New York of Africa Episode 2

New York of Africa

By Razzak Osemobor | February 11, 2026

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The lifestyle, ways people have adapted to the struggle, and things to watch out for when planning a visit to Lagos are what this episode of New York of Africa is all about.

Overstruggling, relentlessness, renewed hope, and a desire to make it quick despite family background, environment, unfavourable government policies, economic instability, and other forms of resistance have resulted in the use of slangs and slogans that encourage smartness, restore hope, unveil opportunities, and make people learn from ignorance.

Such words, which include JJC, Mago, Jagunjagun, Lasgidi, Eko Oni Baje, Malo Le, Ma Pe Padi E Lo Le, and Ma Le, are words to encourage smartness in competition that strives for survival.

For some of us who could use Google Maps to track destinations, a little help is required from people for guidance. For those who don't, some pay dearly. There were one or more situations where I asked someone for directions, and some deliberately misled me, some made gestures without being sure, while others guided me rightly. Henceforth, I decided I must ask not just one but two different persons for certainty or better use my Google Maps. If some people discover you were misdirected, they tag you as a JJC, implying you are a newcomer in the city.

Other common features are hawkers who walk and run at times to sell sachet water, bottled water, canned and bottled drinks, hand/face towels, gums and mints, sunshades and other fanciful eyeglasses, etc., and those who sell by the roadside who can't afford shop rents. So don't get surprised to see someone's hand waving items through the open bus window, persuading you to buy them. That's still the norm in most parts of the city.

Whenever I want to buy something from a store, if my senses were far away, alertness shrouds in immediately, ensuring items on sale are genuine. There have been cases where people were handed fake items, refurbished phones, or a phone pack replaced with something packaged but not functional. It doesn't end here. Different stores on a street sell the same goods, let's say spare parts. Shop A tells me the product is available whereas it isn't. I was told to wait, whereas the seller wants to source the item from another store where he inflates prices to get his commission. In this scenario, just move away if this tactic is either new to you or you don't buy it.

The transport system is a mix of structured and unstructured systems. The structured is an organised transport system which uses a ticketing system issued to passengers on a first-come, first-served arrangement. An example is the BRT. There are also online apps where you can book a ride to your destination, such as Bolt, Uber, and Lagos Taxi. There is now the availability of highway train service, though limited to specific areas, and inter-state train services that run from Lagos–Ibadan–Osun and Lagos to Ayobo, Sango, and Abeokuta axis.

The unstructured, though under regulation, is headed by a Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, with different park heads who manage loading times of buses and collect levies. Some bus drivers aren't part of this union. Some try to load quickly, while others avoid the parks to abscond from paying levies. Some pay dearly for this act if caught by the park officials. They accelerate and stop some distance where some hoodlums are on standby, helping them load passengers and collect tips afterward. One challenging part of this is running to enter an accelerating bus when you are out of time or fear waiting longer before another that runs your destination. This habit is learned but not used by everyone.

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There are a lot of shopping marts, big restaurants, and fast foods where you can shop for food, clothing, and other items. You can find McDonald's, Chicken Republic, Jendol, Pep, Shoprite, Domino Pizza, Kilimanjaro, and the famous Mr. Biggs, etc.

Like other states, Lagos State has both dry and wet seasons. The temperature range is a little above 30°C during sunny days and between 23–27°C on cool days.

Lagos is one of the busiest cities in Africa, a home to many entertainment stars and business magnates, while it is a one-time visit for others who want a glimpse of it but are scared away from stress and densely populated areas.

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