Orientation: Where Mushin Fits
Mushin is a district of Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, and it sits on the mainland side of the metropolis rather than on the island that holds the central business district. For a visitor, that means Mushin is reached and navigated as part of the wider Lagos transport system: the same buses, rail lines, taxis and ride-hailing services that serve the mainland also serve Mushin. The practical guidance below describes how that system works.
Getting Your Bearings
Lagos rewards a little preparation. Street signs are present on street corners, which makes locating places and landmarks easier than many visitors expect. Security spending has reduced crime generally, and it is for the most part safe to move about during the day. If you go out at night, go in groups and stick to known routes. If you are unfamiliar with the city, it is sensible to be accompanied by a guide who knows the routes.
Rail: The Lagos Blue Line
Lagos has an intra-city rail option, the Lagos Blue Line Rail, which runs from Marina in the central business district to Okokomaiko, a Lagos suburb. It uses electric multiple units running on electricity. The completed section runs from Marina to Mile Two, with stops at Lagos Marina, National Theatre, Orile Iganmu, Suru Alaba and Mile 2. This is a useful corridor for reaching the island end of the city and the Mile 2 area, from which mainland destinations like Mushin can be reached by road.
Longer-distance rail also exists. The Nigerian Railway Corporation's higher-speed Lagos–Ibadan Railway runs between Lagos and Ibadan via Abeokuta, cutting travel time significantly, and work continues on extending the line toward Kano. The central railway hub for long-distance trains from Ibadan is Lagos-Ebute Metta railway station. The older Lagos Terminus (Lagos Iddo railway station), on Murtala Muhammed Road at Iddo across the bridge from Lagos Island, handles local services and long-distance trains on the older, slower routes. Nigeria's colonial-era railway has been rehabilitated in some parts and a few long-distance trains run; the most useful for tourists is the overnight sleeper from Kano via Kaduna, which operates a few times per week in each direction.
Buses and Public Transport
Buses are the workhorse of Lagos movement, and two main types matter to a visitor.
- BRT (Bus Rapid Transit): A network of high-capacity buses running on dedicated lanes along major corridors, so they move faster than private cars stuck in traffic. It is regulated by LAMATA and is one of the most reliable and affordable ways to get around, especially at peak times. The buses are coloured red or blue.
- Danfo: Smaller yellow minibuses that ply all routes from the mainland to the island and within the mainland. For a newcomer the yellow bus system can be quite confusing, and it makes good sense to ask a local for help; locals are generally happy to assist a visitor. Fares are fixed and rise with distance.
Main BRT corridors include Mile 12 to TBS/CMS (the original and busiest corridor, passing Ketu, Ojota, Maryland, Anthony, Fadeyi, Yaba, Oyingbo and Iddo); Ikorodu to TBS/CMS (via Mile 12, Ketu, Ojota, Maryland and Yaba); and Oshodi to Abule Egba (via Iyana Ipaja, with extensions toward Ayobo, Command and Ikola). Other active or expanding routes include Oshodi–CMS/Obalende, Berger–Oshodi, and services linking Ikeja, Mile 2 and parts of the Lekki axis.
Buses generally operate from about 06:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, with slightly shorter hours on weekends and public holidays. Frequency is higher in the mornings and evenings, so expect longer waits outside peak hours.
On regulated BRT buses, cash is not accepted. You need a compulsory Cowry Card, which can be bought at any major BRT terminal, including Mile 12, Ojota, Yaba, TBS and Ikorodu. Fares depend on distance and are deducted automatically.
For intercity travel, several bus companies — including Agofure, God Is Good Motors, ABC Transport, Ifesinachi and The Young Shall Grow — offer daily services from almost all major cities around the country as well as international destinations in West Africa. Buses are usually quite comfortable, but journey times are very long. The largest bus terminal for intercity buses is at Oshodi.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
If you are not on a tight budget, hiring a car and driver is a comfortable option. These are usually available from most major hotels and from the airport. You will be expected to haggle over the price. Talk to the drivers and pick one you think you can communicate with best, since they can tell you about the places you pass.
Walkability
Walking is possible in daylight and street signs make it easier to find your way, but the practical advice is to move about during the day, avoid going out alone at night, and stick to known routes when you do go out after dark. For unfamiliar areas, a local guide who knows the routes is a sensible companion.
From the Airport into the City
Lagos is served by Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS). You can fly in from most European cities (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and Paris); from Abu Dhabi, Addis Ababa, Beirut, Cairo, Casablanca, Doha, Douala, Dubai, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Kigali, Libreville, Luanda, Malabo, Nairobi and Sharjah; and there are direct flights from the United States (Atlanta and New York City) with Delta Airlines. There are also flights from most major cities in West Africa.
On arrival, expect the immigration process to be slow, with two officials at each desk. Nigerians and West African (ECOWAS) passport holders receive first priority, and families with young children and disabled people are normally also given priority. When filling in the arrival card you must have an address in Nigeria and a Nigerian contact number, as officials have been known to call the number to verify that you are expected.
After immigration you collect your bag at one of the baggage conveyors; check beside the start of the conveyor if you have fragile or oversized baggage. If you are travelling with a multi-national corporation, you will often be met by "Protocol Officers" in the luggage collection hall, who ensure you meet the official company drivers and get safe passage out of the airport. After collecting your luggage you pass customs and agricultural inspections, where there is a good chance your bag will be searched. A health inspector then checks your yellow fever card — there must be ten days between inoculation and travel, and officials have denied entry to passengers who did not meet this. Finally, you must have your luggage tag from check-in, as security will not allow you to leave the airport without producing the tag corresponding to each bag.
One important practical point: do not leave the airport if you have not made contact with your driver or pick-up, because you are not allowed back into the airport after exiting. Arrange your onward transport — a hotel car and driver, a company driver, or a ride-hailing pickup — before you walk out.
For departures, many international flights leave in the evenings and the airport becomes very congested after 5PM, with long queues for check-in and heavy vehicular traffic. Plan to arrive at least four hours before your flight. Check-in takes a long time if you are not in business class or priority check-in. Your baggage is pre-weighed, and if it is more than 23 kg per bag you will have to reduce the weight. Passport details are checked by ground crew, and bags are searched by agriculture, customs and "antiquities" agents — any indigenous trinkets are likely to be confiscated, and this is the bottleneck in the process. You then reach the check-in counter and receive your ticket and the departure card for immigration control.
At either end of the departures hall are extensions housing immigration, security checks and passport control. Hand in your departure card and proceed to security; checks are very thorough, though new scanners and passport control counters have made this part of the process easier than it once was. There are pay-access and Priority Pass lounges after passport control — Oasis and Skye Lounge are both good, with Oasis very nice even by international standards, while Gabfol lounge is free but you pay for food and drinks. Before boarding there is a final passport check, yellow fever card and boarding pass check; your hand luggage is opened and searched and you are frisked before you board.