Trip to Lagos, Nigeria

Now for the blog on my trip. Lagos clocks in as one the very largest cities in the world. Set on the sea, it is home to 16 million people and by 2025 it is predicted to be the largest city in the world. That said, it is the most crowded, pollution riddled, foulest smelling place that I have seen. If you have seen views of the worst parts of Bombay then you can visualize this spot. I saw not one blade of grass or sidewalk anywhere. This urban sprawl obviously is sans any plan. Even from the air you can see that all hovels are cobbled together with no spacing for miles and miles. Add to that the thousands of motorbikes that stream at you as you walk and you do not get a pretty picture. At night there are no streetlights so these bikes and minicars dodge around you endlessly.

My meetings were all positive and my hosts were gracious and much was accomplished. By the way, Lagos is home to the third largest film industry behind only the U.S. and India. Here they call it Nollywood.

After my meetings I was taken to an excellent Chinese Rest. run by a Vietnamese family. I took a pic of the outside all lit up and in the middle of the downtown. This food was maybe the best Chinese food I have had. Of course after all the fish that I have stared at while eating them might have expanded my taste buds for a different meal.

Also, there are chronic power shortages and an obviously poor infrastructure. The power went totally out at least 5 times last night and twice in the morning. Then, after a few minutes, it all starts up again. I am glad to be back in Accra.