“Acronyms Lagos Nigeria”

In Lagos we found many humorous acronyms that people have invented to cope in life when none of the official institutes do their jobs properly.The people turn the letters of the abbreviation into acronyms that take the piss out of these malfunctioning systems. The Nigerian Electric Power Authorityis very unreliable so people started calling it Never Expect Power Always. Then the company changed its name to P.H.C.N. Power Holding Company of Nigeria. Without success! The people took the power (of the word) again. P.H.C.N. became Please Hold Candle at Night. Some acronyms like OYO do not refer to a specific institution. OYO On Your Own is a central concept in a life where you have to operate in groups to survive. There are no social support structures nor insurance so the PAPA photographers take care of each other, wherever possible by sharing the work. When you travel through the immense city your are constantly stopped by the area boys, the unofficial landlords of the area you want to cross. If you are not protected by others you have to pay a bribe. We think these ‘OYOs’, as we started to call all acronyms, should be exported worldwide. 

PHCN

Lagos -  PHCN– Power Holding Company of Nigeria, also known as ‘Please Hold Candle at Night’. The image shows people around a transformer whose cables have been stolen. Power operatives are investigating…
Tuoyo Omagba – Lagos Lab

NYSC

Lagos -  NYSC TREK – National Youth Service Corps also known as ‘Now Your Suffering Continues’.University students have to do community when they graduate. A compulsory right of passage into working…
Zemaye Okediji – Lagos Lab

NTA

Lagos -  NTA – Nigeria Television Authority is one of the largest TV networks in Africa, also known as Nigeria Trekkers Association. The image shows school children walking home from school either…
Tuoyo Omagba – Lagos Lab

FRAN

Lagos -  FRAN (Free Readers Association of Nigeria) These ‘members’ gather around the newspaper and magazine stands they can find. Sometimes just to catch a glimpse of the news making the headline…
Toye Gbade – Lagos Lab

NFA

Lagos -  NFA No Future ambition. Nigerian Football Association Western couples adopting African children has dominated the media recently, sparking debates about whether these children have a better future at home or…
Babasola Bamiro – Lagos Lab

FRAN

Lagos -  FRAN – Free Readers Association of Nigeria The image shows people who read the dailies but do not buy the papers.…
Tuoyo Omagba – Lagos Lab

NEPA

Lagos -  NEPA, The Nigerian Electric Power Authority, is so unreliable that people started calling it Never Expect Power Always. Then the company changed its name to PHCN, Power Holding Company of…
Andrew Esiebo – Lagos Lab

Acronyms Lagos

Lagos -  The Nigerians have a lovely way to deal with all the institutions that deliver badly. They change the letters in the acronyms into new sayings. In this way they made…
Lino Hellings – Lagos Lab

Gestures

Lagos -  On the streets you often see people gesticulating while on their mobile phones. GSM – Global System for Mobile communications also known as ‘General Street Madness’…
Israel Ophori – Lagos Lab