There's no city like Lagos

 

I've been to lots of beautiful cities and I hope to visit a lot more in the next two years but none of them would give that special Lagos feeling. (Photo credit: LSG)

Whenever I find myself in another city outside Lagos, be it within the shores of Nigeria or beyond, there’s this way I feel and it’s one of the reasons I strongly dread the “japa” agenda.

Let’s cut the crap, ain’t no city like Lagos. I know we all scream and yell about the traffic, polluted air and vices but how come we struggle whenever we’re out of the city? Each time I’ve had to wake up in another city, I always find myself counting down to when I’m returning home, it’s never the same.

I can understand some other cities are peaceful and cheaper to live in but who told you we’re looking for low budget existence and some boring peace? Maybe we’ve found a way to get used to the madness but there’s some level of beauty in the chaos the city brings.

Last time I was in Abuja, it felt like I was in pains with how orderly things were. Driving from Peace Media Hotel just by the airport through to the city around Wuse 3, nobody to brush your car and tell you sorry with rear lights and two fingers through the side mirror, how do those guys live in that city?

Not a single human trying to break traffic light, spent four days plying same route and no one attempted one way driving, isn’t normal boring to them in that city? I am law abiding but what is life without little shouts and big grammar in traffic? Give me my Lagos everyday and three times on Sundays please.

Port Harcourt is lively but except you speak some trenches pidgin and slangs, the city isn’t for you and I won’t waste my time on that. Kano wasn’t really fun and Kaduna was same. Ibadan is the closest to Lagos for me and it’s highlights would be those Micra drivers.

If you’re driving in Ibadan, you have to factor those mad people into your consciousness; they will irritate you and make you laugh with their arrogance, their verbal eloquence will make you feel guilty even when they’re at fault but that’s where it stops, night life isn’t the same and some of their hotels would nearly call you for morning devotion, not for me abeg.

Accra, LOL is there a reason this people actually think they’re close to Lagos? I think I should dedicate a whole week to writing about cities I’ve been to, maybe we look at next week and Ghanaians  on my readers’ list may want to cancel me already cos I am going to drag them by their nonsense accent.

Yo, I’m missing the love at home but I must remind you, ain’t no city like Lagos. It’s crazy, expensive and hectic but I kinda find peace in the chaos.