lagos

Question 1

True or false, Lagos is one of the fastest growing countries

Answer 1

True

Question 2

How is Lagos important regionally?

Answer 2

the large migrant population increases cultural diversity. It is also well connected to other major towns, making it an important centre for regional trade

Question 3

how is Lagos important nationally

Answer 3

Lagos is home to 80% of Nigeria’s industry and some major global companies. It was also the capital of Nigeria until 1991

Question 4

how is lagos important internationally

Answer 4

Lagos is the main financial centre for the entire west africa and the 5th largest economy in Africa. The international port and airport are important for gobal trade

Question 5

List 6 reasons why Lagos has grown rapidly

Answer 5

1- british colonizers in the 1860s made lagos a centre for trade which attracted merchants

2- many ex-slaves returned home to lagos when slavery was abolished

3- when lagos gained independence, there was rapid economic development since lagos’ natural resources like oil weren’t under british control

4- government financed many projects such as oil refineries and sea port factories which created job and led to rapid urbanization

5- natural increase (nigeria’s birthrate is 35.2 births per 1000 people compared to death rate of 9.6)

6- migration. 1200 immigrants enter lagos every day from neighbouring countries or rural areas.

Question 6

list 4 social opportunities that lagos provides

Answer 6

1- more hospitals and greater range of medicine

2- 20,000 schools. 90% of nigerian children in urban areas attend school. only 60% in rural

3- lagos has better access to electricity than most of nigeria. many people can light their homes and cook easily

4- water treatment plants that provide safe clean water to some areas of the city

Question 7

list 4 economic opportunities that Lagos provides

Answer 7

1- income in lagos can be 4x times higher than in rural areas.

2- rapid growth means theres a lot of construction jobs

3- Lagos is home to many of the countries’ banks, government departments, and manufacturing industries. There are also two major sea ports and a fishing industry

4- Lagos has a thriving film and music industry - Nollywood

Question 8

list one problem caused by the rapid growth of lagos

slums and squatter settlements

Answer 8

1- house construction cant keep up with lagos’ growth so house prices go up which becomes too costly for people. as a result, 66% of people living in lagos, live in illegal settlements called slums.
Huts in slums are flimsy and people are set for eviction to demolish the slums to clean up the city

Question 9

list one problem caused by the rapid growth of lagos

access to clean water, sanitation and energy

Answer 9

water - only 40% of the city is connected to the state water supply. water is in a short supply so ppl pay inflated prices to get water from informal sellers

sanitation - 15 households can share a toilet and the waste goes to a local water source. contaminated water causes health problems like cholera

energy - lagos doesnt have enough electricity to power the whole city so neighbourhoods take turns

Question 10

list one problem caused by rapid growth of lagos

access to health and education

Answer 10

health - there arent enough healthcare facilities to support everyone and many can’t afford treatment

education - arent enough schools for the growing population and many families cant afford to send their kids to school.

Question 11

list one problem of rapid growth of lagos

unemployment and crime

Answer 11

• there arent enough jobs for everyone so people have to scavenge rubbish dumps to find stuff to sell
• 60% of the population works in informal jobs without any legal protection.
• high levels of crime due to gangs who patrol the slums.

Question 12

List 3 environmental issues that come with the rapid growth of lagos

Answer 12

1- the huge population produces 9000 tonnes of waste a day and only 40% of it is collected and there are large dumps which contain toxic waste

2- waste disposal and emissions from factories aren’t controlled so it leads to water and air pollution

3- traffic congestion is bad. limited public transport and poor links to the city centre contribute to the problem. severe congestion leads to further air pollution

Question 13

what are urban planning schemes

Answer 13

schemes that aim to improve the quality of life

Question 14

what was built to give children in lagos access to free education

Answer 14

Makoko floating school

Question 15

what are the social benefits of the makoko floating school

Answer 15

1- 100 students were educated for free, so they didnt have to work or scavenge to pay school fees

2- the school was built but unskilled local workers who then acquired the skill. this led to them also being able to build and repair their own homes

3- The school was also used for local community meetings and activities which increased their community spirit

Question 16

what are the economic benefits of the Makoko floating school

Answer 16

1- education improves local kids’ job prospects

2- the school provided jobs for local teachers

3- the school’s success encouraged the government to invest into the slum further by building homes and a biogass plant to produce cooking gas for local people

Question 17

what are the environmental benefits of the Makoko floating school

Answer 17

1- the materials used (250 floating barrels) were all locally sourced so its construction didn’t harm the local environment + repairs would be easy

2- the school’s buoyancy allowed it to adjust to the diff water levels and protect the children from floods

3- the school ran on solar power so its energy needs were met in a sustainable way.

4- the school collected rainwater to meet water needs. this means they didnt use resources that the local community relied on