Heat, humidity, open drains and rubbish make Lagos good for insects and rodents. Every home deals with some; the trick is to stop them settling in.
Mosquitoes
The most important pest, because they carry malaria.
- Nets on windows and doors, and a treated net over the bed.
- No standing water: empty buckets, plant saucers, old tyres and blocked gutters, where they breed.
- Repellent at dusk and at night, especially for children.
- Fumigation of the compound helps, but does not replace nets.
Cockroaches and ants
- Keep food sealed and the kitchen clean at night, and take rubbish out daily.
- Seal cracks around pipes and under sinks.
- Baits and gels work better than sprays, and are safer around children.
Rats
Rats come in from drains and gutters, especially in the rainy season.
- Block the gaps: drains without covers, holes under doors, gaps around pipes.
- Do not leave food or rubbish out.
- Traps are safer than poison where there are children or pets; a poisoned rat dying in a wall is its own problem.
Termites
Termites eat wooden doors, frames, furniture and the roof. Look for mud tubes on walls and hollow-sounding wood. Treat early: a professional pest control company can treat the soil and the wood.
Fumigation
Many homes and estates fumigate periodically.
- Use a registered company, and ask what chemicals it uses.
- Leave the house for as long as they say, take children and pets out, and cover food and water.
- Air it out before you return.