Lagos: Where the Heat Never Sleeps and Neither Do I
so, i've been in lagos for a few days now, and i don't even know where to start. this city is just... wow. i mean, it's not exactly what i expected when i decided to come here. the humidity is something else, i just checked and it's 89% with a temperature of 28.14°C, feels like 34.01°C though, hope you like that kind of thing. it's not exactly comfortable, but it's what you get when you're on the coast of the bight of benin, i guess.
when i first arrived, i stayed in lagos island, which is like the historic core of the city. it's got all these old buildings and ports, but then you've got victoria island and lekki which are more modern and coastal. the city is basically divided into "island" and "mainland" areas, which sounds simple but it's actually pretty complicated when you're trying to get around.
the geography here is pretty wild. low-lying coastal terrain with southern lowlands merging into central hills. there's water everywhere - the atlantic ocean to the south, lagos lagoon to the east, and all these rivers and waterways crisscrossing the state. someone told me that the lagos port complex and tin can island port are nigeria's busiest shipping hubs, so it makes sense why they're so important for trade.
oh, and the traffic! don't even get me started. the trunk highways are always congested, and it's not just because of the cars. the population is in the millions, and it keeps growing. if you get bored, ikorodu and epe are just a short drive away, connected via highways and railways. to the west, you've got the republic of benin, and badagry serves as a lagoon port near this boundary. someone told me that badagry is a cultural port worth checking out if you're into history.
the climate here is tropical savanna, which basically means it's wet and dry. the wet season is from may to october, with june being the wettest month (316 mm rainfall). the dry season is from november to april, but there's a short dry spell in july-august. i've already experienced some heavy rain and flooding, which they warned me about. temperatures range 28-34°c year-round, with march being the hottest (up to 32-38°c highs) and august being the coolest (28-24°c). it's oppressively hot most of the time.
the food here is interesting. lagos state's agriculture and fishing support staples like cassava, palm oil, coconuts, corn, vegetables, fruits, and fish. local yoruba-influenced cuisine features these in dishes like pounded yam with egusi soup, jollof rice, and seafood stews. i've tried some of it, and it's pretty good, but it takes some getting used to, especially with the heat.
historically, lagos was nigeria's capital until 1991 when abuja took over. from 1914 to 1954, it was administered by the british as part of the colony of nigeria. in 1954, lagos island became the federal territory of lagos, separate from its hinterland, which joined western nigeria. it's all pretty complicated, but the city has a rich colonial history that's evident in some of the architecture.
lagos stands out as nigeria's economic powerhouse with the busiest ports, serving as a trade gateway via its atlantic strategic location. it blends island-mainland geography, heterogeneous culture, and year-round heat with over 50% rainy days supporting lagoon-based fishing and agriculture. it's a city that never sleeps, and neither do i, apparently.
someone told me that the population is mainly yoruba but has become diverse due to nigerian and west african migration. as of november 2025, the metropolitan population is estimated in the millions, with 2006 state census at 9 million. it drives trade, commerce, and urban heterogeneity, which you can definitely feel when you're walking around the city.
i'm not sure how long i'll stay here, but it's definitely an experience. if you're planning to visit, be prepared for high humidity, heavy rainy season flooding (april-october), and harmattan dust (november-march). urban challenges include traffic congestion on trunk highways, rapid population growth restricting expansion, and high temperatures (up to 38°c). climate projections indicate +1.6°c annual warming by century's end under moderate scenarios, so it's only going to get hotter.
i think that's all i can muster for now. my brain is fried from the heat and the chaos, but i'll try to write more later. maybe.
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