Oyinda Loves Books

Happy New Year!!!

In a previous post I discussed the chaos that’s Lagos and how it basically sucks the life out of you. One of the most notable (and worst) things about Lagos is the traffic jam aka go slow aka hold up. It’s a real menace, but it just might be fascinating in itself. Trust Lagos people to maximize every opportunity to make money, and sell in every type of traffic. Commerce in Lagos should be the 8th wonder of the world, because it’s mind boggling.

You can buy, build, and totally furnish a house during traffic for a long commute in Lagos, no jokes. One time my daddy was pricing parrots inside Lagos traffic LMAO. Here is a (short, actually) list of things you can buy in Lagos traffic:

All types of food

Snacks, cooked food, fruits, water, soda, malt, and even vegetables and soup ingredients inside holdup LMAO. It’s not unusual to see people hawking snacks and drinks in traffic (gala, chips, biscuits, coke, water, malt). Now, there’s practically a market inside hold up. Apple sellers, grape sellers, people with tomatoes and cabbages, e remain small them go dey sell pot and gas cylinder. It’s really crazy.

Games

What type of game are you looking for? Just name it. Ayo, Scrabble, Chess, Monopoly, skipping rope – you’ll find everything around that Maryland-Ikorodu-Ikeja side. Even this water bubble game, you’ll find it inside hold up.

Stuffed toys

Teddy bears, stuffed dogs, stuffed pets shaa. You’ll find everything in Lagos traffic. Just last Saturday, I was seriously tempted to buy one for my sister LOL.

Chargers and phone accessories

I think this is pretty common. People walking around Lagos roads and inside hold up peddling car chargers, phone chargers, phone cases, phone stickers, earpiece, and whatever else you can think of.

Pets

I kid you not, you can buy pets inside Lagos hold up. When I was younger, my dad took me and my siblings out and we were stuck in traffic on our way back, and this man was selling parrots. My dad stopped him and was pricing parrots. He didn’t buy that day, but years later, when I came home from school, I met two parrots in our house – Rex and Max. They both died sha (RIP Rex and Max).

Toilet seat covers

Lol yes you read that right – toilet seat covers. You can get them in Lagos hold up if you’re stuck on the right road at the right time. They’re available in different colors, patterns, designs, materials, you name it.

Books

No kind book wey you no fit see for inside Lagos hold up. Na Bible you want? E dey! Newspaper and magazine? Dem get am! Story book? E boku. Daily Manna, Akpos jokes, Tolu and His Wicked Stepmother? Everything dey road. LMFAO.

Movies and albums

Piracy is such a joke in this Nigeria because if there were actual laws and enforcement, there shouldn’t be pirated movies and albums being sold on the fucking road but ALAS!!! From latest movies to movies that have been around for a while, to albums from Nigerian and foreign artistes alike.

Beauty and fashion products

Hair brushes, mirrors, perfumes, powders, and so on and so forth… yup, you can get them all inside Lagos traffic. Again, you can find any and every thing inside Lagos traffic as long as you are stuck on the right road at the right time.

Car accessories

You can also get lots of accessories for your car inside Lagos traffic. You can get car stickers, air fresheners, and these cute little things to hang in your car (idk the name).

What are the craziest things you’ve seen being hawked in Lagos traffic? Let me know in the comment section. If you enjoyed reading this, then check out my other Lagos posts.

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Have an amazing 2019 guys!