The lodge I used to live in before returning to Lagos State wasn’t an ideal environment for me. It wasn’t always that way, though. When I first moved in, it was just perfect. It was a safe neighborhood with sensible neighbors. The only downside was the floods that we suffered when it rained, and the occasional epileptic network. However, every other thing could be relied on.
The lodge itself was clean, we had friendly neighbors, and there was always water available. Even by midnight, people could be seen going around the area, which was to tell you just how safe it was. That place was just awesome, and it was the only reason I stayed for as long as I did. However, my last year there ended up being the opposite of what I had come to expect from the area, making it very unhealthy!
Every year, each lodge gets a new intake of tenants, while some old ones move on to other lodges. This means that in a particular area, there can be a large influx of new people every year. However, in 2024, for some reason, we seemed to have the worst batch of new tenants. There were more Yahoo Boys around, hook-up girls, cultists, and touts.
Suddenly, the place wasn’t as safe and quiet as it used to be. Late in the night, someone could be blasting music for the entire street. And when you tell them to reduce the volume, they’ll be hostile to you. Even the indigenes couldn’t help matters. At all hours of the day, you can smell the foul odor of weed because many people smoke it as if their lives depend on it. At a point, it was no longer something to be done in private; they were openly doing it. Passing it around like it was a piece of candy.
When you walk through the streets at night, all you’ll see are young boys standing in clusters, speaking in whispers. Some would be playing music through MP3 speakers while laughing and being a nuisance. Even the ladies are not left out, because we’ll find so many of them at our junctions, scantily dressed. It was as if the area had suddenly become a menace.
And sadly, this started bringing the wrong kind of attention; Police. At odd hours of the night, lodges in our area were raided. In 2024 alone, our lodge was raided multiple times that I could count. And before that, the lodge had never been raided by the police. Not even a single visit. Imagine sleeping at night, and suddenly, these guys are going from room to room, banging on doors because they want to look for exhibits? It’s always crazy, because it made me paranoid as well.
I started to behave like them. Whenever I was on the street, I learned to be sharp. Every black sienna, or black shuttle bus that I saw on the road sent chills down my spine because it could be the Police. A simple arrest, whether you’re guilty or not, could cost you nothing less than N30k. And if contrabands are found in your possession, it’ll definitely be worse! I had serious PTSD from these guys.
And since I returned to Lagos, I’ve only encountered the Police once, and that was during a routine traffic stop on the road. Maybe that is because I rarely go out. But I’ve not heard Police Officers banging on my door, or the doors of my neighbors since I returned here. I know that this is in part to where I currently am, but then that also ties in to the gist of this topic.
My idea of a healthy environment is one where I can be free and be allowed to be myself. I can think clearly, work, and also be safe. I don’t want to be scared of robbers, and also be scared of having my door kicked down by cops. So, anywhere where I can be mentally and physically relaxed is good for me. This is why when I’m looking for a place of my own, I’m not going to be in a place teeming with young guys. That will always be a magnet for trouble. However, a place with young couples and young families would be better. At least, they would have better values to impact.
Honestly, it’s not easy. However, once you find a good place, growth will not be hard to come around. After all, that’s what everyone is after, right? I just want some peace!
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