“Life in Ibadan was a lot of things for
me. I grew up there. Aside secondary
school, all of my other education was in Oluyole- Ad-din primary school, Moor
Plantation and then University of Ibadan.
Ibadan was fun. In Ibadan, I am the typical omo aríléyanka – visiting
from one place to the other. From
Pópóyemoja to Agbowo, Aremo, Apata, Sanyo, just name the area, I have a
relative or friend to visit nearby. I
held all kind of jobs (legal) between schooling in Ibadan, from sales
representative to thrift collector and offering ambulatory veterinary services.
The relative ease of movement in Ibadan gave me that opportunity to go out,
visit, try new things including joining book clubs.
Whenever I and my husband discuss places we
could live in, I especially, would always rule out Lagos. But life happened. Guy
got a job in Lagos and had been shuttling to and fro for a year. It wasn’t easy for either of us plus extra
cost that comes with living apart. Another consideration at the time was also our
business. We felt it would do better in Lagos
One thing I like about Lagos is the endless opportunities available. You see an interesting event ad like book fair, trade fair, seminar etc. and there is a very high chance that the venue is Lagos. These kind of events give opportunities for networking and self-development. Then, I think there is a lot of negative stereotypes about Lagosians. I mean, the people aren’t as bad as I used to dread. Like with every place, there are good and bad people but Lagosians have often been judged too unfairly. True, maybe the many frustrations of the city may inform their harshness at times, but I’ve met really nice people here, even total strangers.
Lagos traffic has a big lesson to teach the new comers and I learnt mine, in a very costly way. I had some documents to be endorsed at the German embassy. My appointment was for 8am. In my Ibadan mind, I told myself if I leave home by 6, I should get there before time. Unfortunately, it started raining that morning and when it rains in Lagos, incredible things happen like traffic and t-fare doubling up. So that day, I hailed Taxify and the closest ride to me was about 30 minutes away and the estimated price was 3k!
Well, Taxify arrived only for us to face an absolute gridlock on the Third Mainland Bridge. In short, I didn’t get to the embassy until 9:45 for an 8:00 appointment. Of course, the Germans don’t take shit and yes, I cried…because I couldn’t book another appointment until a month later, which was too late for what I needed the documents for. Thankfully, it was raining so no one noticed my tears. I have learnt that when crossing the Third Mainland bridge from the mainland, leave as early as 2hrs before due time. If it’s raining, just forget about going out and enjoy the weather on your bed.
I hate the traffic in Lagos. It limits me. If it is not absolutely important, I don’t go out. I have spent more than a year here and have only visited just one friend and that was even because I had something to pick up from her. If the government could find a way around the traffic issue, Lagos would be a beautiful place to live in.
I miss family members and the opportunities for visitations in Ibadan. I miss the relative cheapness of basic necessities in Ibadan too. A two bedroom rent in a not-so-sophisticated part of Lagos will pay a three bedroom rent in Orogun for two years and you will still collect change.”
(Lagos, 2019)
