Do's And Don't's For A Newbie In LAGOS

If you didn't grow up in Lagos, adjusting to the
hustling and bustling life of the city may be
difficult for you even if you are just to spend few
days, especially if you grew up in a calm city like
Agbor town or Akure.
People who are visiting Lagos for the first time or
have never visited usually have different
conceptions based on the stories they have
garnered from various Lagosians they have met
back at home, many have concluded they cannot
settle in Lagos – "it is too noisy", "it is
overcrowded", "I can't cope with the stress of the
traffic" they do say.
You will agree that sometimes, circumstances
beyond your control will make you become a
resident of Lagos or a visitor – new job, marriage
or attending an event of a loved one. Putting aside
the stories you have heard, everyone can cope in
Lagos, you just need to open your mind to it and
adhere to some dos and don'ts like these ones
below.
The 5 Dos
Keep Calm and be respectful
You may probably see new things around -
landmarks, structures, and more, it's okay to look,
but staring for too long or touching may just make
you look awkward with people around wondering
what planet you dropped from. Learn to say sorry
if you bump into someone, don't attack with words
like "are you blind?" or any other offensive word -
try as much as possible to stay out of arguments.
Don't look Intimidated or Frightened
Depending on the area, there may be lots of noise
from traffic or people yelling at each other, don't
let that frighten you, simply go about your
business or steer clear from the area and move as
fast as you can because you may never tell when a
fight will break out from those arguments. Don't
be sloppy or move around like a wanderer, act
smart rather than intimidated by the environment.
Blend
Relax, not everyone in Lagos is out to snatch your
belongings like you may have probably heard from
those stories. Contribute sensibly to discussions;
be warm and friendly – when you need to. Yes,
about your dressing, if you do not want to draw
stares or fall a prey to robbery, do away with
excessive jewelries and beads – no Ilu Oke
dressing.
The 5 Don'ts
Don't trust easily
Just like the popular saying, you do not judge a
book by its cover – just because he or she wears a
suit or looks goods doesn't mean they can be
trusted, be wise.
Don't move at night
Except you are really familiar with the area or you
have a very good memory when it comes to roads,
then you should stick with the day, at times even
places you think you know so well looks different
at night. Also avoid dark and lonely areas.
Don't be greedy
So someone walks up to you and starts telling you
about this really cool deal you should invest in or
try out – "make 100,00 naira with just 10,000 naira
in 3 days", truth is, there's a 99.9 percent chance
it's scam - he or she is just trying to eat your
money.
Don't show yourself
Even if you are your village champion, no one in
Lagos really cares; bragging and shouting may get
you attention but land you in trouble, be wise.
Don't take unlabeled buses
To be on a safer side, commercial buses painted
yellow or BRT buses are better options, though
they are couple of private cars and buses that pick
up passengers at bus stops, patiently wait for a
commercial one to take you to your destination.
Hope you find these tips useful when you make
your next trip to Lagos.
Welcome to Lasgidi!
courtesy of Jovago.com
.