EQ 2 Flashcards
Give some facts on Lagos
Lagos is a mega city in Nigeria
It is an emerging country and the richest country in Africa
The Cities population is over 21,000,000 and one of the fastest growing urban areas in the world
How has Lagos’ population changed Historically?
The city was under British rule during colonial times I was at centre of trade. This attractive traders and mergence in the city.
Many excludes also came to legal Lagos from Sierra Leone, Brazil And the West Indies.
How has lagos’ Population changed from the 1960s to the 1990s
After Lagos gained independence there was a rapid economic development-the export of oil made some people very wealthy
The government financed lots of construction projects. The jobs created led to rapid urbanisation causing lots of people to move to Lagos from Rurel Nigeria
How has Lagos population changed recently?
Most of the population growth in Lagos is due to Rural urban migration
The countries bordering Nigeria are poor and involved in conflict meaning many people leave these countries for a better life in Lagos
Birthrates are still higher than death rates though both are slowly falling
There is some international migration from the USA, the UK and China. This is mainly people who are employed by foreign businesses operating in Lagos
How has Lagos growth is caused to changes in land use
Lagos has expanded outwards meaning a large area is now built on. Lots of people are forced to move to the rural urban fringe As they cannot afford the rising house prices in the inner city
Previously empty areas are now built on
Land has been reclaimed from the lagoon. Land around the central business district is in high demand and very valuable, so artificial islands have been built and contain huge houses in gated communities.
Sam slums had been upgraded and made more permanent. The hots have been removed and new 3 to 4 story apartments have been built in their place
Some parts of the Mokoko slam have been cleared by the government to allow development of desirable areas on the waterfront
What are the opportunities for some people in Lagos?
Income is about four times higher in Lagos than those in rural areas and informal sector jobs mean most people can find a way of making money.
Lagos is home to many of the countries banks, government departments and manufacturing industries. There are two major ports and a fishing industry, all of which provide employment.
Rapid growth of the city means there’s a lot of construction jobs
It is possible to access electricity and water networks as well as TV and the Internet
There are more health care centres and hospitals and a better range of medicines in Lagos and there is better access to higher education. Lagos has six universities
What problems do you Lagos face in housing?
Over 60% of the city’s population live in slums
Houses are often flimsy, wooden hut. These are illegally built therefore people face eviction if slums are demolished to clean up the city
The only electricity comes from illegal connections that are often cut
There are high levels of crime. Many slums are patrolled by gangs called Area boys who both commit crimes and act as informal police in the slum
What are the problems Lagos faces in terms of traffic?
Lagos has some of the worst traffic congestion in the world because:
There has been very little investment in transport infrastructure, despite the city growing enormously
Public transport is limited, although there are plans to improve it e.g. a light rail train
The CBD is on an island, with only three bridges linking it to the rest of the city
What are the problems Lagos faces in terms of employment?
There aren’t enough for more jobs for the growing population meaning people have to make money anyway they can.
About 60% of the population work in informal jobs
There is no protection for informal workers.
Lots of people live on less than $1.25 a day
What are some of the problems that Lagos faces in terms of water supply?
Only about 40% of the city is connected to the state water supply. The pipes are old and rusty therefore the water often gets contaminated with sewage
The state water company supplies less than half of what is needed. Water is in such short supply that people page hugely inflated prices to get water from informal sellers.
What are some of the problems that Lagos faces in terms of waste disposal?
Most of the city doesn’t have access to proper sewers this causes health problems e.g. cholera
This huge population produces lots of waste approximately 9000 tons per day
Only about 40% of rubbish is officially collected and there are large rubbish dumps. Waste disposal and omissions from factories are not controlled leading to air and water pollution
What are some of the problems that Lagos face in Terms of services
There aren’t enough schools for the population and many families can’t afford to send their children to school
There aren’t enough healthcare facilities and many people can’t afford to pay for treatment
What are the differences in a quality between rich and poor people in Lagos
Rich:
Wealthy people can afford better housing
They can afford to live closer to work so don’t have to face traffic jams every day
Lagos does not have enough electricity generating capacity to satisfy the Whole City therefore neighbourhoods have to take turns to have electricity. The very wealthy improve their quality of life by running their own powerful generators
Poor:
They end up living in slums on the land that regularly floods but is close to polluting factories
Electricity is not available to the poorest people in slums meaning they are reliant on polluting cooking stoves or small petrol generators which cause pollution and reduce quality of life
Lack of waste disposal lead to high risk for health
How is the government trying to make Lagos sustainable. List four ways
Improving water supply
Reducing traffic congestion
Improving waste disposal
Improving air-quality
How is improving the water supply going to make Lagos more sustainable
The government has begun work on a $2.5 billion plan which includes new water treatment plants and distribution networks. In the meantime water kiosks are being introduced where people can buy water at a lower price then from informal water sellers
