Tourism In Nigeria (beginning with Lagos State)

How to make the most of your trip to Nigeria

For a country that's experienced a lot of economic nose dives and poverty due to the previous government's mismanagement, the opportunities for rejuvenation are many. Crime is decreasing, entrepreneurs are sprouting daily and confidence is rising in the country's ability to recover from the many woes of the past.

Nigeria is a country with multi-cultures and languages, but the lingua franca is English, with a lot of people also speaking pidgin or broken English.

The weather is excellent for vacationers who enjoy beachcombing and visiting Nigeria is a steal of a deal for foreigners because of the additional benefit of very favourable foreign exchange rates. Rates vary from N117 - 120 for $1.

The major airport "Murtala Mohammed Airport" has undergone major upheaval to modernize it and bring it to international and safe standards. You can feel the ease and comfort as you arrive in the air-conditioned facility. At the departure terminal there are an on-location bank, bookstore, tel. service station, ample telephone booths for both domestic and international calls, souvenir stores, bars with TV sets, a restaurant and airport lounges for convenience.

As you exit you pass by the water fountain whose beauty is more evident at night time, and there is a church and a mosque for travelers who may have layovers/connecting flights.

There are credit and debit facilities such as Valucard and Smartpay to augment the use of cash.

Banks

Usually open until 4 or 5 p.m. daily, then until 6 p.m. on Fri. Some open on Sat.

• First Bank - Western Union facility
• UBA [United Bank of Africa]
• IBTC-Chartered Bank
• Oceanic Bank
• Zenith Bank
• Union Bank
• Guarantee Trust Bank
• SkyeBank
• Access Bank
• Afribank
• Diamond Bank
• Eco Bank
• Equitorial Trust Bank
• Fidelity Bank
• First City Monumental Bank
• First Inland Bank
• Intercontinental Bank
• Nigeria International Bank
• Platinum Bank
• Spring Bank
• Stanbic Bank
• Standard Chartered Bank
• Sterling Bank
• Unity Bank
• Wema Bank

Bureau de Change

Several are available for open currency exchanges. Also available at most of the bigger markets (Alade, Tejuosho, Balogun) and at hotels including Bristol and Ikoyi.

Transportation

• Airlines - Virgin Nigerian Airline, Arik Airline, EAS Airline, Chanchangi Airline, Albarka Air Services, Sosoliso Airline, Kabo Airline, IRS Airline, ADC Airline, Associated Airline.
• Travelling Buses - Ekene Dili Chukwu, ABC Transport, Chisco and other safe, upscale and airconditioned buses for travel to other states within Nigeria. Mostly to Abuja and the Eastern States.
• Car Hire - Available at most hotels. (Also for travel to the Western States.)
• Taxi Hire - Available at Taxi Stands. (Negotiable for travel.)
• Local buses - Available till dark.
• Motorbikes (Okada) - for quick uninhibited transportation.

Freeways are clean and well maintained and there are always road contractors like "ARC" and Julius Berger working to make the streets/freeways safe & drivable.

Hotels

• Sheraton - Ikeja
• Le Meridien "Eko" Hotel - Victoria Island (V.I.)
• Ikoyi Hotel - Ikoyi - (Good for Arts and Crafts purchases.)
• Federal Palace Hotel - Victoria Island
• B. J.'s Hotel - Victoria Island
• Niger Palace Hotel - Yaba
• The Ambassador's - Ikoyi
• Excellence Hotel & Conference Centre - Ogba, Ikeja
• Rochester Gardens - Festac Town
• Gateway Hotel - Sango-Otta
• Tamarin Hotel - Ikeja

Guest Houses

Guest Houses are abound in the Lagos metropolis, most taxi drivers will take you to a comfortable one. Noteworthy are "Johnson's" on Herbert Macauley Street by St. Dominic's Catholic Church and "The Ambassador's" situated in the serene high brow Ikoyi.

Communication

Nitel, the main telephone company, is being overhauled, and digital phone service is mostly available, but you can also use GSM and other cell phones services which are quite easy to acquire and use with chargeable cards, also available in most places for your domestic calls.

Cyber cafes are open everywhere for easy and affordable internet access; and internet connection telephone calls (worldwide) are available at rock-bottom prices, and could be a source of major savings especially when calling abroad.

Dining Out

There are a very wide variety of dishes because of the various ethnic groups as well as the influence of foreigners and mixed marriages.

Some popular local dishes:

• Rice - Jollof/Fried/Curry/Coconut rice. Rice & Beans.
• Plantain (Dodo) - Fried/Broiled/Baked/Roasted/Boiled.
• Corn (Agbado) - Fried/Broiled/Baked/Roasted/Boiled.
• Dry/Wet Flours - Pounded Yam, Cassava (Eba), Fufu, Corn meal (Eko & Ogi), etc.
• Beans - Bean cakes (Akara), Bean pie (Moin-Moin), Bean soup, Bean pottage.
• Yams - Broiled/roasted/fried (Dundun)/boiled. Yam Pottage, Ikokore.
• Local stews & soups - varying by culture, mostly including or eaten with some type of vegetable (spinach, okra, bitter leaves, Ewedu, Apon etc.) - Isiewu (Goat head soup), pepper soup, melon seed (Egusi) soup, cow feet stew.
• Suya - Broiled meats. (Beef/chicken/gizzards/kidney/liver - pepper optional.)
  

A lot of grains, seafood, vegetables and fruits are eaten in addition to Western dishes.

Local Drinks

• Palm wine (Emu)
• Ogogoro (strong local gin)
• Chapman, Zobo
• Ginger Beer

Restaurants

• Oceanview (Upscale) - Continental, African & Chinese restaurants and Bars. In/outdoor dinning.
• Golden Gate (Upscale) - Chinese
• Sherlaton - Indian
• Mandarin - Chinese
• Dolce Vita - Italian
• Sunrise - Chinese
• Lagoon Restaurant - Mixed cuisine
• After 4 - Continental
• Vintage - Mixed cuisine
• Michael's - Chinese
• Koreana - Korean
• Prime Chinese - Chinese

Fast Food places

• Mr Biggs - McDonalds + more. Good for kebab sticks.
• Tastee Fried Chicken - good chicken dishes.
• Chicken Republic - good chicken dishes and bread.
• Sweet Sensation - good for rice & chicken dishes.
• Jennifers - best for sausage rolls & cakes.
• Chevy's - Chinese and other continental dishes.
• Mega plaza - famous for Shawrma
• Munchies - good snail & gizzards.
• Club 44
• Dominos
• Mama Cass
• Tantalizers
  

Beaches and Resorts

With sunshine almost year round, the weather is excellent for vacationers. For the avid swimmer or just to laze or go for a stroll there are numerous beaches to visit. However, a few are not for amateur swimmers because of their undercurrents. Private beaches are available by boat & some beaches have private beach clubs for members only.

• Alpha (most popular) - also has private membership clubs including the "Alpha-Beach Paradise Beach club, & "African Beach Huts". It also has play structures in its playground section for children.
• Lekki - hosts the famous Lekki Sunsplash.
• Kuramo - offers nightly activities in its beachside cabins, including dancing to a variety of music ranging from Nigerian Juju, Afrobeat and other local music to Makossa, R&B Hip-hop etc; a good range of food including B-B-Q dishes, fresh fish, grilled or in pepper soup, Liberian food, local food, hamburgers, snacks, etc.
• Badagary Atlantic Beach
• Suntan beach - Badagary
• Whispering Palms Resort - Badagary
• Eleko Tourist Beach Resort
• Takwa Bay - has chalets
• Bar Beach - V.I.

Beach tents are available at all beaches and you can relax, tan or stroll and pick seashells. Most have donkeys and horses for horseback rides. Local drummers offer instant music for your dancing pleasure and all offer food (including Suya) and drinks, including fresh coconut. Crime is curtailed as there is a sense of comrade to keep the beaches safe and long-existing.

Museums/Galleries

• Didi museum - Ikoyi
• National Gallery of Modern Art - Nat'l Theatre, Iganmu
• National Museum - Onikan
• Art innovations Gallery - Ikoyi
• Earthworks - Ikoyi
• Aragon Gallery - Obanikoro
• Ovuomaroro Gallery - Papa Ajao, Mushin
• Elysee - Ikoyi
• Treasure House Gallery - Allen Ave., Ikeja
• Nimbus Art Center - Ikoyi
• Museum of Akward Things - Lekki (1st round about)
• Africa Traditional Arts & Crafts - Eko Hotel, V.I.

Entertainment

Nigerians enjoy gyrating to various types of music, ranging from Juju, Apala, Highlife, Makossa, and other African music and in a heart's beat you'll see them dancing to Hip-hop, R&B, Rock, Salsa, Reggae, Blues and other foreign music. With the availability of nightly entertainment and weekly functions you'll forever be mesmerized by the dance tunes and styles.

p>The music industry is booming and there are stars rising daily. Musicians of all tribes, ages and experience provide live entertainment with the most popular being the world renowned "King Sunny Ade" Femi Kuti (son of the late Fela Kuti); & Lagbaja, Ebenezer Obey, Oliver de Coque, Ayuba, Ayinde Barrister, Majek Fashek, Shina Peters, Charlie Boy, Dede, Salawa Abeni, Yinka Ayefele, Yinka Davies, Tunde kuboye, Sugar Band and a lot of New skuul musicians including Paul I.K. Dairo (who followed in his father's foosteps), Tony Tetula, Eedris Abdul Kareem, 2 Face who won an MTV award for Nigeria, Styl-Plus, P-Square, D-Banj who also won an MTV award for Nigeria, Tosin Martins, Dare Alade, Faze one, Rugged Man and a host of others including the woman Ayo Balogun, whom without seeing many would mistake for Sunny Ade.

Listen to music about Lagos by 'Rule Clean' on Lagos

Night Clubs

• La Casa - Jammed packed with dancers, but non-smokers take heed. Salsa classes offered 2ce weekly. In V.I.
• La Cachet - Tastefully decorated lounges with good music. Also has a restaurant and bars.
• Sai Pan - Dance lounge located in a Chinese restaurant in V.I. Live bands playing High life, Jazz, etc.
• Soul lounge - Nice lounge located in the Palms Mall, but can get smokey.
• 1145 - Jammed packed with dancers. In Ikoyi
• Tiberios - Modernly decorated upscale restaurant & bar in V.I. With light dancing to salsa, old school, R & B & foreign music.
• Club Towers - Mainly a dance club in V.I. Good Bar and service. Weds. is Jazz night. Karokee Bar is next door.
• Panchos - Mainly a dance club .(with high Bombay flavour).
• Murphy's - Mostly Karokee, live Makossa band. Snooker/Billiards. In V.I.
• "A" (Atlantic) Bar - Nightly in V.I. Younger crowd. Very good music.
• Afrika Shrine - Live performances by Femi Kuti (world renowned saxophonist) in Ikeja. A very mixed crowd usually on Sunday nights.
• Motherland - Live performances by Lagbaja (a saxophonist) and comedians. A very full house on the last friday night of each month in Ikeja. Kokoro the sight impaired older musician is also honoured occassionally to perform for Lagbaja's audience
• Coliseum - Good dance club in Ikeja.
• Jazzville - A jazz spot in Maroko.
• B.J.'s Hotel - Good music. In V.I.
• The Metro - Good dance music. In Ikeja
• Bacchus - Good music and Old Skuul nights. In Ikoyi
• Ellays - Live performances by (Ms) Ayo Balogun 2ce a month. Good Juju music. Friday nights in Ikoyi.

Bars

• Little Nirvana
• Vintage - Upscale Bar and Restaurant with impressive food and drinks menus.
• Alfredo's - (above its Beauty shop - sauna, salon, manicure/pedicure.)
• Sport Shaq - A tuck-away in Surulere for avid scrabble playing and billiards. Also a place to meet soccer stars and get into animated arguments on soccer.
• Sandra's Bar - Isaac John, Ikeja
• The Metro - Ikeja
• Tarzan Getty - Victoria Island

Private Clubs

• LMBC (Boat Club) - Ikoyi. Boating facilities with an open air bar & restaurant. Reasonable prices. Mostly 35 - 50s crowd.
• Island Club - Onikan. Older crowd.
• Yoruba Tennis Club - Onikan.
• Polo Club - Ikoyi. For avid horseback riders.
• Apapa Boat Club - Apapa
• Lagos Country Club - Ikeja
• Ikoyi Club - Ikoyi. Recreational Sports Facilities
• New Boat Club - Victoria Island

Movie Theatres

• Silverbird Cinema @ The Galleria, Victoria Island
• City Mall Theatre @ The City Mall, Onikan
• Palms Mall Theatre @ The Palms Mall, Lekki

Live Theatre

The National Theatre is Nigeria's first internationally recognized National monument that featured the 1977 FESTAC (Festival of Arts & Culture) event, where Stevie Wonder, the Ipi Tombi troupe and several entertainers performed. Several of Nigeria's local and world-renowned artists, including the now late Hubert Ogunde, have also been known to perform there. Duro Ladipo and Art Alade are some of the other artists that made Nigeria proud.

TV/Radio Stations

Cable service is available and even on the National TV stations you can view CNN and other channels for free on AIT, LTN, DSTV, LWT, MBI etc.

Radio service is quite competitive with Ray Power, Cool FM, and Rhythm being the most popular choices.

Clothing

Nigerians wear very colourful attires ranging from native wears to western wear, and are very sharp dressers. There are numerous functions happening weekly and usually celebrated in grandeur. Mostly weddings, engagements, christenings, birthdays, anniversaries, and funerals, and you can see a gala of attires in richly texture materials, which are so irresistible that you'll be tempted to buy or sew.

Traditional attires vary but the women's attire usually include head gears/ties to accentuate their Iro & Buba (Wrapper & blouse), up & down and other 2-tier outfits. While the men usually wear caps when in their full regalia (Agbadas, Buba & Sokoto - (overwear, top and trousers)).

Reception/Party Halls

• Shell & Agip Halls @ The Muson Center - Onikan
• Regency Hall @ Mko Abiola Gardens - Ikeja
• Expo Pavillion @ The Eko L'Meridien Hotel - V.I.
• Unilag Multi-Purpose Hall @ University of Lagos - Akoka
• Riviera Gardens @ Amuwo Odofin - Near Festac Town
• Boat Club Halls @ New Boat Club - Victoria Island
• Planet 44 Halls @ Planet 44 - Ikeja
• City Mall Hall @ City Mall - Onikan

Speciality/Clothing/shoes

• Abbie Fashion House - Ire Akari Estate, Isolo
• Dakova - Apapa Rd., Ebute Metta
• Bevista - (Men's store) - Awolowo Rd.,Ikoyi
• Rivista - (Women's store) - Awolowo Rd., Ikoyi
• Wardrobes - Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere
• Collectibles - Surulere
• Buckles - Ikoyi
• Sofisticat - Ikoyi

Tailors

• Abbie Fashion House - Ire Akari Estate, Isolo

Drycleaners

• Garment Care - G.R.A. Ikeja (also has a collection centre @ Mega Plaza, V.I.)
• Washaman - various locations
• Yomade - Association Avenue Ilupeju

Jewelry

• A.G. Tabet - Oyingbo

Souvenirs

• Ikoyi Hotel
• Murtala Airport
• Local markets

Supermarkets

• Pak & Shop - V.I. & Ikeja
• Dominos - Yaba & Mafoluku
• M One - Ikeja
• B. G. Mart - Ikoyi
• Goodies - Apapa & Ikoyi
• Discount City Value Mart - V.I.
• Ebili - Anthony Village
• Edy chart - Anthony Village
• Shop Rite - Palms Mall, Lekki

Household/Electronics

• Mega Plaza
• Sony
• Pak & Shop
• Alaba Market
• Tino's Electronics
• Cash & Carry
• The Palms Mall
• City Mall

Open Markets

• Sabo
• Tejuosho
• Oyingbo
• Alade
• Oke Arin
• Balogun
• Sand Grouse (called Sangross in local parlance)

Shopping Centers

• The Palms Mall - Lekki
• City Mall - Onikan
• Falomo Shopping Complex - Ikoyi
• Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Center - Surulere
• Sura Shopping Complex
• Tafawa balewa Square - Lagos
• Allen Ave/Opebi/Toyin street Shopping Area - Ikeja

Beauty Parlours/Saloons

Several are available in and around town, including in the hotels. You'll get the cheapest hairdo, manicure and pedicure services in the world.

Churches/Mosques

Despite the religious clashes that have occurred mainly in the Northern parts of Nigeria ever since the Sharia law was introduced, churches and mosques coexist in the country where freedom and coexistence of differing religions has always been the practice. Right from the airport you'll see the both a church and a mosque. Nigerians in the aftermath of the demoralizing reigns of their previous presidents have come to draw closer to a living God as those who once believed in and worshipped idols are increasingly serving a living God. Nigeria has also been seeing an influx of foreign preachers coming to evangelize and draw people to Christ. A large growth of Pentecostal churches and resurgance of Orthodox churches is quite evident.

Sports

Nigerians are avid soccer and athletic fans. They've produced seasoned soccer players, male and female, both domestically and internationally, which include Segun Odegbami, Emmanuel Okala, John Fasanu, Kanu Nwankwo, Jeje Okocha, Rashidi Yekini, Julius Aghaghowa, Ifeanyin Chiejine; and the Super Eagles teams usually proceed to the World Cup and Olympic levels of sports. The track teams (which produced atheletes like Modupe Oshikoya, Falilat Ogunkoya, Mary Onyali, Chioma Ajunwa, Emedulu and the Ejinwa twins); and the boxers which include Hogan Bassey, Michael Bamidele, Dick Tiger, Henry Akinwande are usually the envy of other African nations as they usually make it to the Olympic finals. Hakeem Olajuwon also made Nigeria proud with his basketball talent. The National Stadium in Surulere is the main sports arena in Lagos State.

Embassies

Most Countries have either a consular office or deputy High Commission in the diplomatic quarter of Victoria Island as the Embassies and High Commissions have mostly moved the Abuja, the new Federal Capital.

Hobbies

Horseback riding, Boating, Snooker/Billiards/Pool, Movies, Live Theatre, Swimming, Dancing, Traveling, Fishing, Soccer, Board games, etc.

Real Estate

With huge growth there's both equal expansion and both land and housing are being made available to indigenes and qualifying foreigners all over Nigeria. The beach areas of Lekki and Alpha are rapidly developing as foreign investments are booming and more indigenes are beginning to relocate back home. For a fraction of what it would cost to hold lifetime mortgages in the U.S. or Europe, one can easily buy and probably build their own houses.

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs are rising daily and a lot more privatization and domestic manufacturing of once imported goods including furniture, clothing and food are now evident. "Harlequin Interiors" in Ilupeju and "Magnificent Furniture" in Ikoyi are some examples.

Here is a country ripe for investment as basic amenities are increasingly being restored, communication is increasingly effective and the movers and shakers are currently the financial whizzes, up and rising attorneys & SANs, business gurus, and computer whizzes.

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