[Mhiz Rebecca]

If you are a newbie in Lagos, or a JJC, you don’t want to
fall victim to unscrupulous traffic hawkers who go about
swindling unsuspecting buyers every day . Here are five
things you shouldn’t buy in Lagos traffic.
1. Phones
The stories you hear about actually paying for a phone in
traffic and then finding out that you bought a bar of
soap or a fake contraption is not limited to computer
village alone.
In fact, it’s a known fact that the most expensive phones
and gadgets are sold at giveaway prices in Lagos traffic.
Don’t be surprised if a seller dangles an iPhone X to your
face in traffic for a paltry sum of N50, 000. Before, you
are tempted to buy it, think twice about the fact that it
may be a stolen phone or a phone programmed to work
for just 30 minutes. Who knows you may just be buying
your phone, which was snatched in Lagos traffic!
2. Dogs/Puppies
You do not know the type of diseases these dogs are
exposed to so you can’t trust the seller. For many
buyers, the breed of the dog is the attraction. And the
sellers know this. This is why they take advantage of
their gullibility by selling fake breeds of puppies at very
mouth-watering prices. By the time you get to your
veterinary doctor, you will be shocked to hear that the
dog you just purchased for N30, 000 in Lagos traffic
isn’t an Alsatian or even a crossbreed. So you cant trust
a dog seller in traffic.
3. Recharge Cards
Buying call units in traffic calls for extra caution. By the
time you are done punching the digits the trader is gone
and there is absolutely nothing you can do if it doesn’t
work. Besides, there have been numerous reports of
recharge card vendors selling fake units in traffic. If you
can totally avoid buying recharge cards in traffic please
do else thread with caution and buy at your own risk.
4. Aux cords/ Ear phones/power bank/ car & phone
chargers
Except you are in dire need of a charger, power bank or
aux cord to power your phone or gadget do not risk it.
But if you do buy it, bear in mind that you might just be
buying a substandard product that may end up causing
more harm than good to your device. The downside of
buying these items in traffic is the fact that there is no
after sale service, warranty and you almost can’t identify
the seller a second time. You also can’t check its
authenticity so don’t go trusting the seller. And if you
are lucky to spot him in traffic again, you have
absolutely no proof to nail him.
5. Some food items
Now, this category is quite tricky because the food items
are the fastest moving goods in traffic. So many people
have bought rotten boiled eggs, rotten pastries, walnuts
etc in traffic. If you must buy canned drinks, water,
biscuits etc in traffic always check for the expiry date. It
is so important. As usual do thread with caution,
because the guy attending to you could be a potential
armed robber or kidnapper.