If you’ve ever lived in Lagos, you already know that time isn’t real here — it’s just a polite suggestion. “I’m five minutes away” could mean anything from “I’m still brushing my teeth” to “I’m stuck in Third Mainland Bridge traffic and I might see you next week.” But suddenly, Lagosians witnessed something that defied logic, time, and every law of traffic physics — powerboat racing. Yes, actual boats. Moving. Fast. In Lagos.
It almost sounds like satire, doesn’t it? For years, our only relationship with water has been a mix of fear (thank you, rainy season floods) and suspicion (“Is that pure water or lagoon juice?”). But last weekend, the Lagos Lagoon turned into a high-octane playground as the E1 Powerboat Championship made its debut — the first of its kind in Africa. And for once, Lagos was trending for something that didn’t involve a protest, a pothole, or a celebrity fight on Instagram Live.
Now imagine the scene: billionaires in designer sunglasses pretending to “just love the sport,” influencers giving us motivational captions like “Ride the waves of life 🌊✨”, and politicians smiling so hard you’d think they were about to announce fuel at ₦200 per litre. It was all glitz, adrenaline, and selfies with boats that looked like Teslas on water.
And of course, Lagosians were there in full force. Some came to watch the race, others came for the photo ops, and a few were clearly just there for the free drinks and jollof. Because in Lagos, no event is truly official until there’s food and at least one auntie saying, “This rice no sweet reach party rice o.”
But here’s the part that cracked everyone up, the boats were actually fast. Like, really fast. For once, something moved in Lagos without honking, road rage, or LASTMA involvement. One spectator was overheard saying, “If danfo drivers had these boats, they’d probably still stop in the middle of the lagoon to pick passengers.” And honestly, he’s not wrong. You can take the man out of Lagos traffic, but you can’t take the Lagos traffic out of the man.
Another funny observation: Lagosians don’t fully trust anything that looks too organized. People kept asking questions like, “Are these boats insured?” and “Can they handle Lagos water spirits?” Because let’s face it — this city has a reputation. One minute it’s sunny, the next minute it’s Noah’s Ark Season 2. But somehow, the event went smoothly. No fuel shortage, no sudden rainstorm, no random protest blocking the shore. For a few hours, it almost felt like… order. And that’s the real miracle here.
Meanwhile, on social media, Nigerians did what Nigerians do best - commentary. Memes started flying within minutes:
“Finally, something faster than my landlord’s rent increase.”
“Even the boats are trying to japa.”
“Can we get these guys to fix our roads next?”
Someone even joked that Lagos should host the next Formula 1 — “but only if the drivers are willing to swerve around potholes and hawkers.”
On a more serious note (for five seconds), it’s actually refreshing to see something innovative happening here. Events like this put Lagos on the global map for more than just chaos and concerts. They also open the door for tourism, investment, and, who knows, maybe a future where we use water transport regularly — minus the engine noise and Instagram captions.
Still, the irony is hard to miss. While sleek boats were racing across the lagoon, somewhere nearby, a man was probably still waiting for his BRT that never came. And that’s the beauty of Lagos — it’s a city of contradictions. We have powerboat races beside flooded streets, billionaires beside beggars, and Wi-Fi that works only when you don’t need it.
But hey, that’s Lagos — equal parts madness and magic. The powerboat race might be over, but its message is loud and clear: Lagos can do anything when it wants to. Whether it’s hosting a world-class sporting event or turning traffic into a social experiment, this city finds a way to make the impossible look like a regular Tuesday.
So here’s to the Lagos spirit — unpredictable, unstoppable, and apparently, now waterproof. Who knows? Maybe next year we’ll get Okada Grand Prix or Danfo Drifting Championships. Whatever it is, one thing’s for sure: Lagos will show up, dress up, and somehow make it hilarious.