I was having a chat with my neighbor who traveled to Ibadan last weekend, and she said so many things that made me thought about leaving Lagos again, the land of opportunities, like many people refer to forgetting the exhaustion part of the city.
Living in Lagos is actually a dream for many people who haven't been here before, but there is actually no big deal about Lagos. There are opportunities really that require money or connection to grab, but many people who dream of Lagos every time do not understand that living here can be very expensive.
I have spent about 28 years in this city, and it has always been exhausting, right from childhood till this very minute. There have been a lot of upgrades really, but they don't come cheap if we are being realistic with ourselves.
Let's take, for instance, the recent development in my community. Recently, a road project was completed here, and it would be interesting to know that this project has influenced so many things in the community. A two-bedroom flat that was between 350- 450k depending on the house features has increased to 600k and above. The price of shops has escalated, which automatically influences the price of things.
One way or the other, the city is always exhausting, and it's tiring. You claim that there is more money in the city, but don't forget that the bills here aren't smiling either.
I was in a part Osun State some years ago, and it was purely a village. There weren't big companies or attractive spots there, but life was a lot easier there.
There was a 23-year-old guy who rode a bike to earn a living, and surprisingly, he owns a house. I couldn't resist the urge to speak to him, and I did immediately when the opportunity came. From our conversation, he said life is a lot easier for him in Osun State. He barely buys food since he grows different types of crops and vegetables; he got land a lot cheaper, and he saves money for his house construction from his little earnings.
I compared his earnings to mine back then and just couldn't stop laughing because I earn more than twice as much as this guy, but after paying my monthly bill, removing transportation, and feeding, there is always little left.
In the rural settlement, there isn't much money, truly, but your bills are minimal. You won't pay for city standards in the rural settlement, and that's fair because, beyond the financial situation, there are a lot of benefits to staying in the rural settlement.
As someone who plans to completely live a sustainable lifestyle in the future, living in a rural settlement is my best option. I started a small garden at my residence and know how much trouble I have gotten into with my landlord.
Even when the garden doesn't inconvenience anyone, he still complains about this and that. Same as my birds, people complained about how the cock crows and others wouldn't happen in the rural settlement. I can get to raise my birds and as well grow my food, even though not all.
There is always space for that in the rural settlements, and it comes for free, unlike in the city, where you will pay exorbitantly for a space to do these things if you are lucky to find one.
Another thing to consider is the serene environment; it's always soothing and peaceful. Development in the city has made nature something that scares; trees are being pulled down, and landowners exhaust their lands at every given opportunity.
Living in the rural settlement takes you far away from noise—no honking of vehicles or noise from open bars like I do here. Life is a lot peaceful, and that's exactly what I have always wanted.
I spent some part of my childhood in the rural settlement and can tell the difference between both. As I mentioned earlier, the move away from Lagos will definitely make me a lot happy, and with time, I hope it happens.
All Image Are Mine