Most young and fresh career persons working in Lagos State will have to face the challenges of having to pursue their careers in this town without a car of their own. Also even as Lagos state Government is looking at improving the public transport system in order to reduce the number of private cars on the road as a strategy for minimizing traffic, you must learn how to deal with the uncertainties and the obvious experiences that the street have to offer.

I have encountered, on numerous occasions, persons who have allowed the fact that they do not have a car, take a toll on their professional lives. If you don’t handle this stage of your career life properly, it has the capacity of affecting your personal finances, image, psyche and ultimately, your productivity.

So, today, I will be sharing some tips that can help you cope in Lagos city without a private car.

Transportation Cost
Lagos State is famous for its high cost of transportation; but, the truth is that, you can cut down on what you spend on transportation if you become more aware of your environment. I can remember vividly when I relocated to Lagos, I spent exactly #750 daily on transportation cost alone going to work. It was eating deep into my monthly take home, so I had no option but to shine my eyes wella. Like one of my friends will always say, “I no come Lagos come count bridge”, so I had to become more ruthless with my finances, and I also increased my street awareness. This brought down the transportation cost to just #300 daily.
Please guys, let’s use our heads. Unlike the ladies, no matter how long we stand at that bus-stop, no one is going to give us a lift until the next solar eclipse. So we must be street smart and prudent in spending as regards our movement. Take advantage of the BRT services and the ‘molues’. They are cost effective. Don’t use bikes unnecessarily. Try walking some distance especially after work. It is good for our health ok. *winks*

Uber or any other private taxi services is also a good alternative if you must maintain a certain image.

Public Conduct
Before your ride arrives, it is important you conduct yourself properly in the public for a better image and security reasons. Ensure, you use the pedestrian bridge where ever it is provided instead of crossing the highway. Even if you won’t use the pedestrian bridge because it is the civil thing to do, use it to avoid being a prey for the scavenging eyes of the men in uniform. Those KAI guys can really make your day start on a bad note and you don’t want that. Even though I learnt that they have been assigned a new job in waste management but make use of the bridge still. It is safer.

Secondly, avoid sitting on the aisle in the BRT. This way, you reduce the chances of other passengers messing up your clothes with their luggage and stamping the hell out of your shoes. While the seat by the window is most preferable, remember not take phone calls with your hand that is by the window to avoid stories that touch.

Finally, reduce the rate at which you eat in a public transport or in the street.

Clean-up Kit
For those of us who work in a more professional environment that requires you to always appear cool, calm and calculated, it is important that we acquire a handy clean up kit that will enable us maintain that cutting edge professional image. Most ladies already know this, but carrying a mini clean-up kit is not an exclusive reserve for the female folks. Guys, we also need the clean-up kit.
There is no excuse for showing up untidy to work or before a prospective clients for the guys in the field. By the time you are done jumping from one BRT to another Danfo, then to one ‘Marwa’ (Keke Napep), you will realize that you are no longer looking your best.

So for the guys, I will suggest that we arm ourselves with a simple clean up kit that will consist of a face towel for keeping our face dry and dust-free, a spare handkerchief for dusting our shoes, a hair brush or a comb, a powder and a cologne for maintaining that fresh aura.

You know how it is, when you leave your house in the morning smelling and looking good, but then you have to pass through an area where some boys will bath you with the smoke of their Indian hemp; or you find yourself having to deal with areas along your route that produces a very strong stench from undisposed waste. Even when you finally board a vehicle to your destination, one ‘Iya Abike’ will also board the same vehicle with her carton of Fresh Fish to complete the deformation process. By the time you get to your destination, you can’t even tell what you are smelling of. This will affect your confidence level and ultimately your productivity. A simple clean up kit will be handy in this situation.

Use your bag and free up your pockets
It is not proper to keep your pant pockets too busy. Things like your wallet, extra phones, ear piece, handkerchief, money and your key should be kept in your bag. It helps you to be more coordinated and more aware of yourself. Having most of this things in your back pocket or breast pocket makes you look tardy and also vulnerable to theft, loss or damage of your properties.

Remember, the idea is for you to be at your best always, and make the most of what you have at the moment. Cherish the moments you have to work without your own ride. Don’t allow your professionalism, competency or productivity to be questioned because you don’t have a car yet.

https://www.discoverlagoscity.com/cope-lagos-professional-without-car/

Depression will finish u

My great space booking skills still haven't landed me FTC......Na wa oo

Nice info.

I'd be back

those days wey i dey enta bus from iyana ipaja to VI chai. if u wear white, ur cloth go don stain, what of when rain start when u still dey bus stop.

Lagos palaver, no be small thing abeg. What a city!

yeyerolling:
those days wey i dey enta bus from iyana ipaja to VI chai. if u wear white, ur cloth go don stain, what of when rain start when u still dey bus stop.

I still do my brother. You see, mine is farther than Iyana-Ipaja. You know where it gets worse, I am a lawyer and I have to wear white shirts every working day of the week. It is a daily struggle to keep my white clean. I shake my head each day I get back home, I trust God will do something soon anyway.

Nice one.

josh001:
I still do my brother.

if 6.30 meet u for there pere on a monday, just know ur day is Fuked already, all those white buses go don vanish

I can't drive in Lagos

How were you able to reduce your #750 transportfare to #300 without getting late to work ?

That's the only thing that caught my attention as far as i'm concerned the rest are myths

Vanillaskin:
I can't drive in Lagos

More like: you don't have a car.

if you relocate from Abuja to Lagos ehn Na then u go know say life dey inside life

Nnaeb you forgot to add...

- Leaving early to avoid rush hour and a hike in transportation cost

- Learning alternate routes that would get you to your destination on time and with less traffic

- Tagging along with colleagues going your way

- Find you paddies that work close to your area

- Make friends with the Saint who finally stopped to pick you up on that day of solar eclipse (for the guyz)

- Find a group of people going your way, get an uber and split the bill

- Save up and get an accommodation close to work

Lagos life oo

YOU CAN RIDE CAMEL TO SAVE COST

josh001:

I still do my brother. You see, mine is farther than Iyana-Ipaja. You know where it gets worse, I am a lawyer and I have to wear white shirts every working day of the week. It is a daily struggle to keep my white clean. I shake my head each day I get back home, I trust God will do something soon anyway.

lagos husstle

josh001:

I still do my brother. You see, mine is farther than Iyana-Ipaja. You know where it gets worse, I am a lawyer and I have to wear white shirts every working day of the week. It is a daily struggle to keep my white clean. I shake my head each day I get back home, I trust God will do something soon anyway.

Amen , my learned colleague , we are together on this .
God will work things out pretty soon.

Message not conveyed

Lagos. You can decide to be trekking to work op. It's the best exercise. Forever young.

People working and staying in lagos are really trying

Am free from public transport...thank God

yeyerolling:
if 6.30 meet u for there pere on a monday, just know ur day is Fuked already, all those white buses go don vanish

You're describing me there!
I have to leave home by 5am everyday so as to get to Gate B/Stop and hop into those 'white' buses. Otherwise, you'll spend more and get late to work.

josh001:

I still do my brother. You see, mine is farther than Iyana-Ipaja. You know where it gets worse, I am a lawyer and I have to wear white shirts every working day of the week. It is a daily struggle to keep my white clean. I shake my head each day I get back home, I trust God will do something soon anyway.

Go with your spare white shirt in a bag while you wear street cloth. Same for shoe, wear street shoe and change when you get to work. In those days I kept a permanent jacket in the office

Also avoid okada unless it is absolutely necessary because they are more expensive than buses and keke.
Check your route well and consult with people plying your route in other to get tips on cheap transport or alternative routes

Must you use all your dirty mouth to talk....Show small courtesy...Haba