A view of 'The Island'. Lagos, Nigeria.
Lagos at Night.So many foreigners don't know how developed Africa is. They think we are still so far behind in civilisation. Sometimes i talk wt some people online and they ask questions like "Are there lions walking on the streets in ur country?",Do u guys eat wt ur fingers all the time?", Do u know Victoria Secrets?", "Oh, u can speak fluent English!", "What's the official Language in Nigeria?", "Do u know what a web cam is?" and so many other questions!
But it's not their fault. The International Media NEVER show anything good that happens in Africa. They would rather concentrate on issues like War in Africa, Ethnic Clashes,Poor areas in Africa, Starvation, etc they will NEVER show u beautiful areas in Africa, always NEGATIVE, cos they don't want people to know how developing we are becoming.
A friend of mine showed me where he lived in Europe,so i asked him to check pictures of Lagos on the net, what he saw and sent to me brought tears to my eyes. So i decided to show those who are in interested in Nigeria some parts of Lagos(which is where i live).
Lagos is a beautiful City, we may not be as organised as other cities,but there are loads of fun here. The Night life is fantastic!
There are several Shopping Malls, Cinemas, 1 Theatre, 2 Stadia (but only one is functional), Bars, Pubs, Clubs, Restaurants,1 Federal University in Lagos(University of Lagos), Several Private Universities, Colleges of Education and Polytechnics, Amusement Park, Businesses.National Arts Theatre ,etc.
These are very few pics of Lagos State.
An Overview of Lagos.
The Protea.Link:http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-341360-protea_hotel_victoria-i;_ylt=AmKD0zjqf0mGDOwMAw_Vzu8J8b8F
The Sheraton. Link:http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-384466-sheraton_lagos_hotel_towers-i;_ylt=Ai2Tut0cJfDMxvzdajbO7FIJ8b8F
A swimming Pool Area. 
Broad Street,Lagos .
Marina, Lagos.
The Intercontinental House, Lagos.
The National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. 
Inside The Palms Shopping Mall.
The Outside View of the Palms Shopping Mall.
The SilverBird Galleria(Cinema).
Back View of the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.
The Reception Area of the Eko Hotel, Lagos.
The Sea View. 
Swimming Pool Area. 
Local Market in Lagos.
A view of Ajose Adeogun in Victoria Island.
The Eko Hotel.http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-394825-le_meridien_eko_hotel-i;_ylt=AvEV4BMUV0X.1k03_nsrThfiphQB
To Stevo, Greg and all those interested in knowing more about Nigeria,its people and culture, pls visit:http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/pictures.html
To Stevo, Greg and all those interested in knowing more about Nigeria,its people and culture, pls visit:http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/pictures.html
46 comments:
I somehow know I will love it in Nigeria when I go there. For more than one reasons ;)
Vera, thanks for the pics. Nigeria seems to be a beautiful country full of beautiful people. I can hardly wait to see it for myself. THE PHANTOM
@ Stevo. U will enjoy our country for more than one reason.
@ The Phantom. Ur welcome. Yes it is indeed beautiful. U will enjoy ur stay here a lot.
Welcome. Ekabo.
i saw these pics first on your sister's blog. shows nigeria in a good light
@ Chidi. Yes it does.
Vera,
Many of these westerners are very ignorant about the happenings in naija or africa as a whole, the only picture of africa in their minds is poverty and starvation etc,though. u won't believe this.. i was in new york city this feb/march and i met this african-american lady in her late 40s. we had few drinks and started chatting , i told her am from nigeria but based in UK..her question was.. oh nigeria? africa? i said yeah ..she said do we actually go about stark naked, do we ve snakes and scorpions crawling everywhere etc..do we ride on cars or camels, do we ve skycrappers in naija! like they have all over NY?!!!!:)))) i was dumbfounded! i later realized that she's so ignorant and needs serious tutorials on africa...she even told me that all her life she's never travelled out of new york talkless of outside US...the problem is that western media prefer to show d dark side of africa than d beautiful side, they derive joy in labelling all naijas as criminals, fraudsters etc...what can we do to change this perspective?
I won't pretend. This misconception has bugged me for years. A friend of mine actually transferred to a high school in US, and someone asked her if we live in trees?!
All those tourists and Discovery channel types do when they come here, is go straight to the villages, and nomad tribes, cos it's fascinating, and it looks adventurous. Is there a poster on an African country? It will depict some hungry child or some sad looking person on a bicycle or something.
We aren't the best industrially, but I think it's time we as Africans started creating some serious awareness, cos OBVIOUSLY, Westerners are no good at it.
@ tj the actor and onydchic. One of the reasons i actually started this blog was to educate the westerners on how Africa really is and how enlightened its people are but lost focus along the way.
I am usually very busy wt work,so find it a bit difficult to make indepth researches on certain things. I will work on that evevntually and concentrate on it. These people need to be eductaed.
Hello Vera! Thanks for those pictures you put up.. I'm very passionate about Nigeria and i tell my relatives who havn't been home in a while how much Lagos in particular has developed and how you can actually live the good life there... Your pictures have done all the talking, i needn't say more ;-)
i am a african american Thank U for this web site I can use the photos and refer my friends to look at the pictures & read the articles; I have been told stories about Africian Countries, when I was a boy but I educated my self, it just seemed right to me because I figure my great great gand parents who were slaves were not stupid, cause I was not, so it stood to reason they came from a place that is not stupid.
Of course we aint stupid even though that's how they portray us to be.
Yes, u can show it to your friends and i'm gonna update with new pictures soon cos, Lagos is transforming into a wonder city.
Lagos is a shithole stop showing one or two pics of the nice parts and show a proper representation of the city! Sick of nigerians and their pride/arrogance. If it's so great in Nigeria why are 50% of us abroad and the other 50% trying to get out?!?!?!?
And another rhing, the hotel pictures you have up are from the 70's!! Eko now looks like something out of a mad max movie. Sheraton is overun with rats and prostitutes! and the silverbird galleria is the only half decent cinema in the city! And even that is second rate compared to your local village odeon. Wake up and smell the coffee! Grrrr
U are just one bitter person who must have lived in squalor while u were in the country (that's if u are not still here). U need to get over ur rubbish attitude and ask ur family members(if u are truly outside the country) how Lagos is now.
Most roads have been refurbished and sides of various roads beautified with plants/flowers, better and more beautiful tall buildings now beautify most areas on the Island. Roads have been widened to create easy passage of vehicles, BRT buses now make travel easier within Lagos.
Lagos is a lot more beautiful than the pictures i have posted here. So ask ur family members, who perhaps live in Mushin or IyanaOba to come into town and see how beautiful the city really is.
Eko o ni baje!!!
You said it right Vera. I am sure this person really struggled to leave the country because of his or her poverty state. So i say sharaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap to that stupid unpatrotic Nigerian. come to Naija and see how beautiful Lagos is now. Bush person! Again i say sharaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!!!!!!!!!
Dear Vera,
Thanks for the pictures you posted.
But unfortunately is that is not the problem of Nigeria as a country.The problem of Nigeria is the huge damage scammers have done to that country.As a Nigerian living in United States I cry every day in my heart about the image Nigeria has overseas.I hear African Americans almost every day saying they are travelling to Africa and where in Africa, Ghana and some other smaller African countries.Do you know that about eighty percent of Americans and Europeans do not trust Nigeria as a country not to talk of its' people. And this is a shame.As they say, good name is better than riches.Ghana may be a smaller country and less rich than Nigeria, but it has more respect among the international community than Nigeria.Do not be deceived by those white people who would come to Nigeria, praising her to high heavens but in reality they are for what they can get,'crude oil.'
Yes Nigeria has money,nice places, and the most talented set of people in the world.But in the eyes of the outside world they are rogues,liars, scammers and this include the government officials,unfortunately. If you doubt me go to any international airport, and see how Nigeria officials are frisked at the port of entry.I dare say that this is the only country in the world where some of her government officials behave like people from the mediaval age.They come to United states and else where in the developed world and see how things are organized and they go back home, and they act as if they have never been to anywhere all their life.
And it makes me weep for my beloved country.
Let me stop here for today.
.
@ last anonymous: All u have said is true but...
tanx vera, sure appreciate ur blog. whatever anyone says about nigerians and nigeria doesnt change the fact that we a great people. we can't be wished away!!!
its high time they came to terms with that!
U're welcome. We can NEVER be wished away!
Charity the say begins at home,if you don't tell your story nobody will.I have been living in nothern canada for about 7 years,i'm shocked at the level of poverty among the natives.The huge drug problem among the poor and the youth,both white an non white.This is not the typical image the media portrays of live in canada.
This has helped me to realise how little self pride we have as a people.
Keep up the good work.
@ Ola, thx. I have uploaded new pictures of Lagos. Lagos looks a lot more beautiful each passing day!
Enjoy!
I am a Nigerian presently living in london as I do not appreciate the town which has ugly buildings. I have also lived in Paris which is beautiful but there is nothing great about all these countries as they discriminate alot. I travelled to lagos in 2006 and was highly dissapointed at the sight of lagos infact it has changed over the years. It appears the city is becoming worst and worst everyday. People have nowhere to throw away their rubbish as it is thrown on the road side. The roads are not repaired. These picture of what is shown of Lagos is not the real lagos as it is too shameful to show the real lagos. I could remember years back when I use to school at YWCA situated at Moloney it was a nice area but when I saw the site of moloney in the year 2006 I was really was disgusted . I said to myself"Why is the Government not maintaining the road it was a total disgust the old brazilian and colonial building have been replaced by modern buildings all for the sake of business and money most of the historical buildings that were built at the begining and in mid nineteenth century have been demolished. I visited places like Ebutte Metta which is no more what it use to be. I proceeded down to the Bar beach at Victoria Island and what did I sea feaces at one end of the beach as there are no toilets for the indigens to do there business. I could remember visiting a street a friend use to live at in victoria Island that was 14 years ago. On returning back to that street in 2006 the street has not been repaired, the garbagge piled up outside each individual building. Several days later I went to Onike near Queens college strolling along the road what use to be a clean road many years ago was littered by rubbish. I said lagos is no more lagos. The local government is not taking care of the streets. There is one particular alley I use to pass through when returning from my Secretarial school near Moloney has now become a become a dumping ground for rubbish, I just felt like vomitting. These areas I mentioned are the real lagos and not those stupid bloody pictures of some posh buildings at one corner. I could remember in the 2003 I travelled to Cairo, I was really impressed with the infrastrure which is one hundread times better than Lagos. I always thought Cairo to be a desert but it was not like that when I arrived there. I even took a stroll in the city of Cairo which is very nice in the late evenings as one can never be robbed this I cannot do in Lagos. Where the hell can you stroll in lagos.
Sorry, But those pictures are not the real Lagos. London is not an eldorado city especially in the south as there are some really horrible areas but the government makes an effort to keep it clean.
Stop showing off with those crap pictures of lagos and be realistic as it is to shameful to show the real Lagos.
Dear anonymous. Contrary to your long comment, Lagos is becoming a lot better than it used to be. The Lagos state government is working on all major roads,there are traffic lights almost everywhere(which are being obeyed),litter bins everywhere in Victoria Island and its environs, beautiful flowers planted on major roads, beautiful foot bridges at designated points, beautiful-world class buildings are been erected here and there by private individuals. ALL streets in Lagos now have street boards that tells you which street you are in etc. Lagos has improved from the last time you were here up till now. Ask your family members who live here, they will testify to that.
The pictures on my blog are all pictures of Lagos. There are even more beautiful ones, but I haven't had time to upload them.
Cheers!
Noone deserves greaterv commendation from Governor Fashola and President YarAdua than Vera Ikeji.
Great Job Madam.
VERA'S MSG IS NOT COMPLEX AT ALL.
Lagos was once a beeyootiful place but it fell apart over the yrs. Now the governor wants to restore its past glory and even make it better than it ever was. If that can't be commended then what can?
@ all you Anonymous(es)If u left Nigeria solely because the streets were dirty and there was huge pile of rubbish then you are a loser cos rubbish is rubbish everywhere in the world and there are a dozen parks where your royal restlessness can take a walk.
P.S: Start packing up ur stuff bro,cos u will be headed back soon enuff.
Cheers.
Not sure if you have ever traveled outside of Lagos, but I can assure you the place is a major dump. I have never seen such a mess. Nor have I been in a place where people are so quick to rob / scam you. I for one will never return to this health hazard of a place nor advise any one else to. You can keep your Crude Oil
Many tnx sis. I leave in Lagos and 4 sure Lagos is transforming 2 somtin good.Those who claim 2 leave in heaven on earth shud rmber that those places bcame developd overtime.They shud also rmber dat dia so said paradise also ve slums 2 and hw are we sure dat dia nt leaving in a slum in dia paradise cos 4 sure dia paupers wiaeva dia leaving.Jst like d popular adage goes,"Rome was nt biult in a day".More greese 2 ur elbow Vera.
Many tnx sis. I leave in Lagos and 4 sure Lagos is transforming 2 somtin good.Those who claim 2 leave in heaven on earth shud rmber that those places bcame developd overtime.They shud also rmber dat dia so said paradise also ve slums 2 and hw are we sure dat dia nt leaving in a slum in dia paradise cos 4 sure dia paupers wiaeva dia leaving.Jst like d popular adage goes,"Rome was nt biult in a day".More greese 2 ur elbow Vera.
Many tnx sis. I leave in Lagos and 4 sure Lagos is transforming 2 somtin good.Those who claim 2 leave in heaven on earth shud rmber that those places bcame developd overtime.They shud also rmber dat dia so said paradise also ve slums 2 and hw are we sure dat dia nt leaving in a slum in dia paradise cos 4 sure dia paupers wiaeva dia leaving.Jst like d popular adage goes,"Rome was nt biult in a day".More greese 2 ur elbow Vera.
Many tnx sis. I leave in Lagos and 4 sure Lagos is transforming 2 somtin good.Those who claim 2 leave in heaven on earth shud rmber that those places bcame developd overtime.They shud also rmber dat dia so said paradise also ve slums 2 and hw are we sure dat dia nt leaving in a slum in dia paradise cos 4 sure dia paupers wiaeva dia leaving.Jst like d popular adage goes,"Rome was nt biult in a day".More greese 2 ur elbow Vera.
Many tnx sis. I leave in Lagos and 4 sure Lagos is transforming 2 somtin good.Those who claim 2 leave in heaven on earth shud rmber that those places bcame developd overtime.They shud also rmber dat dia so said paradise also ve slums 2 and hw are we sure dat dia nt leaving in a slum in dia paradise cos 4 sure dia paupers wiaeva dia leaving.Jst like d popular adage goes,"Rome was nt biult in a day".More greese 2 ur elbow Vera.
Many tnx sis. I leave in Lagos and 4 sure Lagos is transforming 2 somtin good.Those who claim 2 leave in heaven on earth shud rmber that those places bcame developd overtime.They shud also rmber dat dia so said paradise also ve slums 2 and hw are we sure dat dia nt leaving in a slum in dia paradise cos 4 sure dia paupers wiaeva dia leaving.Jst like d popular adage goes,"Rome was nt biult in a day".More greese 2 ur elbow Vera.
Well said Oche. Thanks.
I have new pictures of Lagos, it's at the top of my blog. Just click on this link http://www.veraikeji.blogspot.com/ and scroll down or click on http://veraikeji.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-pictures-of-lagos-nigeria.html and it will take u straight to the new pics of Lagos, which I am sure u have already seen since u live there.
You guys are just plain simple, you out here bragging that there is only 2 stadia in lagos and 1 of them is not functional, are you winding me up? in a city of 10 million people, just one stadium, and you are proud of that, its people like you that destroy africa and africans, people like you don't think, nothing works in that country, most things are uncivilised, including our actions, i do not need the danm media to tell me that, because i know it, ive seen it, i have lived in nigeria and i am a nigerian , and i know there is a lot that needs to be done before we can even think to compare our country to more developed countries, so do not start a bandwagon of fake patriotism, and i know what your gonna say, you will say its because we do not have the money, i know that, but we can do alot of things without money, i.e city planing, building code(building resemblance in a particular area, like you see in other countries, we can also build a refinery so we would not give 75% of our petroleum revenue to BP, have you thought about that, that 75% revenue could be the kind of stimulus that we might need to start other industries, like Computing, Science and research, space exploration, housing, agriculture. on my last note, if a people need a lot of things, and they can't find them in thier country, that country is not yet civilised and also, your lack of integrity and ignorance by implying that people of mushin and iyana oba just shows your arrogance. you started this blog to claim africa is civilised, and now you are implying that a certain area that is in lagos, in nigeria, in africa, and 100% of its inhabitant are Nigerians are somewhat inferior. think about it
do not say EKO O NI BAJE
say EKO A DA LOPO
( I have used harsh words, but none was offensive)
(I am 100% Nigerian, and i am a patriot, so let no one tell me that i am not supporting my country, because the truth is the truth)
If you were a true Nigerian you would have used your name to leave this stupid comment. Vera, there is no need to respond to people who dont know who they are thus have no identity.
Eko o ni baje.
Wow you sound like ABACHA
well of course, people like you would re elect him if he were still alive, you did for obasanjo
Why do you need my name, so you can cast a spell on me, you can go to ****, another stupid Nigerian attitude, you can't even fulfill the fundamental right of someone who wishes to remain anonymous. so go on keep on destroying Nigeria & Africa with your mindless Brain, and when did i give the impression that i dont know who i am, is it when i said i am 100% Nigerian, what more do you want me to do, paint my face green and wear a white shirt all the time, my dear Onyeka pray to God to have mercy on your lack of respect, and mind you i run debates around london about developing Nigeria and Africa, and a lot of people respond and appreciate because the see sense in it, and they are also 100% Nigerians, im not seeking Glory from westerners, i am seeking comfort and life for all Nigerians.
and because your family are probably on of the corrupt people out there scraping the economy into thier pockets does'not mean you should not have common sense
Have a good Day, and do not reply if you have nothing good to say
And also in a true democracy, you respond to everyone, and every mind, because it is a in the common interest of all the people
EKO A DARA LOPO
GOD BLESS NIGERIA
100% NIGERIAN
100% PATRIOT
Hi Vera,
Thanks for these shots. I am looking to use one of them - a view of the Island- for publication in the OPEC diary of 2010. If this is okay by you, could please reply me via my email uagoawike@opec.org or call me at +43121112380. And we will need it in a higher resolution of at least 200dpi but preferably 300. Thank you and looking forward to speaking or reading from you. My name is Angela
Do you have copy writer for so good articles? If so please give me contacts, because this really rocks! :)
Hi Vera, thanks for uploading these wonderful pictures. Lagos has even grown more beautiful than this and the Governor is sure working round the clock to restore the city back to her old state. To the idiots claiming to be patriotic and spitting cowdung out of their mouths, its understandable. They have been brainwashed by their oyinbo bosses and are content with being second class citizens wherever they are. What they dont know is if you dont know is no matter how many years you spend abroad you are still a 2nd class citizen and nothing would make you as british as a real british or as american as a real american. Not with the stipends you earn or the forced accent you speak with. Let them continue living in their fool's paradise while the rest of do what we can to restore Nigeria and Africa back to the good, old days.
@ bzique and Onyeka, thanks a lot. I would have responded a lot sooner but just read your comments.
@ Anonymous that kept saying sh@#, keep saying your sh@#, I am not gonna deem it fit with an answer.
@ Angela, you are welcome to use any picture you want. I am sure you already have cos you left this
comment in '09, lol. Sorry for the late response, lol.
@ The last Anon who left a comment on Feb 2nd, 2011. Thanks for your comment!
Great Photograph
Hi Vera. Good job. Please i will be grateful if you let me use some of the images (National Theatre & Marina) on my website. My email is bolaworknet@gmail.com.
Kindly respond.
Go ahead Bola, I already sent a message to your email.
I enjoyed this, great stuff! Stop by and say hi sometime windermere hotels
Hi, the reason I am visiting this blog today is that I heard about the bombings in Nigeria over the Chrismas. God rest those poor souls. They fell victim of the current socio-political situation in Nigeria. It has always been like this or is it getting better? In my opinion Lagos is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Tell me in all honesty, if you had a chance to immigrate, would you do that?
Thanks
Ilya, Toronto
Hi Vera,
Wonderfull blog, and very informational.
Yes, probably i am one of those "dumb" foreigners ;)
Thanks for the eye-opener!
Regards,
Raymond
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