Ibadan is generally regarded as the ugly duckling when compared to popular cities in the western parts of the country, especially Lagos. While Lagos is indeed the hub of Nigeria and holds everything essential to keeping a visitor enthralled, Ibadan is also a good idea. Maybe even a better idea than Lagos.
When people think of Lagos, they focus on the peripheral: the great food and the opportunity for shopping, the bustling night life, the myriad tourist sites and fantastic architecture. What many do not know is that Ibadan has many of the same attributes, only with its own twist as well as profound benefits.
Nightlife.ng offers five reasons why you should skip Lagos City and visit Ibadan instead:
No Traffic:
Traffic is an everyday occurrence in Lagos and can steal the joy from any commuter’s day. There is no exception to area or time, almost every part of the city has a level of traffic and at almost all times within the day- not just rush hours. It can literally take you 2 hours to cover 1 kilometer in some areas. Commuters have to head out extra early to run errands or cut their fun short so as to get home early. In Ibadan however, this is not a problem. While its inhabitants witness occasion traffic, it is not a standard occurrence and it is certainly not a part of their lives. Unlike Lagos,you can actually have great value for your time while commuting within Ibadan.
Low-cost accommodation:
Lagos has a plethora of hotels, from budget to luxury; however, the room rates are most times expensive when compared to room rates in other parts of the country and thus pose a challenge to travelers, especially budget travelers. In Ibadan, there are upscale hotels that offer same service as upscale hotels in Lagos, however the rates are cheaper. For instance, the The Carlton Gate Hotel, Ibadan, which is rated a 5-star hotel starts from as low as N20,700 on Travel.Jumia.com, while Sheraton Lagos Hotel, a 5-star hotel in Lagos, with even a lesser rating on same portal, starts from N48,000. Ibadan also has a number of budget hotel options that offer even more value to travelers.
Micra instead of Moluwe:
In Lagos, budget travelers who have to resort to public transport end up with bus options: Moluwe and danfo buses, as the taxi option also comes as steep price. In Ibadan however, public transport is not only even cheaper, but gives the commuter much more privacy and comfort. The popular means of transportation is via Micra, a sedan taxi (not necessarily of Nissan brand as the name suggests) which picks 4-5 passengers per time. Passengers in this sedan painted white with blue stripes pay as low as N50 for certain destinations, a situation not possible with the Moluwe or danfo within Lagos.
Cheaper food:
No doubt, Lagos offers a bunch of gastronomic delights for the hungry traveller, however, the food do not come cheap, at least when compared to food in Ibadan. Even though the number of restaurants, cafes, bukka and fast food joints in Lagos may be larger than the those Ibadan, the cost of consumption is relatively higher. An average meal in a standard lagos (budget) restaurants starts from N1, 000, however in Ibadan, you can get same food with better ambiance for as low as N500. You are able to save more on food while visiting Ibadan without missing out on the local delicacies or sticking to you preferred variety: Chinese, Indian, French, e.t.c.
A better chance at love:
It is no secret that love is hard to find in Lagos. Most of its inhabitants are so focused on making money or building their career and have no time for serious relationships. Single visitors to the city usually assert that the good ‘ones’ within the city are either hooked or taken. In Ibadan however, there is better opportunity at meeting “the one” as there are many options. Also, the restaurants and hang out spots are affordable and you easily can go on dates or engage in activities that encourage love and romance without breaking bank.
