First thing, always leave your house early. Lagos traffic does not respect anybody. If you think you will beat traffic by leaving late, trust me, you will find yourself sitting inside a bus for two hours watching the same bridge. If you have somewhere important to be, just go early and wait there lol.

Another thing is always have some small cash on you. Not everywhere will accept a transfer. Sometimes, the network will just decide to embarrass you.

Also, learn how to price things. In Lagos, if you look like you don’t know what you’re doing, they will increase the price immediately. Ask questions, look around, even walk away a little. Price will suddenly drop.

Then know alternative routes. Don’t depend on only one road. One accident somewhere can scatter the whole area. Ask people around, okada men, bus drivers, they usually know the faster way even if it looks longer.

Another important one: mind your business, but stay aware. Lagos is busy, but you still have to pay attention. Hold your phone well in crowded places, especially inside a danfo or when you’re near the road.

Also, eat when you can. This one sounds funny, but Lagos can be unpredictable. Traffic can hold you for hours, and before you know it, you’re acting like a hungry and angry Lagosian.

And finally, learn how to laugh things off small because Lagos will test your patience, and I am not even joking, from heat, to traffic, to random stress. If you take everything too seriously, the city will frustrate you.

But once you start understanding how things move here, Lagos actually becomes easier to live in.

You’ll still complain, though. Everybody in Lagos complains. That one is part of the coping mechanics.

If you live in Lagos, share your experience in the comment section.