A post on X recently stirred debate about everyday survival in Lagos and the hidden costs of “kindness” in a tough urban environment. The message warned residents and visitors to be cautious when accepting help, suggesting that nothing truly comes without a price in the city’s hustle culture.
The post read: “If someone offered to help you in Lagos, don’t accept the offer if you don’t have money because it’s not free.”
While some users agreed, citing personal experiences of being asked for payment after receiving assistance, others criticized the statement as cynical and unfair to genuinely kind people. Supporters argued that Lagos’s economic pressures have turned even small favors into transactions, making caution a form of self-protection. Critics, however, worried that such thinking discourages trust and erodes social solidarity. The post highlights a broader tension between realism and compassion in a city where survival often blurs the line between help and hustle.
LINKS
