Lagos;A city without walls

gbenga oguntayo 01:18 - 01 March 2018

"There it was; bright, boisterous, radiant and alarming. It is home to beauty and chaos, all found in a mixture of a place called Lagos".

Every time spent outside Lagos, leaves me feeling nostalgic and already preparing to return to a city beloved by its inhabitants, "my fellow Lagosians".

I'd be feeling blue with a fierce longing for the noise and bubbly activities, the helter skelter running and the rush hour traffic. Gosh I always miss the traffic. My days were usually normal and boring until I arrive in Lagos, there it was bright, boisterous, radiant and alarming. It is home to beauty and chaos, all found in a mixture of a place called Lagos".

I was born, bred and buttered in Lagos. It's a place I call home, from the streets in Agege-Ogba to the high brow areas in Lekki-Ajah, it's not news that you can feel the adrenaline rush everywhere you go. It's a place that doesn't give room for lazy people, you've to be up and doing. The competition is on the high side, you have to be at your best or someone else would take your place. There are many things I love about Lagos and I'll be sharing them with you.

THE PEOPLE:

The inhabitants of Lagos are called Lagosians, a combination of people of different races various ethnic groups, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and educational background yet bound by their true love for this city.I read about a white woman who came to visit and decided to stay on in Lagos. She pioneered a campaign called "Why we love Lagos". She's not Nigerian yet she has such a deep fondness for the city. Lagos is home to over 21 million people, it's the commercial hub of Nigeria. Everyday people troop into the city either legally or illegally, everyone wants a feel of what it takes to live in a place like this. I can daresay, it's the people that makes the city tick, they're the heartbeat of Lagos.

THE PLACES:

It's obvious that Lagos is a major tourist attraction. From the National theatre at Iganmu, to the Museum in Onikan, Muson Centre, Stadiums, Beaches, Lagoon Front, Hotels, Shopping Malls, Restaurants, Cinemas, to Badagry's Whispering Palms and "Point of No Return". There's never a dull moment in Lagos. The exhilarating atmosphere is compared to busy cities in the world such as New York and Hong Kong. If you visit places like Ijora, Badia, Ilaje, Bariga, Ajegunle, Oshodi, Ikeja, Obalende, Eko Idumota,Mushin, Agbado-Ijaiye, Owode, Ikorodu, Isheri just to name a few you'd realize that if you can survive in Lagos you can survive anywhere in the world. There's this contagious positive spirit Lagosians possess that will charm you and make you want to visit over and over again.

THE PRODUCTS:

Lagos is home to innovative ideas and creative minds, which results in an ever busy atmosphere even on public holidays. In diaspora, identifying a fellow Lagosian isn't difficult because it's believed that an average Lagosian "Works hard and plays harder". We always want to be at the top of our game. Our artisans and workforce are topnotch, most multinational companies and financial institutions have their headquarters in Lagos. This says a whole lot about the products (goods and services). If you are looking for an event planner to cater for your next event or gig, you most definitely will find one in Lagos that will match your requirements and at the right price too. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere is a common saying in Lagos. It's the centre of excellence.