From Traffic Terrors to Hustle Culture, Why Lagosians Keep Moving and What They Are Really Chasing Everyday

 

A visitor arriving in Lagos for the first time is often struck by a peculiar rhythm that defines the city. People seem to move as though a whistle has been blown and a race has begun. Whether dawn is just breaking or the evening sky is darkening, the movement is constant and urgent. It is not simply a matter of style or habit. The pace is a product of survival, competition and a culture that treats slowness as a costly weakness.

The city holds over twenty million people within its sprawling boundaries, making it one of Africa’s most crowded urban spaces. With such a massive population fighting for the same jobs, the same buses, the same food stalls and even the same parking spaces, hesitation is an unaffordable luxury. Being a step ahead of the next person can make the difference between getting to work on time and losing half a day’s wages. For many, speed is not a choice. It is the unwritten rule of daily life.

No other factor pushes the Lagosian pace quite like the traffic. Residents speak of “go-slow” with the same dread others reserve for storms or earthquakes. The difference between leaving home at six in the morning and eight can be the difference between a short commute and three hours of crawling along gridlocked roads. Many have learned the hard way that punctuality is not about keeping appointments. It is about avoiding the city’s unpredictable transport chokeholds. This has created what locals jokingly call panic punctuality, a habit of leaving far earlier than necessary just to avoid being trapped.

Work culture in Lagos also fuels this perpetual hurry. The average resident is rarely sustained by a single job. A banker might run an online store in the evenings. A civil servant might take passengers on a ride-hailing app after office hours. The gig economy is not a trend here but a necessity, and with each additional income stream comes another set of deadlines, customers and obligations. For those trying to keep a household afloat in one of Nigeria’s most expensive cities, every minute of the day carries potential value. Standing still too long feels like leaving money on the table.

Opportunity in Lagos often arrives without warning. A call from an important contact, a sudden availability for a business meeting, or news of a scarce product in the market can appear at any moment. Missing the timing on such opportunities can mean waiting weeks or even months for another chance. This reality keeps people mentally and physically primed for action. The city rewards readiness and punishes delay.

There is also a cultural element that cannot be ignored. In many circles, being busy is not only admired but expected. The sight of someone moving quickly through the streets suggests they are on important business. Walking slowly can invite assumptions of idleness or lack of ambition. Some residents will quicken their step even without a pressing destination, simply to project a sense of purpose.

The daily schedule in Lagos is relentless. Parents are dropping children at school before sunrise. Workers are navigating crowded bus parks or ride-hailing pick-up points before most cities are awake. Markets open early, and prices can climb sharply as the day progresses, making it wise to shop before noon. Religious gatherings, from early morning prayers to late-night vigils, also structure the day into tight segments. For many, lateness means losing a spot, missing a blessing or finding locked doors.

The destinations are as varied as the people. Some are making the epic journey from the mainland to the island for work, a trip that can swallow hours each way. Others are chasing customers, deliveries or appointments that keep them zigzagging across the metropolis. Many are simply trying to stay ahead of rising prices, long queues or the next traffic jam. In a sense, the rush is not just toward something tangible. It is equally a rush away from the frustration of scarcity, congestion and delay.

The speed of Lagos can feel exhausting to an outsider. Yet to those who call it home, it is as natural as the humid air and the sound of car horns in the distance. Moving fast is not about impatience or aggression. It is about adapting to a city that rewards the quick and punishes the slow. The next time a stranger brushes past with a brisk “excuse me,” it may not be personal. It is simply the Lagos rhythm at full volume.

For anyone planning to walk the streets of Nigeria’s commercial capital, it might be wise to tighten your shoelaces before stepping out. In this city, the race is never over. 

*written by DGT!