The incomplete list of curious things seen on the back of an Okada

Nigeria is undoubtedly a bustling city, I think that the word that best describes Lagos though is CHAOS. Every day I see new and interesting items being carried by people being ferried about on Okadas (Motorbike Taxis). It is really amazing what people are able to carry in this way... and every time I think I have seen everything something new will pop up. In my first few weeks in Lagos I have seen the following items:

4 ft long pipe
Large sheet of glass
Rainy day... man on back of bike with open umbrella
Portable hi-fi
Television
Full length ladder

And the most recent item:
6 people (yes that is correct, 6 people, sure it did include 2 small children, but 6 people on the back of a small 125cc motorcycle is something unreal)

Okadas and Taxis in Lagos

Lagos as a city is quite an experience. It is bustling, congested and very busy. In the past few weeks it seems to have rained every day, am told that it is the rainy season until sometime in October, am looking forward to the end of all this rain. When it rains the drainage is totally inadequate in the city and sometimes driving to work means navigating through huge puddles of water.

Fortunately I do not have to drive as all the expatriate employees have drivers who drive us about. I would not want to drive in Lagos as it must have some of the worst drivers in the world. Traffic is insane with battered taxis everywhere and then something which South Africa does not have, Motorbike Taxis. These taxis known as Okadas are total maniacs weaving between the traffic left and right with their passengers clinging to the back.
They drive between the cars, they drive on the pavement and they will come at you the wrong way up a one way road.

Many of them are carrying two passengers at a time and hardly any of them wear helmets. I asked our driver about this and he said that it is the law that they should wear helmets, but this law has now been completely disregarded.

Here is a picture of one of the taxis seen around the city

Move to Lagos

After a year and a half in Johannesburg I have taken up an assignment in Lagos Nigeria starting from the beginning of September 2006.

I have now been in Lagos for almost four weeks and I am settling in here well. I am working for a Multi-national Telecommunications company and am living in a suburb called Ikoyi on Lagos Island. The offices for the company are based on Victoria Island which is just across the creek from where I live.

The compound I am staying in is rented by my company and all 6 units are for company employees.

The picture above is a view from my bedroom window across the creek and the small picture below is a picture of the building from the other side of the creek (I know it is a tiny picture, will take something better when I have some time.









Over the next few months I hope to share a lot more pictures and experiences from around the city.