False msafiri 93 OPPOSITE FROM TOP: oil refinery, clothing for sale and road market MAIN PIC: Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos Daniel Lainé/ CORBIS

False msafiri 3204717, reservations@ proteavi. com www. proteahotels. com Q SHERATON HOTEL & TOWERS Situated on mainland Lagos in Ikeja, near the airport, the newly refurbished Sheraton has over 300 luxury rooms, with pleasant decor, wing- back chairs and writing desks. There are several restaurants and bars, including the Crockpot which offers 24- hr buffets, a good Italian, the Pool Bar, which serves al fresco barbeques, the Lobby Bar where a live band entertains, and there’s an excellent upmarket Chinese restaurant next to the hotel. Facilities include a swimming pool, floodlit tennis courts, a full size billiards table, and the Ikeja Golf Club is just over a kilometre away. Business facilities: Direct dial phones, business centre with internet connectivity, four meeting rooms with audio visual equipment and a ballroom for conferences. Double room: From around US$ 420 including breakfast and taxes. 30 Mobolaji Bank, Anthony Way, Ikeja, tel: + 234( 0) 1 2800100, www. starwoodhotels. com ALSO CONSIDER: Q B- JAYS HOTEL A small, intimate hotel on the eastern side of Victoria Island overlooking Five Cowrie Creek, with just 34 rooms with polished wooden floors and decorated lagos With an estimated population of somewhere between 9 million ( official) and 17 million ( UN estimates), a clamorous street- life and grid- locked traffic, Lagos has a reputation for being one the most chaotic cities in the world. It is both the largest city in West Africa and the region’s economic powerhouse. Following the demise of military rule in the 1990s, Nigeria’s economy has strengthened in leaps and bounds – thanks in no small part to its petroleum industry. Today there are a steadily increasing number of business travellers arriving in Nigeria as the country goes through a period of renewed investment in its infrastructure. TIME TO SLEEP Q EKO HOTEL & SUITES Centrally located on Victoria Island, the Eko is one of the city’s most comfortable hotels. Rooms are spread through three blocks surrounded by attractive gardens, some with a view of the Kuramo Lagoon. There are several restaurants and bars, a gym, large swimming pool, and tucked in a corner in the lobby, a very good bookshop. Near the entrance gate is Lagos’s best market for crafts and curios, where car hire ( with driver) can also be arranged. Business facilities: Rooms have direct- dial phones and internet connectivity, while there’s Wi- Fi in the public areas, and the suites have additional fax, photocopier and printer. The Business Centre has a full range of facilities and is open 24 hours, and there are several well managed conference facilities – the hotel can accommodate up to 2,000 delegates. Double room: Rooms in the Eko Gardens section start from a not unreasonable ( for Lagos) US$ 150, while the Eko Suites are from US$ 275, including breakfast and taxes. Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, tel: + 234 ( 0) 1 262- 4600, info@ ekohotels. com, www. ekohotels. com Q PROTEA HOTEL VICTORIA ISLAND Part of the successful South African chain, this hotel has sleekly modern, spacious rooms with air conditioning, tea and coffee station and satellite TV, good views of the city from the upper floors, a rim- flow swimming pool with pool bar, and a gym. There’s some nice modern art decorating the public areas. The Avalon Brasserie is a comfortable lounge, bar and restaurant and there are many other good restaurants just a short drive away. Good service from the Protea- trained staff. Business facilities: Direct dial phones, Wi- Fi internet throughout the hotel, business centre, two fully-equipped cinema- style conference rooms seating up to 60 and a board room for 12. Secretarial services can be arranged. Double room: From around US$ 425 including breakfast and taxes. Violet Yough Close, Victoria Island, tel: + 234 ( 0) 1 THE BASICS CALL: city code ( 01), country code ( 234), international dialling code ( 009) COURIERS: DHL ( tel: 01- 2700908, www. dhl. com. ng), Fedex ( tel: 01- 4528621, www. fedex. com/ ng), UPS ( tel: 01- 2705577, www. ups. com) CURRENCY: Nigeria Naira, US$ 1 = N117 NEWSPAPERS: This Day, Vanguard, The Guardian, Daily News. TIME: GMT+ 1 TIPPING: service charges are added to restaurant and room service bills, and taxis are negotiated beforehand, so tipping – about 10% – is optional, not the norm. TOURIST INFO: Nigeria Tourism, www. nigeriatourism. net TRANSFERS: Some hotels arrange transfers from the airport. Taxis are available outside the arrivals terminal. guide business travellers’ 94 TOP: Buses and taxis in Lagos city centre ABOVE: Protea Hotel, Victoria Island Tim Graham/ Corbis