EXPENSIVE.

I thought Kenya was expensive until I made my way to Lagos. My friend has decided ahead to take me out for a sushi dinner on the Friday when I am here and told me that the dinner with cost between the range of 8000 to 10,000 Naira (Nigerian Currency). I almost fainted when I did the conversion to USD. The dinner could cost up to 75 USD.

For a normal meal, it usually cost about 2000 to 2500 Naira. A walk down the aisle of Goodies (Supermarket which the driver took me to) give me quite a good view on the cost of living here.

Shopping list:
200gm of Turkey ham 1,287 Naira (~ 9.70 USD)
100 gm of Cheddar cheese 85 Naira (~ 0.60 usd)
Four Burger Bread 400 Naira (~ 3 usd)
A can of Soda 250 Naira (~1.90 usd)
Imported Sardine 490 Naira (~3.70 USD)

The story I heard about being escorted in a convoy from the airport seems to be a myth now as this cease to be the case. The street is busy with cars and I simply can't imagine if any hijack can happen under such circumstances. I don't doubt that the crime rate is still high but I simply can't imagine. Like a colleague of mine said, Lagos is almost similar to Jakarta (minus the modern shopping malls that spring up like mushroom in Jakarta). Where I am now, is far from what the news channel broadcasted. No AK 47, no rowdy soldiers and no violent crowd.