Before you start arguing with me, let me issue a public disclaimer:
THIS POST IS NOT TO DISGRACE LAGOS.
It’s not even a warning to stop you from coming to Lagos.
If Lagos is calling your name, by all means, answer the call.
But come prepared.
Because, my dear, Lagos is not your mate.
About 10 months ago, I packed my bags and moved to Lagos in search of greener pastures.
Now, don’t get it twisted, I am one of those people who believe that the grass is greenest where you water it.
But at the same time, I wanted to be in a fast-moving city.
You know, for obvious reasons, opportunities, networking, and because I work in IT.
Well, after 10 months of living in Lagos, here’s what I have learned:
What you make in Lagos, you will spend in Lagos.Lagos doesn’t just take your money, it collects it with authority and without apology.
You’ll think you’re earning well, but by the time rent, transportation, food, and “just small enjoyment” enter the picture, your account balance will start To look like a SIM card.
If you’re not careful, you can invest and reinvest in Lagos, only to end up with nothing.Lagos has a way of convincing you to keep putting money back into the system, until one day you wake up and realize you have been sponsoring Lagos instead of building wealth.
Lagos is not for the average Nigerian.If your salary is doing “hide and seek” with your expenses, Lagos will humble you.
If you think you’re hardworking, Lagos will show you people doing three jobs, selling pure water on the side, and still looking for more hustle.
Lagos should have been a country on its own.The way Lagos operates, it does not move with the rest of Nigeria.
Lagos is like that overachieving sibling in a Nigerian family that went to Harvard, speaks five languages, and still claims they are “just managing.”
You can spend years working in Lagos and still have nothing to show for it.If you don’t plan and strategize, Lagos will use you, drain you, and leave you with vibes and memories.
No house, no land, just stories to tell your children about “how we suffered and smiled in Lagos.”
Now, after learning all this, I adjusted my strategy.
Whatever I make in Lagos, I send it out of Lagos.
Don’t ask me how, just know that it happens.
Wise people will understand.
This realization also made me understand why Asaba Nollywood became a thing.
Some people saw what was happening in Lagos and said, “Abeg, let’s carry our business somewhere else before we become motivational speakers by force.”
And let me tell you something, until you LIVE in Lagos, you cannot argue with this post.
It’s not just my personal experience; it is Lagos reality 101.
So, to my kind-hearted, generous, and cheerful-giving people, before you relocate to Lagos, please THINK TWICE.
Lagos is not a place where you do “God will provide” without having a backup plan.
Final Advice:
Lagos is not for the faint-hearted.
It is for the strong, the heartless, and the wise.
I have chosen to be wise.The strong will keep hustling until Lagos breaks them.
The heartless will survive, but let’s be honest, I am not cut out for that lifestyle.
If you still plan to come to Lagos, I am not stopping you ooo!
Just open your eyes, hold your wallet tight, and track your expenses well.
Lagos can humble anybody.
Your choices will determine your destiny.
And if you need tips on how to survive Lagos without Lagos surviving you, feel free to reach out.
My DM is just a click away.
Welcome to the 16th day of March, 2025. Happy New Month!
