I have been driving in Lagos for about a year now, and it's been a rich experience. So rich I could write a book about it. There have been moments of happiness and moments of great despair and in the post I will try to capture some of those moments.
In 2022 I started my rideshare business with great expectations. My business brought me back into Lagos, and for those who know me, I have a love-hate relationship with the state. However, I thought the returns for my business would easily cancel the stress of living in Lagos. I was greatly mistaken.
Lagos divers welcomed me appropriately with scratches and dents (on my way). Barely a month into driving my car was a shadow of itself. I did a paint job only to be hit the day I got my car back from the painter. At this I have given up on my car esthetics. It is only a means to an end–earning me money.
DRAMA AND WAHALA
It can really get dramatic on the road, and if you are not street smart you would fall for certain antics. One major rule to follow whilst driving in Lagos is never to apologize. It doesn't matter if you are wrong, just stand your ground and yell insults at the top of your voice until the other person gives in. I will explain the scenario that happened a couple of days ago.
I went to pick 
Immediately my Lagos driver instincts kicked in. I started screaming and cussing.
THE MAP OF EXPERIENCE
Navigating the streets of Lagos is an extreme sport. It got me into a lot of trouble with the police and road safety officers. Road signs are not appropriately placed, thus, you need some level of familiarity with the roads to navigate smoothly. As a new driver, I did not have such a luxury and I paid dearly for it.
The biggest find I have signed was about $100 and it wasn't much of an official. I paid that much because I refused to bribe the police officer who insisted I had broken the law by going through a secluded lane for commercial vehicles. I had my vehicle impounded for two days whilst I went to plead my case at the mobile court.
BEGGARS IN BLACK
Speaking about the men in black, I have nothing but disgust for them. They extort, bully, beg, etc just this afternoon whilst driving I had two police officers pull up to me with AK47s (I kid you not). What was their reason for stopping me in the middle of a busy road? Nothing. I was given no explanation. These are the sort of things I encounter daily.
When they are not trying to bully or harass you, the Nigerian police are your best friend. They exchange pleasantries whilst showering you with praise just so you can give them money. When you do not give in to their flattery the Nigerian policeman reverts to his default setting.
THE CRAZY RIDER
Being in the service industry humbles you in ways you cannot imagine. It's almost impossible to have a huge ego doing this business because you will be tested. I have driven people I literally wanted to punch in the face, but thankfully I have learnt the valuable lesson of silence in those situations.
There have been two recent instances where I had riders yell at me and at the end of the trip, they were courteous. I had this lady scream at me all through our ride because I followed a route she wasn't familiar with. I got into a back and forth with but decided to keep mute when I saw the dialogue wasn't meaningful. She kept on complaining while I kept miye. Surprisingly this lady who had been all grumpy throughout the trip was courteous to me and even gave me a tip. I don't know what her deal was but I am glad things ended on a good note.
These are some of my experiences on the road. There are a lot more I cannot share in this post. In a nutshell, my time driving in Lagos has made me more resilient. Considering all I have experienced on the road, it is no wonder why my threshold for pain and stress has significantly increased. Notwithstanding, this isn't a lifestyle anyone should get used to especially in the long run because it's impact on your physical and mental health is huge.