Eko Gb'ole O Gbole': A Historical Study of Youth and Tout Culture in Shomolu Local Government Area, Lagos, 1976-2015

The presence of touts, otherwise known as Agberos or Area Boys, has been a marked feature of the mega-city of Lagos in recent years. The activities of these touts are visible in particular in motor parks, at bus-stops, in markets and on the streets. This paper provides a historical survey of the origin and expansion of the menace of touts in Lagos, with specific reference to Shomolu Local Government Area, from its creation in 1976 to the present. A study on Shomolu area adds to the existing literature on Lagos touts as the area is located in the mainland part of Lagos, whereas existing works on the subject focus more on the Lagos Island area. Through a detailed analysis of the Shomolu example, the paper provides a description and analysis of the activities and cultural expressions of the Area Boys, and argues that while economic, psychological and environmental factors are major causes of gangsterism and crime, whether a youth becomes a tout and criminal or not is also based on rationality and choice.