By Ejiofor Toochi
Lagos is often hailed as Nigeria’s land of opportunity, a city where many dreams come true. It is a city filled with hustlers who work relentlessly in a bid to escape poverty.
For many individuals working in Lagos, the city comes with a unique set of challenges. We spoke to five Nigerians from different industries about their experiences navigating the highs and lows of working life in Lagos.
A typical work day starts from the day prior to that day – Raphael, Entrepreneur
Raphael runs a cleaning service and interior design company and has been in business for five years. For him, work begins as soon as his service is booked. “A typical work day starts from the day prior to that day.You book us at least a day before, so we use that day to prepare.”
While he sees Lagos as a land of prospects, “there’s money, people pay, and the high-end clients we’re looking for are here,” transportation remains a major challenge.“The most difficult part about working in Lagos is commuting. My job requires labour and that comes with a lot of transport and we don’t have our vehicle for now,” he explained.
I would move out of Lagos in a heartbeat – George, Digital Marketer
George, a digital marketer, doesn’t mince words about his dislike for working in Lagos. “I would move out of Lagos in a heartbeat. I know the problems I have as a remote worker will remain in any other city in Nigeria, but the Lagos life isn’t for me. There’s so much noise outside, and the traffic is unbearable. If I wasn’t working remotely, I know I would have a long list of why I hate Lagos.”
As a remote worker, electricity and internet connection are vital, yet they are highly unpredictable and often affect his work. “It’s difficult for me to plan and stick to a routine when things like this can fail me at any time. I was presenting in a meeting one time and my laptop went off twice,” he shared.
I wake up at 4:30 a.m. – Chidera, Customer Service Representative
Chidera is a proper 9-to-5er who works as a customer service representative and wakes up early. She, like many others, has to deal with traffic amidst the long distance between her home and her place of work. “I wake up at 4:30 or 5 a.m., depending, then say my prayers, brush, bathe, pack my food, dress up, and leave the house. Then, head out to work, then settle in at 8 am.”
Despite the stress, Chidera believes Lagos is worth it. “Lagos may be a crazy city, but it is a land of endless opportunities. You just need to get plugged in.”
You can’t have a budget when you’re in Lagos – Chizoba, Call Centre Agent
Chizoba works as a call centre agent, often leaving for work in the afternoon and returning home as late as 10 p.m. One of her biggest challenges is the cost of commuting, which worsens during the rainy season. “You can’t have a budget when you’re in Lagos. You must always prepare for the unexpected.”
Despite the daily stress, she finds comfort in her work environment. “I have a pretty chill workplace. My workplace is nothing too dramatic, we’re just very cool-headed people. Calm and reasonable colleagues and bosses.”
Lagos is not for the faint-hearted – Glory Mecha, Human Resource Executive
With over three years of work experience in Lagos, Glory describes herself as a true “city girl.” She’s familiar with the daily challenges of commuting under the sun and through traffic. Still, she’s committed to the city. She said, “Unless the proposed location offers something significantly better than Lagos, I’ll choose Lagos every single time, no hesitation.”
To those planning to work in Lagos for the first time, Glory advises, “Lagos is not for the faint-hearted. You need to come correct, with at least 101% resilience and street-smart energy stored up, because every direction—left, right, centre, even above and below—feels like a battleground.”
Working in Lagos is not for the weak. From early morning wake-ups and exhausting traffic to unstable power supply, it takes resilience to survive. Yet, many still choose to stay, adapt, and thrive. So, what is it really like for you working in Lagos?
