Is True Love Even Real in Lagos or is Everybody Just Looking for ‘Urgent 2k’?
Lagos is a city of contradictions. One moment, you’re watching a picture-perfect couple on Instagram, and the next, you’re overhearing a girl tell her friend that she blocked a guy because he only sent her ₦5,000 instead of the ₦20,000 she asked for. This is Lagos—the land where love is often measured in financial transactions.
If you’ve ever been in the dating scene in Lagos, you already know the game. True love? It’s there, somewhere, but it’s buried under layers of strategic “urgent 2k” requests, dinner dates at fancy restaurants, and people trying to upgrade their standard of living through romance. Lagos relationships are like a business negotiation—both parties must come with something valuable, or else the deal is off.
The Battle Between ‘Island Babes’ and ‘Mainland Guys’
Ah, the great divide. Lagos is split into two worlds—the Island, home of soft life, expensive brunches, and influencers, and the Mainland, where survival is the only priority. If you are dating in Lagos, sooner or later, you will have to face the Island vs. Mainland dynamic.
Island babes are the queens of luxury. They love brunch at RSVP, vacations to Dubai, and birthday dinners where everyone must wear brown. They don’t enter danfo or Keke Napep, and if a guy invites them to a date anywhere outside Lekki, it’s an insult.
Mainland guys, on the other hand, have perfected the art of stretching their money. They know the exact price of every bolt fare, how to calculate change in danfo before the conductor does, and they believe in value for money. To them, a ₦40,000 dinner at a fancy restaurant is a scam when amala at Iya Eba is just ₦2,500.
The real question is: Can a Mainland guy date an Island babe? The answer is simple—yes, but he must be prepared for financial heartbreak.
Why Dating in Lagos is Harder Than Getting a Visa
If you’ve ever tried applying for a UK or US visa, you know how frustrating and time-consuming it is. But do you know what’s harder? Dating in Lagos. The dating scene here is like an advanced-level exam with trick questions, hidden fees, and unexpected obstacles.
First, there’s the pressure to impress. Whether you’re a man or a woman, you must come correct. If you’re a guy, your financial status is under scrutiny. No matter how fine you are, if you can’t afford dates, gifts, and random ‘baby, I need ₦50k’ requests, you are not qualified.
For women, it’s all about packaging. You must look expensive, even if your bank account is screaming. Your makeup must be flawless, your hair laid to perfection, and your Instagram feed must give “soft life” even if you’re hustling behind the scenes.
The ‘Talking Stage’ That Lasts Forever
In Lagos, relationships don’t start with love. They start with the “talking stage”—an endless period of texting, calling, and vibes, but no real commitment. Some talking stages last longer than NYSC.
One day, you’re chatting, exchanging good morning and good night texts, and thinking things are going well. The next day, you see the person posting another “good morning baby” to someone else on their WhatsApp status. Lagos dating is not for the weak.
The First Date Hustle
If you’re going on a first date in Lagos, prepare yourself. First, there’s the issue of choosing the right place. Mainland guys want somewhere ‘affordable but nice,’ while Island babes want a restaurant where the cheapest meal is ₦15,000.
Then there’s the unspoken rule—who is paying? Some Lagos ladies believe in the “if he invites me, he must pay” policy. Some guys, on the other hand, now split bills as a survival tactic. There’s nothing more awkward than a date where the waiter brings the bill, and both parties start staring at their phones, pretending to be busy.
Relationship Drama is Part of the Package
A Lagos relationship without drama is a myth. If there are no issues, is it even real? The most common dramas include:
- “He doesn’t post me on social media” fights.
- “She only calls me when she needs money” accusations.
- “Why did you like your ex’s picture?” interrogations.
- “You saw my message but didn’t reply” complaints.
And let’s not forget the classic “who is she?” argument whenever a woman sees a suspicious-looking comment under her man’s Instagram post.
Soft Boys vs. Yahoo Boys vs. Broke Boys
Every Lagos babe knows the categories of men in the city. There are the ‘soft boys’—guys who live on the Island, drive a Benz, and have a questionable source of income but always have money to spend. Then there are the Yahoo boys—the ones whose phones are full of VPNs and “client” conversations, always flexing at night but disappearing in the morning. And finally, there are the broke boys—the nice, hardworking guys still struggling to find their way in Lagos. They have good hearts, but unfortunately, good hearts don’t pay bills.
If a Lagos babe falls in love with a broke boy, she must be ready to endure hard times.
Long-Distance Dating in Lagos? Forget It!
Lagos is a big city, and dating someone who lives on the other side is a nightmare. If you live in Ajah and your partner lives in Ikeja, that’s basically a long-distance relationship. Between the traffic, high transport costs, and general stress, visiting your partner becomes a full-day excursion.
Some relationships have ended because one person couldn’t keep up with crossing Third Mainland Bridge every weekend.
Conclusion: Love in Lagos is a Full-Time Job
Finding love in Lagos is like playing a video game on the hardest level. You must dodge fake lovers, avoid heartbreak, survive expensive dates, and stay sane while dealing with relationship drama. But at the end of the day, love still exists—even in a city that only cares about hustle.
So, if you’re dating in Lagos, just know that you’re a warrior. And if you’re single, well, maybe it’s safer that way. Welcome to the madness, welcome to the hustle, and most importantly—welcome to love in Lagos.