3.4 Lagos-growth, function and structure Flashcards
Describe Lagos.
Lagos is in West Africa but not on the Pacific Ocean (Atlantic).
It is not the capital city of Nigeria and is not in the east of the country.
It’s located around a lagoon and has a sheltered location for a port.
Furthermore, it is well connected to the capital city Abuja and port, and well connected internationally with an airport and port.
Lagos is in Nigeria with many countries in W.Africa located nearby.
Finally its latitude is 5C north of the Equator.
What is Lagos?
It is a megacity in Nigeria, which is an emerging country and is the richest in the continent of Africa.
Furthermore, it has a population of over 21 million, and is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world.
What is it about Lagos’s location that helps it develop and run well?
Because firstly its location is ideal for its port, which is one of the largest in Africa.
Also the city has spread outwards from its origin on Lagos island around the lagoon and along the coast.
Furthermore it is well connected by road to the other major towns in Nigeria, like the capital city Abuja, which allows effective and easier transport routes for people.
It also has an international port and airport, making it an important centre for regional and global trade.
What is it about what Lagos has that helps it develop, run well and attract a lot of people?
It is Nigeria’s biggest city for business,as well as population.
It was the national capital until 1991, and still remains the main financial centre for the whole of West Africa.
The city contains 80% on Nigeria’s industry and lots of global companies are located there.
These would be major pull factors for people to get better jobs, which explains the large population.
It is also the centre of “Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, which has a thriving music scene, which has introduced music styles like Afrobeat- this has given it cultural importance, which would be other pull factors to people.
Explain how the site has helped Lagos grow (relief, shelter, water and food supply)
N
Explain how the situation and connectivity has helped Lagos grow (harbour, trade,
airport, road network to cities and neighbouring countries, links to other continents/regions
T
Explain how far Lagos is
an important city for Nigeria, West Africa and in the World?
M
Describe each area in Lagos
The CBD,positioned on Lagos Island, contains modern high-rise office buildings, local government headquarters and banks
One part of the inner city, in Mushin,consists of older, high-density, low-quality housing. The other part in Ikeja, has a large industrial estate (that was built in the 1960’s, with factories making materials such plastics and textiles.
The suburbs on Victoria Island, has modern, high-class residential and commercial- lots of businesses and shops.
In the RUF the part in Ojo consists of sprawling, low-density new housing, that are located on the outskirts of the city. The other part in Lekki, currently has a new industrial zone and port being built.
Describe the general layout of Lagos.
The oldest parts of the city are positioned on Lagos Island, which is now the CBD, where a lot of the buildings have now been redeveloped as high-rise office blocks and luxury shops, making the land itself very expensive.
Due to the spread up north and east along the main road and rail links (which happened by 1960) Mushin industries were created, which develop near major transport links like for instance the IKEJA industrial estate near the airport.
Due to rapid expansion that occurred by 1990 , Lagos merged with smaller surrounding towns which formed a continuos urban area. Still, the city continues to sprawl into the surrounding countryside.
