The Art of “I’m Coming”: How Nigerians Master the Science of Delay
If punctuality were an Olympic sport, Nigerians would… well… let’s just say we wouldn’t qualify. But don’t worry — this isn’t a weakness. It’s a cultural superpower wrapped in creativity, optimism, and strategic time management (emphasis on strategic).
The Legendary Phrase: “I’m Coming”
In Nigeria, “I’m coming” is the most versatile sentence ever created. It can mean:
“I’m still in bed.”
“I haven’t bathed.”
“Give me one hour.”
“Remind me again next week.”
Or the classic: “I forgot completely.”
If a Nigerian tells you “I’m coming,” sit down, order food, maybe start a new hobby.
Nigerian Time: A Flexible Dimension
We don’t follow GMT. We follow NT — Nigerian Time.
Examples:
8 PM party? People will start ironing clothes by 9 PM.
Meeting at 10 AM? Half the team will join at 10:47 with excuses like:
“Traffic held me,”
even though they’re working from home.
Zoom call? They will join at 10:14 and still say,
“Sorry I’m early.”
The Creative Excuses Department
Nigerians have PhD-level excuses for being late. Some classics:
“My phone was charging.”
“Rain wanted to fall.”
“My Uber missed road.”
“I was already close, then village people…”
“I’m two minutes away” (they have not left the house).
The Social Event Paradox
Tell a Nigerian:
“Come early so you can eat.”
They will still show up when dessert has finished, drinks are finished, chairs are finished — but vibes? Still 100%.
They’ll walk in confidently like:
“Hope I haven’t missed anything?”
Meanwhile the MC has already prayed closing prayer.
The Bright Side
Despite the chaos, Nigerians always arrive with:
Full energy
Fresh drip
Vibes on 100%
And zero shame for being four hours late
Because in true Nigerian fashion, once you finally show up, people will say:
“Ah! You even tried!”
Moral of the Story
Time is an elastic concept in Nigeria, but our humour, resilience, and ability to turn lateness into a personality trait? Elite.
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