LAGOS, Nigeria: CASE STUDY urban growth in an LIC city Flashcards
Lagos is a city in Nigeria
Nigeria is a NEE and richest country in Arica; Lagos has a coastal location and this benefits trade.
Lagos importance
was national capital until 1991; remains main financial centre for whole West Africa
Lagos population
300,000 migrants per year; urban sprawl outwards; high natural pop increase
Lagos social opportunities:
better access to services and resources than rural Nigeria
healthcare
more hospitals and better range of medicines than rest of Nigeria; not free but care is available.
education
68% Lagos pop have secondary education , more than in deprived rural areas. Many more schools and universities than in rural areas. floating school project in Makoko collapsed
resources and energy
Lagos has electricity for lighting and cooking and developing business
water
treatment plants provide safe water to parts of the city
3 Economic opportunities in Lagos
Nigeria is poor but Lagos has better and more jobs available
- Rapid growth
growing population means bigger market for goods and services; more jobs in construction as city grows.
- Services
Educated population attracts investment from banks, government, food and drink processing; plus ports and fishing provide more jobs than elsewhere.
- Entertainment
Lagos film and media and music industry thrives in Lagos, e.g Nollywood films
Social Challenges in Lagos
- housing,
- sanitation,
- water and fuel,
- crime.
Housing problems: Shanty towns e.g Makoko
houses are flimsy, wooden huts built on stilts over lagoon; only one primary school; poor community;
Lack of sanitation
unsanitary conditions; communal toilets shared by 15 households; waste goes directly into lagoon; health problems with foul water e.g cholera
Water and fuel problems
no clean and safe water supply for Makoko; communal water point 3km away. Boreholes are unreliable and polluted; water from vendors is expensive.
Crime problem
high crime rate; slum self policed by violent gangs called Area Boys, often paid by drugs; Police have only 3 helicopters to spot crime.
3 Environmental Challenges in Lagos
rubbish; pollution and traffic congestion.
2 Economic challenges in Lagos
- Not enough formal jobs;
2. Informal sector is most important e.g recycling on Olusoson rubbish dump.
Rising sea levels
threaten water supply as salty water is undrinkable and settlements near lagoon are flooded. e.g Makoko
Urban transport planning: e.g LAMATA
Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority: reducing transport and traffic congestion with a bus rapid transit system. There is no integrated transport system yet in Lagos
Urban housing planning e.g Makoko
e.g managing Makoko and the floating school; Government has previously demolished parts of Makoko.
