Lagos, the most populous city in Africa and a regional economic giant, with the potential to rival global capitals, is said to have been reduced to a jungle of street-level extortion and informal criminality, institutionalised by silence.
Lagos is the centre of commercial and economic activities in Nigeria, having West Africa’s busiest seaport. It, however, suffers from rotting systems and the normalisation of lawlessness dressed up as “street hustle.”
The city’s population is estimated to be 20 million people. The existence of informal settlements makes it difficult to come up with a more precise number. This rapid urbanisation has been poorly managed. The result is crumbling public infrastructure, poor sanitation, poverty, and shortages of employment opportunities, food, social services, housing and public transport.
These challenges combine to make Lagos susceptible to criminal activities. Organised crime and violent conflicts are a public safety and security challenge.
A Nigerian on X, @Mayoveli, painted a gory picture of what it takes to do business in Lagos State, Nigeria’s supposed centre of excellence.
According to him, “If you’ve ever gone to Apapa to buy a car, then you’ve seen firsthand the most disgusting form of agbero bureaucracy in action. It starts the moment you arrive, you meet a random guy who claims he can take you to the seller. Once you pay the seller, you might think it’s over. But it’s only just beginning. Before you can move the car, you’re told you must “pay the park” for removing the car. What park? Nobody explains.
“Then, as you try to leave, a swarm of touts descend on you, demanding money simply because they were present when you started the negotiation. You finally drive off, only to be stopped by the police a few streets away. They insist you “settle” them, too, even though your car is freshly purchased and has all the right paperwork.
“Then, just when you think you’re safe and heading home, you hit the expressway, and that’s where the real agbero tax begins. Roadblocks appear out of nowhere. Grown men with lanyards, stickers, and no official backing will block your car and demand ₦5,000 or more. Try giving less, and they’ll threaten to slash your tires or cause a scene.
“This is just what it takes to buy a vehicle in the port area of Nigeria’s so-called “mega city.” A city with the potential to rival global capitals is being reduced to a jungle of street-level extortion and informal criminality, institutionalised by silence.
“Lagos isn’t suffering from lack of innovation or talent. It’s suffering from rotting systems and the normalisation of lawlessness dressed up as “street hustle.”
