
- 401 ? meter long canopy walkway: One of the most scenic attractions in Lagos, this canopy walkway is reputed to be the longest in Africa. The walkway has the entry & exit portals connecting six towers to unique view of the park?s habitat
- The family park
- Floor games, which include Ludo, Snakes and Ladder, Chess and Draught
- Six and eight seater family huts
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