My Lagos Story- Gbemileke Anthony
It was a typical morning in Lagos, the air was stank, the people thronged and with every new sight I beheld, I was reminded that things in Lagos were just wrong.
From the narrow cobblestone streets without any form of drainage, to homeless people desecrating what would have otherwise been beautiful sea water to the luxurious Lekki with it floating houses, I wondered if this was the Lagos I had heard about when I lived in the small, peaceful, sleepy town of Minna where nothing significant ever happened.
If the string of cars on the the road tightly linked like a woman's waist bead in traffic and the ridiculously high cost of rent simply because there are more people than there are lands or probably even water was all I could hope for here.
Lagos is Nigeria's mega city and Lord knows, I haven't seen anything mega about this city- if this crumbling island can be called a city at all. If you ask me, I think we've become so used to dysfunction in this country that we almost cannot live without it.
I remember people talking to me about how they could only ever live in Lagos and because of the "Lagos spirit" but the spirit I see is stress and disorder and it is as thick as the smelly air.
One then wonders about the glorification of Lagos and I have concluded that the concentration of all the companies that matter drives this Lagos dream. Whether we know it or not, Lagos is our Canaan and we are not opposed to crossing rivers just to get in.
Thus, if we have to "kill" a few giants to possess the land then it is but a small price to pay for milk and honey. With the exodus to Eko, the best talent invariably lands here making "lit" people even easier to find. So, while the "city" may be rife with disorder, there exists quite a number of awesome people in Lagos.
The people are my consolation; the reason why enduring this madhouse is worth it. The opportunities are my motivation; the reason why the somewhat unnecessary fast paced "hustle" is worth it.
Lagos is a land of dreams; your dreams can either take flight or be submerged into bottomless murky water.
Lagos then is beautiful; simply because of the spirit of enterprise, because of the hope that is the pulse of the city. It is then welcoming because one knows that all dreams are valid here.
Lagos then is inspiring because inspite of dire conditions; there lies an unbreakable will to triumph over whatever life rudely flings your way. With Eko there are no airs, no layers to be peeled back- what you see is what you get thus, making it authentic. This is Lagos, strap on your seat belts and get ready for the show!
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