Strike in Nigeria due to Fuel Subsidy Removal

Jan 9th Monday and it started...
The government removed the fuel subsidy as of Jan 1st without a real notice and overnight, the fuel price in Nigeria went up from 64 Naira (40 cents) to 150 Naira (1$). Since fuel is the major cost of all consumer products, agriculture and even the generator, it caused a major reaction among the Nigerians. Since last week, everybody was talking about the major strike Union Labors called for as of Monday Jan 9th. 
What a coincidence! This week was the week of the big visit: Our CEO was planning to come to Lagos and we were to have detailed plans with him like store checks and consumer home visits. Until the last minute we worked like crazy to make things happen but all the signals were on the negative side.
On last Thursday, my agency called me saying that they are having difficulty to recruit consumers due to the recent developments on fuel subsidy removal and people were really nervous about it. As they had more serious issues like increasing prices of essentials and limited disposable income, they were less willing to participate in a consumer home visit and talk to some unknown people about their category habits.
It was painful for me and my agency as well since we worked on the preparations until the last minute. We spent all Friday and Saturday doing the dry run with the consumers before the big visit.
Despite all the preparations, we got the news this morning that the strike has started and the trip has been cancelled. It is sad that all the company was working on this trip since November.
It is also sad for the country as well as the subsidy is not sustainable (current cost is $1.3 trillion). There are also many examples (Ghana 2004) saying that subsidy is beneficial more for the rich rather than poor. However, the problem with Nigeria is that citizens do not trust the government and they'd like to see solid actions from the government as a signal that this money is used for the benefit of the citizens rather than being pockets by some of the governors.
So the summary, we stayed at home all day and majority of Nigerians were out there protesting the government.
Bob visit has been cancelled but it is anyways interesting to experience one of those historical times in Nigeria!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16464922

Turkish Coffee by the pool :)

What I like most about Lagos is the weekends!
It is absolutely relaxing  and like a reward to chill by the pool and read a few pages...  This weekend it became even more fun:


1. Kuzu joined us by the pool. :) Actually the plan was to make Kuzu and Becky's dogs (Lola and Oki) friends so that they would stay together when we are away in Xmas. However the plan did not work out (as expected :)) and my little spoiled kiddo showed extreme tension to the friendly dogs. :) That's why we had to take her down to the pool side with us and she was pretty happy under the shadow with the luxury of using the real sand for poop! :))


2. I love Lebanese community in Nigeria. Thanks to them, I can enjoy grape leave stuffing, hummus or Turkish coffee as if I am at home. :) If this happens when we are chilling by the pool, what else can I ask for?? 

Lagos Jazz Series 2011

Jazz, lying on the grass, sipping your champagne... You won't believe but this was our Sunday activity last weekend in LAGOS! :)


http://lagosjazzseries.com/


Our dear friend Oti led the whole activity for the second time in Lagos with four day music festival. We just caught the last day (missed the one at the Yacht Club :() but it was just awesome...


Chilling Sunday in Muri Okunola Park...

Spoiled moments with champagne!

Yummy spring rolls!

Eyo Festival blessed or punished!

I was in Eyo Festival! 
We had started seeing statues in white sheet-like covers in all the corners a few weeks back and I asked Kingsley what these figures were. He explained to me that there were calling Lagosians to the upcoming festival called Eyo on Saturday. It was very interesting as the figures were fully covered with white clothes (including the face) and there were colorful hats on each of them.

With Brenda, we ran to the stadium to watch the event. Ike drove us to the nearest possible corner to the stadium as the police had closed some of the roads to traffic. Although we did not have any ticket, we were able to pass the gate (without any question) and we almost arrived to the VIP section (as VIP is born not made :))


Eyo Festival -also known as Adamu Orisha Play - was for the memory of one of the Obas called Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru. This person was loved and respected deeply by the Lagosians during his 50 year of reign. Hard to believe but he lived 120 years (1864-1984)!!!


The white-cover is the symbol for the spirits who come and clean the streets of Lagos and spirits of the Lagosians. :) There are different tribes who were dancing with the same clothes but different hats.

There were kiddo Eyos as well :)

In the booklet that we received in the stadium, it was saying that there are also some major rules about the festival. You have to take off your shoes on the streets (yes on Lagos streets!!) as the Eyos were supposedly cleaning the streets and spirits. So you have to show your trust. We were relaxed about this and did not take it so seriously as in the stadium we (VIPs :))) were OK with shoes on. However, at the minute we left the stadium to meet Ike to go back home, Brenda noticed that it was only us walking with the shoes. As it was mentioned in the booklet, everybody was walking with bare foot and there were Eyos making sure that the rules were applied on the streets. At first, it was fun as the Eyos approached us and blessed us with the stick. In the second group, we were blessed again but they were a bit harsher with their sticks. And in the last group, we went into real trouble!!! a group of Eyos surrounded us yelling "This is our culture, this is our value, you have to obey" and forced us to take off our shoes. At the same time, somebody was scratching Brenda's head band saying that it was also not acceptable to wear hat or head band in Eyo Festival. I was really scared and took of my shoes but I was more worried about what was next. I thought that we did not obey the rules in the first place so it would not help even if we obeyed then. However, taking off shoes worked and they let us go. Honestly, I was really panicked and still could not see Ike and the car. The worst part was that I was supposed to walk without the shoes. Luckily I had my socks on and tried to survive until we saw the car. Ike was just around to corner and I was about to cry with happiness. :))) The first sentence was: "Ike, you saved us you saved us!" :)))
Of course, I did not even try to wash my socks and threw them away.
When I told this story to my expat friends, the immediate reaction was: "You were crazy to walk on the streets during the festival day" (honestly they have a point :)). And the reaction from my local friends: "You should have made a wish as you were blessed by Eyos" :)))) punishing and blessing - the thin line between the two and huge culture difference to understand which one to pick! :)

my radio is nigerianinfo.com 99.3 :))

I am talking about the news channel we are listening every morning & evening on the way to and back from the office! There is the same woman who is running a discussion program. She is basically focusing on hot topics on political & economic issues & news and the society. Her style is pretty engaging as well. She just picks up a topic from an article or a survey or a newspaper and asks the audience to call in and express their feelings / views. 
A few topics I've had a chance to listen:

• According to an article, Nigerian people are loud and the loudest in the world. Are really loud? What do you think? YES M'AM, YOU ARE LOUD! :))
• We keep talking about corruption at all levels from government to police, from top to down. Some people still do not have electricity, on the other hand some has nice cars and fully operational houses. So what is the solution? A revolution?? NO M'AM, I'VE JUST ARRIVED - IT IS TOO SOON TO FACE A REVOLUTION AS I AM JUST CATCHING UP WITH A LIFE WITH NO ELECTRICITY OR NO RUNNING WATER!
• How can we get rid of the street sellers (people who try to sell gum / fruit / furniture during traffic areas)?? One man called in and his reply was "We can get rid of them only if we bridge the gap between poor and rich in Nigeria. But it is difficult given the corruption and bribery." OK GOT IT, CORRUPTION & BRIBERY IS THE SUMMARY OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE IN NIGERIA!
• (Another insightful question) While you are driving at 3am in the morning, you have seen a man injured and lying on the side of the road. Would you stop and help the person? The man's answer: I'd want to help however I'd expect the police to come and help. The girl's reply: this shows what we have lost as a society!

As a market and consumer researcher, I cannot consider a better and insightful conversations than I can find on nigerianinfo.com. Not maybe tomorrow, but one day, I'd like to meet this girl and conduct an interview about all the discussions she's had so far with millions of people. I am sure she would give the richest and the most diverse insights I could ever think of.

In search of a nice Sunday breakfast...

Finallyyy... My boyfriend is in town! :)) 

Before he came, I had made lots of plans to make sure that he'd leave with the positive feelings about Lagos! So that he'd come again... :)

One part of the plan was Sunday Brunch! We learnt a new place called Wheat Baker hotel (as part of Legacy Chain from South Africa) from one of our friends on Saturday night and decided to go there on Sunday morning. I don't like bothering my driver on Sunday as he goes to church every week. Since my friend told us that it was very close to where I live, we decided to walk.
Just to make sure, we checked the address online (tripadvisor), found the place on maps and hit the road! According to maps, the place was 5 km away and it was perfectly fine for us! 

It was fun at the beginning as this was our first walk on the street without my driver or not as part of running group. We have done almost an immersion with African culture on Ikoyi streets.
Walked through constructions at Banana Island...

Have seen interesting animals...

Passed by a greenhouse...

We kept walking around 2 hours according to what maps showed us but it was getting weird as we were pretty far from Banana Island (Brunch place was supposed to be close by). We were getting angry as we were in the downtown now and it was very crowded with all street markets and street sellers. :)) It got really hot and we were sweating but at the end of 2 hours, we arrived a hotel which was nice and sweet. However, it was nothing to do with Wheat Baker. We asked the lady at the reception and they had no idea what hotel we were talking about. I was really worried as we were dripping because of weather and so tired and the people at the reception were looking at us with blank eyes. 

What was strange was we were at the exact address which Trip Advisor was displaying. As the last attempt, we decided to check the address once again from the computer at the reception and then we found another address. It was Lawrence Road instead of Awolowo Road. Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence... Somehow this name sounded too familiar to me!

Then we took a cab (as we were too tired to walk further) and headed on to Lawrence Road. By the time we arrived, the truth hit me! We had passed by this hotel and even talked about it saying that how nice it looked and wondered what the name was. Since the name was not visible from outside, we had just walked through it and had not paid attention. Hence it was only 20 minutes walk from my place. OH NOOO!!!

With a mixed feeling of happiness and stupidity, we were at a very nice hotel with an amazing open buffet Brunch. After 2-hours of walk, we were ready to taste all the great meals. Deserts were unbelievably amazing! 
I think I can never forget Lawrence Road again! But the bright side; we are becoming real locals now; even my boyfriend :)))

Life is beautiful! :))

I think this should be heaven....


Our usual weekend routine:

• run early (6 am) in the morning (the only motivation is the next four steps :))
• chill at the pool
• chill in the pool if it gets too hot
• bring the plastic table into the pool and enjoy snacks & beer there
• take a nap by the pool :)))

Our unusual Beach House Sunday:
Absolutely fantastic! We went to the beach house of a friend (thank you Barene) this Sunday. It is 20 minutes away from Lagos marina and like a tropical heaven! When you arrive you pass through a village and its economy is 100% linked to the foreigners coming to these houses on the beach. The village folks take care of cleaning of the house as well as cooking, lighting the barbecue and serving the food. The tips are what they earn for living!


On the way:

Arriving:

At the beach house:

On the way back (sun comes down :))