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10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today - Culture - Nairaland

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10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by alphonsoolajide(op): 7:51am On Aug 15, 2025
Lagos may be a bustling megacity filled with skyscrapers, traffic jams, and tech startups — but beneath the modern chaos lies a deep layer of tradition and belief. Whether you call them myths, old wives’ tales, or spiritual truths, superstitions in Lagos still influence how people act every single day. Here are 10 you’ll hear whispered in buses, markets, and even corporate boardrooms. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

1. Don’t Pick Money on the Road
Many Lagosians believe money found on the street could be “spiritually trapped” to bring bad luck or even cause mysterious illness.

2. Whistling at Night Calls Snakes or Evil Spirits
From Isale Eko to Mushin, elders warn children never to whistle at night — or risk attracting unwanted supernatural visitors.

3. Sweeping Someone’s Feet Brings Bad Luck
In some Lagos households, accidentally sweeping across someone’s feet means they’ll never get married — unless they grab the broom and sweep back.

4. Don’t Lend Salt or Palm Oil at Night
Believed to bring financial hardship or spiritual depletion, some people in Lagos will refuse politely if you ask for these items after dark.

5. Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Walk at Night
This stems from the belief that wandering spirits might harm unborn children or swap them for “spirit babies.”

6. Eating in Public at Night Attracts Evil Eyes
Some elders believe late-night outdoor eating could make you spiritually vulnerable.

7. Itchy Palms Mean Money is Coming (or Going)
Right palm itching? Expect money. Left palm itching? Money might be leaving you soon.

8. Don’t Kill a Wall Gecko in the House
Some Lagosians believe geckos carry messages from the spiritual realm and killing them brings bad luck.

9. Rain on Your Wedding Day is a Blessing
In Lagos culture, a downpour during weddings is often seen as a sign of divine favor and fruitfulness.

10. Never Sleep with Your Head Facing the Door
Many believe it invites spiritual attacks or bad dreams — so most beds are positioned away from direct doorway alignment.

Conclusion
Whether you believe them or not, these Lagos superstitions are more than just folklore — they’re part of the city’s cultural DNA. They connect the past with the present, reminding us that in Lagos, modern life and ancient beliefs walk side by side.
https://eyesoflagos.com/10-lagos-superstitions-people-still-believe-today/

Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Jarulema: 8:11am On Aug 15, 2025
Lol. These sounds so strange indeed. I don't believe them though
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by atobs4real(m): 8:45am On Aug 15, 2025
The new generation no send all this ooo.
Wetin concern them
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by jamuta(m): 8:46am On Aug 15, 2025
Yeah i remember the deep your feet and sleeping position story
🤣😂😂😁
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by temitope27(m): 8:46am On Aug 15, 2025
Did you just say Lagos? This happen everywhere na
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Samirana360(m): 8:47am On Aug 15, 2025
Who are lagosians? 90% are from somewhere... But some of the things mentioned r true
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Bahamas95(m):
Not only Lagos, there're many superstitions people still believe all over Nigeria till today.



1. When a lizard crosses or runs in-between a woman's legs = When a lizard crosses or runs in-between a woman's legs = It means that woman would get pregnant soon. If she doesn't wanna get pregnant she should rebuke it immediately.

2. Walking in-between two persons = Nigerians see it as a bad omen, immediately they see you approaching them they'll quickly cover the space to avoid it. If you take them unwares they'll call you back and ask you to walk back to break the spell. cheesy

3. Killing of wall geckos = If you do that that means you'll urinate on the bed. Parents believe they aid in eliminating insects, most especially mosquitoes so they do everything possible to discourage you from killing them.

4. Calling someone's name in the bush = Nigerians believe it would attract spirit beings. Instead of name calling they either make funny sounds to get your attention.

5. Swallowing of fruit seeds = Even if na one orange seed you mistakenly swallow you don get appendicitis or tree go grow for your belle. Elders scared us with this back then.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by correctguy101(m): 8:48am On Aug 15, 2025
Number 1 made waves back in the days.

You might even have that oversabi neighbors that would claim to have seen someone disappear or turn to tortoise or yam for picking money.... Smh

How about you add...

Disappearing blokus if strangers touch you...

Once believed this, not anymore... E get why.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Lukuluku69(m): 8:49am On Aug 15, 2025
alphonsoolajide:
https://eyesoflagos.com/10-lagos-superstitions-people-still-believe-today/
It is not a Lagos Superstition but more like a Yoruba Cultural Superstition.

Every Cultures have theirs.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by alphaconde(m): 8:50am On Aug 15, 2025
Some years ago any time i want to kill a gecko, i would get injured or obstructed. So it was my believe, I started seeing them as sacred even though I hated them.

One time I was transferred to a village and the accommodation I was given had a lot of geckos in it. I knew I had to unbelieve that rubbish. I massacred them all and nothing happened.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by ikhibones(m): 8:50am On Aug 15, 2025
Me I no even kukuma dey reason any of those listed superstitions..I no dey use eyes see gecko for my house, straight I don flog am broom, drop money na weda I no go pick am..
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by abobote: 8:50am On Aug 15, 2025
I have never believe any of this fallacy before, 1
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Ketamine9000mg(m): 8:51am On Aug 15, 2025
This post no follow at all. These are Nigerian-wide superstitions and it doesn't seems lagosians even have idea they exist.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Czarugo007: 8:52am On Aug 15, 2025
No 7 is still working for me till tomorrow o..immediately it starts itching I will clinch my fist and mutter words of acceptance and in a couple of hours somebody go send me money.it happened yesterday.I was so cashless,I ran into a traditional ruler who has not been picking my calls.i didn’t recognize him because he dressed casually.he called me and I was like who is this,next is 30k in my OPAY..I swear to God this happened just yesterday.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by SLIDEwaxie(m): 8:53am On Aug 15, 2025
how did you conclude that this is LAGOS superstitions when this thing is being said all over the country?
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Risingblue008(m): 8:54am On Aug 15, 2025
Junki topic,
Must it be lagos always?
huh huh huh
Na lagos come be d capital?
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by AntiChristian: 8:55am On Aug 15, 2025
no be only Lagos Superstitions!

Na SW superstition!
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by blingxx(m): 8:57am On Aug 15, 2025
The first one is not true undecided as country be right now I go pick money for road o
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Mikespecialone(m): 8:58am On Aug 15, 2025
You see that no 7 ehn , it’s very real oooo because it happens to me often and often and it has been happening for years
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by jubrilELsudan:
WHO REMEMBERS THAT YEAR IN THE LATE 80'S IN LAGOS WHEN THEY SAID SOMEONE STOLE THE BABY OF THE QUEEN OF THE COAST AND MAMI WATER IS GOING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE LOOKING FOR HER BABY AND THAT YOU MUST PUT GREEN LEAF IN FRONT OF YOUR DOOR SO THAT WHEN SHE COMES AND SEES THE LEAF SHE WILL PASS OVER YOUR HOUSE AND NOT ENTER CAUSE IF SHE ENTERS YOUR HOUSE AND DOES NOT FIND HER BABY....SHE WILL KILL EVERYBODY IN THAT HOUSE ESPECIALLY CHILDREN


SOTEY EVEN NTA NETWORK NEWS AND NEWSLINE AND NEWSPAPER HEADLINES CARRIED THE STORY AND TOLD EVERYONE TO PUT GREEN LEAF IN FRONT OF OUR DOORS

LOL IN MY AREA EVERYBODY PUT GREEN LEAF.....SOME PEOPLE SEF NA TREE DEM PUT IN FRONT OF THEIR DOOR

Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by ElevationD: 9:00am On Aug 15, 2025
Risingblue008:
Junki topic,
Must it be lagos always?
huh huh huh
Na lagos come be d capital?
Lagos is the commercial capital. Everyone resided in Lagos until IBB ensured the relocation of the federal capital to Abuja. It must always be Lagos. That’s why the FG is staking such a huge amount of money to rebuild the international airport. When that airport was built, modeled like Schipol in Amsterdam, there was no such airport in Abuja. It remains the biggest airport nationwide.

At a time there was a huge rumour of huge black birds flying in Lagos. Parents were advised to place charms and all sorts in things on their children to prevent them from being carried away. Students in schools then had either the catholic rosary or Islamic rosary in their hands or hanging on their necks while going to school. All na lie!
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by muyico(m): 9:00am On Aug 15, 2025
Few! Not all lagosian, most western states , still blived it
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by GanagiBitrus:
The foundation of all superstitions beliefs is IGNORANCE.

Knowledge drives away superstition.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by omoadeleye(m): 9:03am On Aug 15, 2025
Not in Lagos only bro, this applies to every state in the South west, moreover, all these were used be moral guidelines then.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Ijoba85: 9:04am On Aug 15, 2025
Another one is if you urinate in flowing rainwater when its raining , then its going to rain on your wedding day


And another is , as a child , when you lose a tooth , you must throw the tooth with seven stones on the roof and later cook porridge and give to the lizards to eat. This would make your tooth regrow back quickly
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by OKOATA(m):
No 7 is absolutely right. I get hitchy palms when expecting money. Whether left or right. It's an ingrained believe and for the whistling they are said on purpose to keep kids away from doing it.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by donmik: 9:08am On Aug 15, 2025
In No.7, the reverse is my case and it has been working for me for over 20 years now
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Buhari1(m): 9:09am On Aug 15, 2025
Black cats are also seen to be witches especially if you see them at night. Haaaa
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by BlakKluKluxKlan(m): 9:09am On Aug 15, 2025
Did you just made some of these up ?
And how did you or what made them peculiar to Lagosians ?

Please read wide and you'll discover that superstition is Global rather than African talk less of Lagosians.
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by OKOATA(m): 9:09am On Aug 15, 2025
Czarugo007:
No 7 is still working for me till tomorrow o..immediately it starts itching I will clinch my fist and mutter words of acceptance and in a couple of hours somebody go send me money.it happened yesterday.I was so cashless,I ran into a traditional ruler who has not been picking my calls.i didn’t recognize him because he dressed casually.he called me and I was like who is this,next is 30k in my OPAY..I swear to God this happened just yesterday.
I believe you, this happens to me often. It's a believe hat I have passed onto my daughter..
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by Fdex012: 9:09am On Aug 15, 2025
Allow your wife to always move round the street by the night or midnight and don't forget to come here to tell us your experience after 7 years of the child.
alphonsoolajide:
https://eyesoflagos.com/10-lagos-superstitions-people-still-believe-today/
Re: 10 Lagos Superstitions People Still Believe Today by cardoctor(m): 9:12am On Aug 15, 2025
Spider cobwebs are known to cause nightmares. I'm sure this one is on the list.
1 2 3 Reply

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