Airport
Murtala Muhammed International Airport
IATA Code: LOSLocation: The airport is located 13 miles (22km) northwest of Lagos.
Time: Local time is GMT +1
Contacts: Tel: +234 (0)1 480 5580, +234 (0)1 493 3385
Transfer between terminals: The terminals are within easy walking distance of each other.
Transfer to the city: Larger hotels have a shuttle bus meeting all international flights. Otherwise, taxis are the safest and most efficient way to travel to and from the airport. Aim to negotiate a price of around NGN 5000 for a trip into town.
Taxis: Yellow taxis are available outside the terminal. It is wise to negotiate a fee before departure. Aim to get into Lagos for around NGN 5000.
Car rental: Car rental companies at Murtala Muhammed International Airport include Avis, Europcar and Sixt. Note that driving is yourself around Nigeria is a strongly unrecommended activity, as the roads are confusing and chaotic, and there is a risk of car-jacking.
Facilities: Money and communications: ATMs and currency exchange. Luggage: There are no left luggage services. All queries regarding lost baggage should be directed to your airline. Conference and business: The airport features Executive and VIP lounges equipped with complimentary Internet. Other facilities: Facilities include a meet and greet lounge, prayer rooms and disabled facilities. Wi-fi: Free Internet is available at the airport's Executive and VIP lounges. Information: A tourist information desk is situated at the customer service desk in the arrival hall. Shopping: Shopping is limited to a few retail stores selling electronics, mobile accessories, jewellery and health care products. Food and Drink: International and African foods are served by vendors in the airport's food court.
Parking: 750 short-term parking spaces are available in the multi-storey car park. Charges are NGN 100 per hour and NGN 1500 per day.
Departure tax: The airport levies a Regional Passenger Charge of NGN 5,388.00, and a Domestic Passenger Service Charge of NGN 350.
Website: www.mma2lagos.com
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Lagos
It is hard to believe that Lagos, Nigeria's biggest, busiest city with a population of roughly 8 million and counting, had its origins as a small Yoruba settlement. Spread over several large islands on a vast lagoon (hence its name) and the mainland near the Gulf of Guinea, Lagos is Nigeria's principal port and its commercial and cultural centre.
The former capital grew to prominence when it was 'discovered' by the Portuguese in the late 1400s and became a central trading post for the area, also serving as a major hub of the international slave trade. When the British annexed the city in 1861, they effectively put a stop to the slave trade, but took control of the trade and industry of the area. Once Nigeria gained independence in 1960, Lagos experienced a boom which swelled the city's population considerably and today, Lagos is one of the world's fastest-growing cities, with a full and complex tapestry of religious and ethnic groups.
The sprawling city is chaotic, crowded and lacks any major tourism infrastructure. Most visitors come here for business and there are few sights in the tourist sense. Streets are congested, drivers are maniacal and blackouts are common. However, the convoluted history of the city, and Nigeria as a whole, contributes to its exotic flavour. Lagos has an interesting National Museum, National Theatre, several markets and some decent beaches to explore.
