Contrasting urban areas- London vs Lagos

Question 1

Population

Answer 1

London= 13 million
Lagos= 22 million

Question 2

Life expectancy

Answer 2

London= 81
Lagos = 55

Question 3

GDP per capita

Answer 3

London= 59,000
Lagos= 4,300

Question 4

Access to electricity

Answer 4

87% in Lagos, 100% in London

Question 5

Urbanisation in Lagos vs London

Answer 5

• In Lagos, there is a population of 21 million, 600,000 people added to the city each year and by 2035, the city is predicted to have a population of 40 million. Lagos is already 4 times more crowded than London and urban growth is primarily due to rural-urban migration for jobs.
• London has a population of 9 million, the majority of its rapid urban growth took place in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution. The population declined following bombings in 1941 during the Second World War, and then has been increasing since 1991- it is expected t become a megacity and population reach 10 million by 2030. Counter-urbanisation is also taking place starting in the 1960s with the development of new commuter towns such as Milton Keynes.

Question 6

Crime in Lagos

Answer 6

-Crime rates are very high in Lagos, especially those involving drugs, vandalism and theft. Corruption, bribery, assault and armed robbery rates are very high.
-A street gang known as “areas boys” have a prescence on most streets, most members are 20 but recruit members as young as 8 or 9. The gang mainly make money from thievery and drugs.
-Kidnapping is an increasing threat in Lagos and scams and cyber fraud.

Question 7

Lagos Introduction

Answer 7

Lagos is a coastal megacity and the largest city in Africa. Its population of 21 million is expected to grow at a rate of 4% a year. It is considered to be the financial capital of West Africa and the main port of the region. However, it is at a great risk of coastal erosion. In 2003 a sea wall (named the ‘Great Wall of Lagos’) was designed to stop the erosion resulting from sea level rise and human activities further along the coastline.

Question 8

EKO Atlantic

Answer 8

-In 2003, sea wall ‘great wall of Lagos’ was designed to stop the erosion resulting from sea level rise, behind the sea wall a new development called EKO Atlantic is planned.
-The planned new city is called the “African Dubai”, will have a population of 250,000 and a further 150,000 commuters
-The eco-friendly city will contain businesses, residential districts, hotels, leisure facilities, banks and TNCs, all the finance raised has been by private companies.

Question 9

Critics of EKO Atlantic

Answer 9

-2/3 of Lagos population live in slums and critics believe that the Lagos state government should do more to improve the lives of slum dwellers rather than encourage developments that will benefit the wealthy.
-Moreover, many of the nearby slum population claim that the Great Wall and EKO Atlantic project will lead to an increase in coastal erosion as a result of coastal scouring.

Question 10

The Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED)

Answer 10

-BedZED is an environmentally friendly housing development built in 2000-2002 near Wallington, South London.
-99 homes and 1405 square metres of workspace have 777m squared off solar panels
-South facing houses that are triple glazed and have high thermal insulation
-Building materials selected from renewable or recycled sources within 35 miles of the site to minimize the energy required for transportation
-Location close to a tram line, a train line and bus routes

Question 11

What are the BedZED successes compared to UK averages?

Answer 11

-Space-heating requirements are 88% less
-Hot water requirements 57% less
-Electric power used 25% less, 11% powered by solar power
-Mains water power reduced by 50%
-Residents car milage is 65% less
-Project cost £15 million, £150,000 a home (expensive)