A Tale of One City- Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos is a major African financial center and is the economic hub of Lagos State and Nigeria at large. The city has a significant influence.
Lagos is located on a flat spot of land, making it possible for the city to expand. Lagos is well connected to other parts of Nigeria because of the transport routes coming from Lagos. The situation Lagos developed on the west side of the sheltered Lagos lagoon, next to the Bight of Benin on the Atlantic Ocean.
Lagos is Nigeria’s largest city and one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. By the late 15th century Lagos Island had been settled by Yoruba fishermen and hunters, who called it Oko. The area was dominated by the kingdom of Benin, which called it Eko, from the late 16th century to the mid-19th century. The Portuguese first landed on Lagos Island in 1472. Originally governed as a British crown colony, Lagos was part of the United Kingdom’s West African Settlements from 1866 to 1874. Rapid urbanization occurred during the 1970s oil boom when many thousands of people migrated to the area seeking employment opportunities. The growth of Lagos continued into the 1980s and 1990s. Natural increase birth rates being greater than death rates in the city, is a contributing factor to Lagos' population growth.
In 1991, Lagos got stripped of its title of being the capital of Nigeria. The country of Nigeria was once a colony of Great Britain. Lagos was declared a colony in 1862, it became an essential trading center for the European powers who colonized Africa. This pushed Lagos from getting closer to being independent and being able to run their own city/country. The outbreak of bubonic plague was a milestone in the history of Lagos. The epidemic, which began in 1924 and lasted until 1931, was the cause of a total of 1,947 cases and 1,813 deaths, corresponding to a mortality rate of 94.02%. One of the strangest chapters in the history of Lagos is that of the "cement armada". Due to corruption and incompetence of the central government under General Gowon, hundreds of ships with ordered cement deliveries - half of the world supply - were lying outside the port in 1974, causing much havoc around the country. The main driver of growth in Lagos over the past 50 years has been rural-urban migration. People are encouraged to leave the countryside by push factors such as the lack of job opportunities and low wages. They are brought to the city by pull factors such as the prospect of well-paid work and the attraction of an urban lifestyle .
The city of Lagos is a major economic focal point in Nigeria, generating around 10% of the country's GDP. Most commercial and financial business is carried out in the central business district situated on the island. This is also where most of the country's commercial banks, financial institutions, and major corporations are headquartered. Lagos is also the major information communications and telecommunications (ICT) hub of West Africa. Lagos is developing a 24-hour economy. Lagos is the most "globalized" city in West and Central Africa. 5 out of 7 African tech "unicorns" operate out of Lagos.
Lagos used to be the capital of Nigeria, but then it was moved to Abuja. The distance between the cities is only about 467 miles. That is a relativley close distance between two major cities. But the city still has much influence in commerce, entertainment, education, and politics. It is one of the top ten fastest growing cities in the world. The megacity has the fourth highest GDP in Africa. Due to the large urban population and port traffic volumes, Lagos is classified as Medium- Port megacity. The University of Lagos, is one of the first generation universities in Nigeria.
There were six main policy thrusts that the city has tried to incorporate to try to encourage growth and management including ridding the infrastructure gap to unleash economic growth and wealth creation. Optimizing the sources of economic growth to increase productivity and competitiveness. Building a productive, competitive and functional human resource base, for economic growth and social advancement .
According to a report by the World Bank, over 70% of Lagos residents live in informal settlements or slums, lacking access to basic services like clean water and sanitation. These settlements are often overcrowded, with families crammed into small spaces, and lack proper infrastructure and amenities.
60 million Nigerians have no access to basic drinking water, 80 million lack access to advanced sanitation facilities, and 167 million have no access to basic hand washing facilities. This on ging problem is effecting many Nigerians who "live in the slums".
Lagos is notorious for its traffic congestion, with commuters spending up to three hours in gridlock each day. The mass transit system is a crucial step towards alleviating this issue.
The inadequate fleets of public transport vehicles and dilapidated road networks present significant concerns for the state. As the growing populations struggle with the poor infrastructure, there is an increasing number of cars on Lagos' roads, which causes traffic congestion and gridlock .
Inadequate infrastructure facilities have been identified as one of the factors militating against sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. Despite the government’s various efforts to bridge infrastructure gaps, the journey seems prolonged with recurring rural-urban migration and an increase in annual population growth that further strains existing facilities.
Efficient transport and port systems ease the costs of transportation and aid production processes. Better Infrastructure enhances communication flow, and stable electricity increases economic productivity, and strengthens businesses. Water supply and sanitation improve citizens’ health and reduce water-borne related diseases. Lagos needs to improve helping it citizens, and not just improving the business sector
The construction of the Lagos-Ibadan rail created history in West Africa as being the first double-track standard gauge rail in the region. The Lagos-Calabar railway is another large project costing $11 billion and running 1,400 kilometers long, which connects the western and eastern parts of the country.
Other infrastructure projects in Nigeria include the World Trade Centre, the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the Abuja Gateway Airport. The World Trade Centre and Lekki Free Trade Zone will create more business opportunities for foreign and local investors and increase tourism and entertainment. It will also boost commercial and residential real estate development. The Abuja Gateway Airport will be an architecturally appealing addition to the Abuja Airport. Its design will include features that symbolize the countries diverse culture. The use of solar power, green roofs and locally made laterite clay will help contribute to an environmentally friendly and modern design. All three of these projects seem to be an attempt to bring about more economic opportunities by making Nigeria’s richest cities more welcoming and luxurious for foreign investors .
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria recently approved the creation of a new development firm called Infra-Co, which will be backed by an infrastructure fund worth $2.63 billion. The hope is to improve the transportation and power networks that have held back the 40% of Nigerians living below the poverty line — a staggering number for a country that boasts the biggest economy and population in Africa. It has been reported that KPMG will serve as the transactional advisor to the fund which further legitimizes the government’s plan to boost Nigerian infrastructure through partnership with the private sector .
Over 91% of the total population lives in the metropolis with a population density of about 20, 000 persons per square kilometer in the built-up areas of Metropolitan Lagos. The occupancy ratio is 8 – 10 persons per room with 72.5% of households occupying one-room apartment.
Average Price of 1 Bedroom Flats for Rent in Lagos (Report)
Each area of Lagos, has a different average price. But in general the average apartment for year is Lagos is ₦1,340,000 per year which translates to, 912.19 per year. This seems like easy money for many Americans but with the average wage in Lagos being between ₦66,000 and ₦350,000 depending on the type of job. This translates to an annual salary between the range of ₦792,000 and ₦4,200,000.
15th Century
By the late 15th century Lagos Island had been settled by Yoruba fishermen and hunters, who called it Oko. The area was dominated by the kingdom of Benin , which called it Eko, from the late 16th century to the mid-19th century.
1472
The Portuguese first landed on Lagos Island in 1472. Trade developed slowly, however, until the Portuguese were granted a series of asientos de negros—monopolies to sell slaves in the Spanish Americas—a century later. The local Obas (kings) enjoyed good relations with the Portuguese, who called the island Onim (and later Lagos) and established a flourishing slave trade.
1851-1861
British attempts to suppress the slave trade culminated in 1851 in a naval attack on Lagos and the deposition of the oba(kings in the Lagos area). The slave trade continued, however, until Lagos came under British control in 1861.
1866-1874
Originally governed as a British crown colony, Lagos was part of the United Kingdom’s West African Settlements from 1866 to 1874, when it became part of the Gold Coast Colony
1886-1906
In 1886 it again achieved separate status under a British governor, and in 1906 it was amalgamated with the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria.
1954-1960
In 1954 most of the hinterland was incorporated into the region of Western Nigeria, while the city itself was designated as federal territory. In 1960 Lagos became the capital of independent Nigeria. Control of its hinterland was returned to the city in 1967 with the creation of Lagos state.
The model that best fits the city is the African Subsaharian model. In Lagos neighborhoods are now segregated by income, with everything from exclusive, gated communities for the super-rich, to affluent upper-middle-class suburbs, to shantytowns. They keep the business area separate from the living areas of the citizens, which is brocken down even more the closer that you look .