Amidst reports that IShowSpeed (aka Speed) has left Nigeria and couldn’t stream on his second day here, we talk about the ‘megacity’ that’s Lagos. While we may want to solely blame the government for living conditions in Lagos, it is everyone’s fault; both the government and the inhabitants of the city.
I watched with envy as YouTuber IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins) explored the beauty in other African countries—seas, mountains, animals, and authentic culture—but when he came to Nigeria, I wanted to hide my head in shame. I wondered, what does Lagos actually have to show for itself as a megacity? I know: clubs, beach parties, and overbearing content creators.
Some of whom are angry with him for not collaborating with them *Coughs* Peller. Speed had to address the criticism by saying his plan was to meet the local performers and the people in the community, not people who are looking for a platform. 
His meeting with Egungun of Lagos was embarrassing enough; Egungun was shocked that a 21-year-old looked fit. I can’t imagine the mess the meeting with Peller would have been.
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If Speed’s mission was to show the beauty of Nigeria, then Lagos was the wrong place to visit. The lush greenery in Cross River, the dunes in Yobe, the waterfalls in Osun, and many more are the places where he could have experienced real culture. Let’s even forget any hope of seeing any wildlife, because Nigerians are famous for killing and eating any and every animal they see.
Even Africa’s largest floating slum, Makoko, was recently destroyed. Lagos is for expensive real estate, not for the masses and not for nature or wildlife.
But Lagos is not as dreadful as I am making it seem. Apart from the unbearable heat, the noise pollution, the stench that comes from indiscriminate waste disposal and public urination, the traffic, the sporadic and irregular power supply, the rickety buses, and so on.
Speed hung out with fellow streamers, content creators, dancers and the Nigerian man famous for breaking a block of cement on his head, but it was all an embarrassing watch, especially when compared to other countries.
Are clubs and parties all there is to Lagos? Hell No. There’s Lekki Conservation Centre, Lakowe Lakes, museums, numerous beaches, and water parks; but no, they couldn’t show him those. At least, he went to Nike Art Gallery, so that’s good.
Then there was the embarrassing spectacle where everyone on the streets was begging him for money. They wanted to be thrown wads of cash. Even I, who am not a millionaire yet, have had a child almost tear my clothes as she begged for money, not to mention the random person at the bus stop asking me for transport money. Poverty and entitlement are rife because the cost of living in Lagos is high.
For a megacity, Lagos is definitely giving “scam vibes”. If I went to Tokyo, Japan, or Shanghai, China, or even Cape Town, South Africa, I could have a culturally enriching experience that’s still quite aesthetically pleasing. But if you are not in love with wild parties, you need to meet a true Lagosian to show you the beauty outside the noise.
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