The safety don’ts
One: don’t swim at Elegushi, Alpha or any open Lekki beach past the shoreline. The Atlantic rip currents here kill several people a year, mostly at Eleko and Alpha. Wade to your knees. Two: don’t photograph the Lekki toll gate, police checkpoints, military convoys or the entrances to government buildings. Phones get seized and situations escalate quickly. Three: don’t take an okada anywhere on the Lekki-Epe Expressway — they’re banned and if you’re in a crash, insurance is nonexistent.
Four: don’t argue with police at checkpoints. Be polite, keep your hands visible, present a passport copy (not the original), and answer questions plainly. If a bribe is being solicited, most tourists' best move is to stay patient and repeat that you don’t have cash — genuine offences get formal fines. Five: don’t drink tap water, don’t take ice at street bukas, and don’t eat pre-cut fruit from roadside vendors.
The etiquette and money don’ts
Six: don’t flash phones, jewellery or wads of cash in traffic or at ATMs. Keep your phone below the window line in Bolts, especially between 5pm and 8pm on the expressway. Seven: don’t change money with anyone who approaches you at the airport, hotel lobby or on the street offering a great rate. It's either counterfeit, short-counted, or a police setup.
Eight: don’t try to "see all of Lagos in a day" from a Lekki base. You’ll spend 6 hours in traffic and see nothing properly. Pick one zone per day: Lekki + Ikate, or Victoria Island + Ikoyi, or a full-day Ibeju-Lekki beach run. Also, don’t book flights out of Lagos before 10am unless you’re sleeping at an Ikeja airport hotel the night before — the 4am Lekki-to-airport run in December has genuinely made people miss planes.
Bon à savoir
Is it rude to refuse food or drink offered by a host?+
Yes, mildly. Accept a small portion or a sip even if you’re not hungry. If you truly can’t, phrase it as "I’m managing my stomach" or "I’ll take some later" rather than a flat no.
Can I wear shorts and vests around Lekki?+
On the beach and by hotel pools, yes. In restaurants, malls and any evening venue on Admiralty Way, dress up — smart casual minimum. Nigerians dress well and undressed tourists stand out.