The Lagos rainy season is back, and with it comes a familiar and chaotic rhythm. One minute you’re enjoying the cool breeze, and the next, you’re navigating flooded streets to get to work or get home, and debating if your car is actually a boat. It’s a season of survival, comedy, and, naturally, endless complaints. If you’ve spent any time in this city, you know that the rain dictates how we live, work, and move.
Here are 10 things every Lagosian has completely normalised during the rainy season.
1. Paying Double for Uber
A trip that normally costs ₦5,000 suddenly becomes ₦25,000. And that’s if you even find a driver willing to come to your area. The painful part is that you can’t even blame them because who wants to sacrifice their car to the gods of Lagos flooding?
Even Danfo drivers and keke riders adjust their prices like the rain is an indication for sudden wealth.
2. Transport Becoming Non-Existent
Infact, forget the price, sometimes the problem is even finding transport to start with. Once the rain starts, public transport disappears. Some drivers just park somewhere while you struggle in queues.
It’s almost like movement comes to a standstill in Lagos.
3. Flood Videos Becoming Entertainment
The moment rain starts, everybody turns into Channels TV. Flooded roads, floating cars and videos of people swimming in Lekki become premium entertainment. Everybody is reporting live flooding from Agungi, Ajah, Ikate.
Half the videos are from three years ago, but nobody cares. We must complain again.
4. Funding Their Mechanics’ Lifestyle
Your mechanic is singing “the lifestyle cost na you no know” but really you know because you’re the one funding it.
Rainy season is testimony season for mechanics. The moment the first serious rainfall starts, all mechanics in Lagos begin rejoicing because suddenly everyone’s car dashboard lights up like mainland club lights.
Especially if you live in Lekki.
5. Event Organisers Preparing for the Worst
Nobody panics during the rainy season more than event planners and organisers. Weather apps themselves cannot stand up to the unpredictability of Lagos rain.
And if you’re planning an outdoor event, may the Lord be with you.
6. Going to Work Soaked and Pretending Everything Is Fine
9-5ers can relate to this one. Everyone arrives at the office looking like survivors from an apocalypse movie. Work continues normally, but not before everyone shares stories of braving the rain like a group therapy session.
Some people even turn it into a competition over who suffered the most getting to work. Who trekked, abandoned their car, entered three buses, took one way or practically hopped on a boat just to make it to the office.
Even HR has a story.
7. Cars Turning Into Boats
Looks like every car in Lagos has doubled as a boat at least once in its lifetime. One heavy rainfall and your Camry suddenly discovers powers it never knew it had.
At that point, you have to decide whether you’re taking a swim or becoming besties with your mechanic for another three months.
8. Learning New Potholes
Lagos drivers already know where the potholes are. But after every rainfall, new potholes are unveiled the way Samuel Banks unlocks a new character every three market days.
Now you have to update your mental map and memorise the fresh potholes that the rain has revealed.
It’s a special skill every Lagos driver possesses.
9. Raising Furniture Instead of Moving Houses
People in Agungi, Ikate, Osapa, Kusenla and other flood-prone areas already know the drill. Once there’s a sign of rain, every valuable in the house must be immediately elevated.
Electronics, mattresses, generators but will they relocate? Never.
Next rainy season, they will complain again.
10. Mainland People Start Feeling Superior Again
For anyone living on the mainland, rainy season is their World Cup. After spending the rest of the year hating on island people while they talk about waterfront living, mainland people finally get their revenge.
Suddenly, everybody is posting “can’t relate” and talking about how Lekki rent is not worth it.
And for a brief moment, mainland becomes cool again.
