Life in Lagos

Lagos ( /ˈlɑːɡoʊs/ lah-gohs , /ˈleɪɡɒs/ lay-gos ) [5][6]
[7][8] is a port and most populous city in Nigeria.
Lagos is the second fastest growing city in Africa and
the seventh fastest growing city in the world. [9] The
official population of Lagos State, according to Nigerian
census figures from 2006, the population of Lagos State
was 17.5 million.[10] The newest reports estimate the
population is now 21 million, making Lagos the largest
city in Africa. [11]
Lagos was originally inhabited by the Awori subgroup of
the Yoruba people. Under the leadership of the Oloye
Olofin, the Awori moved to an island now called Iddo
and then to the larger Lagos Island. In the 15th
century, the Awori settlement was attacked by the
Benin Empire following a quarrel, and the island
became a Benin war-camp called "Eko" under Oba
Orhogba, the Oba of Benin at the time.[8][12]
Lagos is a metropolitan area which originated on
islands separated by creeks, such as Lagos Island,
fringing the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon while
protected from the Atlantic Ocean by long sand spits
such as Bar Beach , which stretch up to 100 km east
and west of the mouth. From the beginning, Lagos has
expanded on the mainland west of the lagoon and the
conurbation, including Ikeja (which is the capital of
Lagos) and Agege, now reaches more than 40 km (25
mi) north-west of Lagos Island. Some suburbs include
Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry , and more local councils
have recently been created, bringing the total number
of local governments in Lagos to 57.
History
Main article: History of Lagos
Lagos was a war camp for members of the Benin
Empire, who referred to it as Eko . [7][8] The Yoruba still
use the name Eko to refer to Lagos. Lagos, which
means "lakes", was a name given to the settlement by
the Portuguese. The present day Lagos state has a high
percentage of Awori, who migrated to the area from
Isheri along the Ogun river. Throughout history, it was
home to a number of warring ethnic groups who had
settled in the area. Following its early settlement by the
Awori nobility, and its conquest by the Bini warlords of
Benin, the state first came to the attention of the
Portuguese in the 13th century. [13]
Portuguese explorer Rui de Sequeira visited the area in
1472, naming the area around the city Lago de
Curamo; indeed the present name is Portuguese for
"lakes". Another explanation is that Lagos was named
for Lagos, Portugal - a maritime town which, at the
time, was the main centre of Portuguese expeditions
down the African coast, and whose own name is
derived from the Latin word Lacobriga.
Lagos was formally annexed as the British Lagos Colony
in 1861. This had the dual effect of crushing the slave
trade and establishing British control over palm and
other trades.[14] The remainder of modern-day Nigeria
was seized in 1887, and when the Colony and
Protectorate of Nigeria was established in 1914, Lagos
was declared its capital, continuing as such after the
country's independence from Britain in 1960. Along
with migrants from all over Nigeria and other West
African nations were the returnee ex-slaves known as
Creoles, who came from Freetown , Sierra Leone , Brazil
and the West Indies to Lagos. The Creoles contributed
to Lagos' modernisation and their knowledge of
Portuguese architecture can still be seen from the
architecture on Lagos Island. [8]
Lagos experienced rapid growth throughout the 1960s
and 1970s as a result of Nigeria's economic boom
prior to the Nigerian Civil War. Lagos was the capital of
Nigeria from 1914 up to 1991. [15] The city was
stripped of its status when the Federal Capital Territory
was established at the purpose-built city of Abuja . On
14 November 1991, the Presidency and other federal
government functions were finally relocated to the new
capital city of Abuja. [15]
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Geography
Lagos Mainland
Most of the population lives on the mainland, and most
industries are located there too. Lagos is known for its
music and night life, which used to be located in areas
around Yaba and Surulere In recent years more night
clubs have sprung on the island, making the island,
particularly Victoria Island, the main nightlife
attraction. Lagos Mainland districts include Ebute-Meta ,
Surulere, Yaba (location of the University of Lagos) and
Ikeja, site of Murtala Muhammed International Airport
and capital of Lagos State.
Greater Lagos includes Mushin , Maryland, Somolu,
Oshodi, Oworonsoki, Isolo, Ikotun, Agege,Iju Ishaga,
Egbeda, Ketu, Bariga, Ipaja, Ajah and Ejigbo.
The city of Lagos is the main city of the south-western
part of Nigeria. Some rivers, like Badagry Creek, flow
parallel to the coast for some distance before exiting
through the sand bars to the sea. The two major urban
islands of Lagos in Lagos Lagoon are Lagos Island and
Victoria Island . These islands are separated from the
mainland by the main channel draining the lagoon into
the Atlantic Ocean, which forms Lagos Harbour. The
islands are separated from each other by creeks of
varying sizes and are connected to Lagos Island by
bridges. The smaller sections of some creeks have been
sand filled and built over, however.
Islands of Lagos
Lagos Island
Main article: Lagos Island
Lagos Island as seen from the harbour near Victoria
Island
Lagos Island contains a central business district.[16]
This district is characterized by high-rise buildings. The
island also contains many of the city's largest wholesale
marketplaces (such as the popular Idumota and
Balogun markets). [17] It also has the National Museum
of Nigeria, the Central Mosque, the Glover Memorial
Hall, Christ's Cathedral (CMS), and the Oba Palace. [18]
Though formerly in a derelict condition, Lagos Island's
Tinubu Square is a site of historical importance; it was
here that the Amalgamation Ceremony that unified the
North and South protectorate to form Nigeria took
place in 1914.
Ikoyi
Main article: Ikoyi
Ikoyi is situated on the eastern half of Lagos Island and
joined to it by a landfill. [19] Ikoyi is also connected to
Victoria Island by a bridge carrying a main road over a
Five Cowrie creek. [20] Ikoyi housed the headquarter of
the federal government of Nigeria and other buildings
owned by the government -including the old federal
secretariat complex. The complex today is on
reestablishment. In Ikoyi there are military and police
barracks, a top-security prison and a federal high court
of Nigeria. Ikoyi also has a number of hotels, night
clubs, a recreational park and one of Africa's largest
golf courses. Originally a middle class neighbourhood,
in recent years, it has become a fashionable residential
enclave for the upper middle class to the upper class.
There are also commercial activities in Ikoyi which is
spotted in increasing number of offices, banks and
shopping complexes. The commercial section is
concentrated in the South-West.
Victoria Island
Main article: Victoria Island (Nigeria)
Victoria Island with its annex is situated to the south of
Lagos Island. [15] It has expensive real estate properties
and for that reason, many new luxury condos and
apartments are blooming up everywhere. Along with
Ikoyi, Victoria Island occupies a major area in the
suburbs of Lagos which boasts of several sizable
shopping districts. On its sea shore along the Atlantic
front, there is environmentally reconstructed Bar
Beach.
Iddo
Across the main channel of the lagoon from Lagos
Island, there is a smaller settlement called Iddo. Iddo is
also a railroad terminus and it is situated on the
mainland. It is now connected to the mainland like a
peninsula. [21]
Three major bridges join the island to the mainland.
They are the Carter Bridge which start from Iddo, the
Eko Bridge(formerly called the Second Mainland Bridge)
and the Third Mainland Bridge -which passes through
densely populated mainland suburbs through Lagos
lagoon.
Climate
Lagos has a tropical wet and dry climate ( Köppen
climate classification Aw) that borders on a tropical
monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am).
Lagos experiences two rainy seasons, with the heaviest
rains falling from April to July and a weaker rainy
season in October and November. There is a brief
relatively dry spell in August and September and a
longer dry season from December to March. Monthly
rainfall between May and July averages over 400 mm
(15.7 in), while in August and September it is down to
200 mm (7.9 in) and in December as low as 25 mm
(1.0 in). The main dry season is accompanied by
harmattan winds from the Sahara Desert, which
between December and early February can be quite
strong. The highest maximum temperature ever
recorded in Lagos was 37.3 degrees Celsius and the
minimum 13.9 degrees Celsius.[22]Administration and demographics
In terms of administration, Lagos is not a single
municipality and has therefore no overall city
administration.[25] The urban area of Greater Lagos in
fact comprises 16 of the 20 separate municipalities
which together comprise Lagos State, which entity
provides overall government for the metropolitan
region. The Municipality of Lagos, which covered Lagos
Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island as well as some
mainland territory, was managed by the Lagos City
Council (LCC), but it was disbanded in 1976 and
divided into several Local Government Areas (most
notably Lagos Island LGA, Lagos Mainland LGA and Eti-
Osa LGA ). [26] The mainland beyond the Municipality of
Lagos, on the other hand, comprised several separate
towns and settlements such as Mushin , Ikeja and Agege.
In the wake of the 1970s Nigerian oil boom, Lagos
experienced a population explosion, untamed
economic growth, and unmitigated rural migration.
This caused the outlying towns and settlements to
develop rapidly, thus forming the Greater Lagos
metropolis seen today. The history of Lagos is still
evidenced in the layout of the LGAs which display the
unique identities of the cultures that created them.
The 16 LGAs of Metropolitan Lagos
Local Government Area
Land area [3]
(in km²)
Population [4]
(2006 Census)
Density
(inh. per km²)
Agege
11.2
459,939
41,071
Ajeromi-Ifelodun
12.3
684,105
55,474
Alimosho
185.2
1,277,714
6,899
Amuwo-Odofin
134.6
318,166
2,364
Apapa
(home of the main port of Lagos)
26.7
217,362
8,153
Eti-Osa
(home of one of Lagos's largest business centres and
of the upscale communities of Victoria Island and
Ikoyi, formerly the residence of the Nigerian federal
government)
192.3
287,785
1,496
Ifako-Ijaiye
26.6
427,878
16,078
Ikeja
46.2
313,196
6,785
Kosofe
81.4
665,393
8,174
Lagos Island
(the historical centre and commercial core of the
Lagos agglomeration)
8.7
209,437
24,182
Lagos Mainland
19.5
317,720
16,322
Mushin
17.5
633,009
36,213
Ojo
158.2
598,071
3,781
Oshodi-Isolo
44.8
621,509
13,886
Somolu
11.6
402,673
34,862
Surulere
23.0
503,975
21,912
Metropolitan Lagos
999.6
7,937,932
7,941
Map showing the 16 LGAs making up Metropolitan
Lagos. Note that Metropolitan Lagos is a statistical area
and not an administrative entity unlike Lagos State.
Lagos State is made up of these 16 LGAs and 4 other
larger LGAs not shown on the map.
Today, the word Lagos most often refers to the urban
area, called "Metropolitan Lagos" in Nigeria, which
includes both the islands of the former municipality of
Lagos and the mainland suburbs. Lagos State
government is responsible for some of the utilities
including roads and transportation, power, water,
health, and education. Metropolitan Lagos (a statistical
division, and not an administrative unit) extends over
16 of the 20 LGAs of Lagos State, and contains 88% of
the population of Lagos State, and includes semi-rural
areas. [27] Lagos City has a considerable number of
high-rise buildings which dominate its skyline. Most of
the tall buildings are located in the downtown Central
Business District.
Lagos was the former capital city of Nigeria but it has
since been replaced by Abuja . Abuja officially gained its
status as the capital of Nigeria on 12 December 1991,
although the decision to move the federal capital had
been made in now Act no. 6 of 1976. Lagos is also
home to the High Court of the Lagos State Judiciary,
housed in an old colonial building on Lagos Island. [28]
Eko Atlantic City
Eko Atlantic City is a planned 21st-century city,
intended to be built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic
Ocean. Already, most of the land has been reclaimed.
The proposed development is targeting 400,000
residents and 250,000 commuters flowing daily to the
island. The project is planned to return the coast to its
position in the 1950s and 1960s, reversing damage
done by erosion. [29]
Census data for Lagos
Although the 2006 National Population Census of
Nigeria credited the metropolitan area with a
population figure of 7,937,932, the figure is at variance
with some projections by the UN and other population
agencies and groups worldwide. The population figure
of Lagos State given by the Lagos State Government is
17,553,924. It was based on conducted enumeration
for social planning by the Lagos State Government and
it believes that since the inhabitants of the metropolitan
area of Lagos constitute 88% of the Lagos State
population, the population of metropolitan Lagos is
about 15.5 million.[30] A rejoinder to Lagos State
Government views [31] concluded that "Lagos State
concealed the fact that the population projection, for
Lagos Urban Agglomeration by the UN agencies had
been revised downwards substantially as early as 2003.
It failed to interpret the two most important and fairly
representative and reliable secondary data sets already
in public domain, the National Identity Card Scheme
and the 2003 Voters Registration figures from INEC.
The recently released figures for 2007 Voters
Registration by INEC were an act subsequent to the
release of the provisional census results and
comprehensively corroborate, vindicate and validate
the population figures in no uncertain terms. According
to the official results of the 2006 census, there are
8,048,430 inhabitants in Metropolitan Lagos. [4] This
figure is lower than what had been anticipated and has
created a controversy in Nigeria. Lagos Island, the
central Local Government Area and historic centre of
Metropolitan Lagos, had a population of 212,700 as of
the 2006 Census.[32]
Authorities of Lagos State have attacked the results of
the 2006 census, accusing the Nigerian National
Population Commission of having undercounted the
population of the state. This accusation is denied by the
National Population Commission.[33][34]
Lagos is, by most estimates, one of the fastest-growing
cities in the world. Lagos is currently experiencing a
population increase of about 275,000 persons per
annum. In 1999 the United Nations predicted that the
city's metropolitan area, which had only about
290,000 inhabitants in 1950, would exceed 20 million
by 2010 and thus become one of the ten most
populated cities in the world.
There is a huge spectrum of wealth distribution among
the people that reside in Lagos. It ranges from the very
wealthy to the very poor. Lagos has attracted many
young people and families seeking a better life from all
other parts of Nigeria and beyond.
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Economy
Shopping in Lagos
Lagos is Nigeria's economic focal point, generating a
significant portion 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
and financial institutions and major corporations are
headquartered. Lagos has one of the highest standards
of living as compared to other cities in Nigeria as well as
in Africa.
The Port of Lagos is Nigeria's leading port and one of
the largest and busiest in Africa. It is administered by
the Nigerian Ports Authority and it is split into three
main sections: Lagos port, in the main channel next to
Lagos Island, Apapa Port (site of the container terminal)
and Tin Can Port, both located in Badagry Creek, which
flows into Lagos Harbour from the west. [35] The port
features a railhead .
The port has seen growing amounts of crude oil
exported, with export figures rising between 1997 and
2000. [36] Oil and petroleum products provide 14% of
GDP and 90% of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria
as a whole. [37]
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Transportation
Highways
Lagos has one of the largest and most extensive road
networks in West Africa. [38][39] It also has suburban
trains and some ferry services. Highways are usually
congested in peak hours, due in part to the geography
of the city, as well as to its explosive population growth.
Lagos is also linked by many highways and bridges. A
new rail system which is supposed to span the length of
the Badagry expressway is currently under
construction.
Third Mainland Bridge
The Lagos– Ibadan Expressway and the Lagos– Abeokuta
Expressway are the major controlled-access highways in
the north of the city and serve as inter-state highways
to Oyo State and Ogun State respectively. To the west
the congested Lagos–Badagry Expressway serves
outlying towns such as Festival Town , which was the
location for the 1977 Festival of Black Arts and Culture
77. [40]
Lagos's importance as a commercial centre and port
and its strategic location have led to it being the end-
point of three Trans-African Highway routes using
Nigeria's national roads. [41] The Trans–West African
Coastal Highway leaves the city as the Badagry
Expressway to Benin and beyond as far as Dakar and
Nouakchott ; the Trans-Sahara Highway to Algiers, which
is close to completion, leaves the city as the Lagos-
Ibadan Expressway. [42]
Lagos State has a bus rapid transit (BRT) system; [39]
the first phase was completed in February 2008. It is
expected to operate along eight routes using specially
designated bus rapid transit lanes running through the
city, with the aim of expanding to other routes in the
future. The first phase of the Lagos BRT runs 12 miles
through Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue up
to CMS. After weeks of test runs, operations started on
17 March 2008, six months earlier than planned. [39]
It has been estimated that the system will transport
about 10,000 passengers in each direction per hour
during peak travel times. At these times traffic
congestion, called " Go Slow ," by Lagosians, can be
extreme.[43] The LAMATA bus rapid transit corridor
covers a distance of about 22 kilometres in length. The
system is run by two operators, NURTW Cooperative
(Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers) and
Lagbus, a Lagos State Government owned Asset
Management Company which contributes about 180
high capacity buses for the implementation of the first
phase Mile 12 to CMS BRT Lite system.
Rail
Main article: Lagos Rail Mass Transit
A planned extensive urban rail system running through
the Lagos metropolis. [44]
Ferries
Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation runs a few
regular routes, for example between Lagos Island and
the mainland, modern ferries and wharves. Private
boats run irregular passenger services on the lagoon
and on some creeks.[45]
Air
Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Lagos is served by Murtala Muhammed International
Airport, one of the largest airports in Africa and a top
international air passenger gateway to Nigeria. The
airport is located in the northern suburb of Ikeja and
has Domestic and International Terminals. With 5.1
million passengers in 2008, the airport accounts for
almost fifty percent of all air traffic in Nigeria.
Outbound international travel from Murtala
Mohammed Airport accounts for the majority of all air
passengers traveling to and from Nigeria. [46] The
airport has recently undergone upgrades along with the
addition of a new terminal.
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Culture
Music and film industry
Lagos is famous throughout Africa for its music scene.
Lagos has given birth to a variety of styles such as
Nigerian hip hop , highlife, juju , fuji, and Afrobeat.[47]
Lagos is the center of the Nigerian movie industry, often
referred to as 'Nollywood.' Idumota market on Lagos
Island is the primary distribution center. Many films are
shot in the Festac area of Lagos. [48]
National Arts Theatre
The cinemas are gradually losing their supporters to the
movie industry. Yoruba language films happen to be the
most watched in the cinemas, followed by Indian films .
Films are not premiered for a long period of time in the
western sense, especially with Yoruba language films.
Films in English are controlled mainly by the Igbos are
the most popular and move directly from the studios
to the market. [48]
Iganmu is home to the primary centre for the
performing arts and artistes in Nigeria: the National
Arts Theatre .
Paul McCartney also recorded his third post- Beatles
album, Band On The Run in an EMI studio in Lagos in
August to September 1973. [49]
Sport
Football is Lagos' most popular sport. Prominent Lagos
football clubs include Bridge Boys F.C. (owned by the
Lagos State), and First Bank: both play in Nigeria
National League , the second tier of Nigerian football.
The Nigeria national football team , also known as the
Super Eagles , used to play almost all of their home
games in Lagos at the National Stadium in Surulere;
however, games are now mostly played at the larger
and newer Abuja National Stadium in Abuja, which is
the default home of the Super Eagles. [50][51]
Tourism
Lagos, subsequent to the re-modernization project
achieved by the current administration of Governor Raji
Babatunde Fashola, is gradually becoming a major
tourist destination, being one of the largest cities in
Africa and in the world. Lagos is currently taking steps
to become a global city . The 2009 Eyo carnival (a
yearly festival originated from Iperu Remo , Ogun State)
which took place on 25 April, was a step toward world
city status. Currently, Lagos is primarily known as a
business-oriented and a fast paced community. [27]
Lagos has a number of sandy beaches by the Atlantic
Ocean a few are Badagry beach, Eleko beach, Elegushi,
Alpha beach. Two of the popular beaches include Bar
Beach and Lekki Beach. Lagos has a variety of hotels
ranging from three star to five star hotels. Other places
of interest include The Tafawa Balewa Square, Festac
town, Lekki Conservation Centre, The Remembrance
Arcade and the Slave Jetty in Badagry
For the newcomers to Lagos, one of the many ways to
get around is look at some of the local sites like
VConnect.com and LostinLagos.com. They are like the
local Yelp services. Visitors can explore the Nigerian
cuisine, Lebanese cuisine, Chinese cuisine and various
other cuisines by looking up these local info websites.
Some of the popular hotels include Welcome Centre
Hotels, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Federal Palace
Hotel, Stop Over Motels, Ikoyi Hotel, Sofitel Lagos
Moorhouse Ikoyi, Eko Hotels And Suites, and The
Palmview Manor. Visitors are mostly attracted to
Nigeria's rich culture, entertainment scenes and vitality
which Lagos city offers. Tourist attractions include
Oba's Palace, the Nigerian National Museum , Shrine of
Fela , the beach resorts.[52]
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Education
The Lagos State Government operates state schools. [53]
The education system is the 6-3-3-4 system, which is
practised throughout the country (as well as by many
other members of the Economic Community of West
African States ). The levels are Primary, Junior
Secondary School (JSS), Senior Secondary School (SSS),
and university. All children are offered basic education,
with special focus now on the first nine years.
Lagos is home to various postsecondary schools,
universities and other vocational institutions that are
either operated by the government or private entities.
[54]
Vocational Schools
Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT) : founded in
2000, IIT is a technical vocational school for male
youth from families with limited resources. Its
educational model is based on the Dual Training
System .
Polytechnics
Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) : founded in
1934, the college is Nigeria's first higher educational
institution and third in Africa. The college is a center
of culture and heritage. Currently it has student
enrollment of over 16,000.
Lagos State Polytechnic is a polytechnic comprising
more than six schools including private polytechnics
and was founded 25 years ago. Its main campus
resides at Ikorodu, along Shagamu road.
Lagos City Polytechnic , located at 6/8, Bashiru Oweh
Street, Off Simbiat Abiola Road (formerly Medical
Road),Ikeja - This is the first private Polytechnic in
Nigeria. It was established in 1990 by Engr.
Babatunde Odufuwa. Engr. Odufuwa hails from Oke-
Aye in Ijebu North East Local Government Area
(I.N.E.L.G) of Ogun State.
Grace Polytechnic
Wolex Polytechnic
Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology is
a monotechnic that offers courses in fisheries
technology, general science, marine engineering and
nautical science.
Federal College of Education (tech) Akoka
Universities
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka, is a large
institution dating from 1962, with over 35,000
students. It comprises 13 faculties, run by over
4,000 staff. [55]
Lagos State University (LASU) is a multi-campus
university established in 1984 and owned by the
Lagos State government. The main campus is
located at Ojo, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
Pan-Atlantic University is primarily a business
school, offering two MBA programmes. Founded in
1996 and awarded University status in 2002, it
consists of the Lagos Business School and of
Enterprise Development Services. The University also
places some emphasis on the study of art , running
the Virtual Museum of Modern Nigerian Art.
National Open University of Nigeria National Open
University is the first open university in Nigeria, it is
located on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos
Lagos State College of Health Technology(LASCOHET),
Yaba- A mini institution that run health courses such
as Health information Management, Pharmacist
Technician, Medical Laboratary
Technician,Community health extension worker and
Environmental Health Technology, it is located in
Yaba
Lagos State University College of Medicine,
(LASUCOM), Ikeja
Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-
Araba-Mushin, Lagos.
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Notable people
Herbert Macauley
Henry Rawlingson Carr
Mobolaji Johnson
Adeniran Ogunsanya
Bola Tinubu
Babatunde Fashola
Fela Kuti
Ernest Shonekan
Elugbaju Temitayo
Adewuyi Damilare