National Museum, Lagos

A must visit in Lagos if your in for a couple of days. The National Museum captures the complexity, history and rich culture that makes Nigeria thrives. It was founded in 1957 by the English archaeologist Kenneth Murray. The museum is 150m southeast of Tafawa Balewa Square, a huge arena adorned by statues of gargantuan horses. In the square is Remembrance Arcade, with memorials to Nigeria’s dead from two world wars and the Biafran conflict.
The museum also comprises a permanent exhibition of national relics and treasures, as well as other temporary shows. Some of these arts and artifacts dates as far back as 500BC-200AD. One of the most interesting exhibits is the bullet-ridden black Mercedes in which former head of state General Muritala Mohammed was assassinated in 1976. The museum has a small crafts village with woodcarvings and other handicrafts for sale at fixed prices; you might also see a demonstration of adire – cloth-making from Abeokuta.
The National Museum is definitely worth seeing, but note – no cameras are allowed.