Urban Issues and Challenges - Lagos

Question 1

Where is Lagos?

Answer 1

Nigeria - western region of Africa
West of South coast of Nigeria

Question 2

Why is Lagos important internationally?

Answer 2

7th fastest growing city in world

Question 3

Why is Lagos important nationally?

Answer 3

11th largest economy in Africa

Question 4

Why is Lagos important regionally?

Answer 4

10% of Nigerias population

Question 5

Why does natural increase occur in Lagos?

Answer 5

Rural to urban migration
Younger people move for employment
Settle down and start a family

Question 6

What are three possible issues created from natural increase?

Answer 6

• Waste increases
• Land/Resources become limited
• Unemployment increases

Question 7

What are three possible benefits of population growth?

Answer 7

• Brings wealth
• Builds the economy
• Facilities improve

Question 8

Opportunities in Health Care

Answer 8

Better access to clinics, hospitals, doctors than rural areas

Question 9

Opportunities in Energy

Answer 9

Better access
Although there are frequent power cuts
80% of population rely on diesel generator

Question 10

Opportunities in Education

Answer 10

Offer state schools

Question 11

Opportunities with Water supply

Answer 11

Most people dig wells or boreholes or buy from street vendors
Lagos co-proration supply over 12 million with drinking water

Question 12

Opportunities in transport

Answer 12

Blue Rail Line
Lagos Mainland to Marina
Expected to transport 250,000 passengers daily - reduces congestion

Question 13

Opportunities in employment

Answer 13

More secondary (factories) and tertiary (teaching) jobs available

Question 14

What is the informal sector?

Answer 14

Citizens that do not pay tax but still have jobs that earn money

Question 15

Advantages of Olusosun rubbish dump

Answer 15

500 people work at the dump

Each day the workers sort 3,000 tonnes of waste by hand picking valuable items to sell

Resells items rather than going to waste

Question 16

Disadvantages of Olusosun rubbish dump

Answer 16

Natural gases build up - when it is dry it leads to fires that are hard to distinguish

Toxic fumes can be breathed in mud workers which is harmful to human health

Lots of workers wear no shoes/gloves = cuts

Question 17

Opportunities of the informal sector

Answer 17

Offers poor and uneducated people the opportunity to earn money

Afford essentials and support family

Improves quality of life

Question 18

Challenges of informal sector

Answer 18

People often work in dangerous and hazardous conditions

More likely to bet ill or injure themselves in labour intensive jobs

Can’t afford healthcare so becomes more severe and eventually death

Question 19

Challenges of waste

Answer 19

Waste is dumped into landfill

Hazardous to human health

Question 20

Challenges of Traffic congestion

Answer 20

Average commuter spends 3 hours in traffic

Productivity decreases = economy decreases

Question 21

Challenges of air pollution

Answer 21

Air pollution is five times higher than recommended limit

Question 22

Challenges of water supply

Answer 22

Uncontrolled disposal of sewage means contaminated water

Only 10% of the city have access to clean water

Question 23

Challenges in Health care

Answer 23

Long queues

Not always free

Population is growing compared to investments

Question 24

Challenges in education

Answer 24

Children in poor families work to provide for family

Most secondary schools are private

Question 25

Challenges in crime

Answer 25

Drugs, vanadalism, theft, assault, kidnapping

Violent outbursts between street gangs = ‘area boys’

Question 26

Challenges in employment

Answer 26

High unemployment

40% of population work in informal sector

Question 27

What is urban planning?

Answer 27

Aims to bring about long term change and improvement to an urban area

Question 28

What strategies are used to reduce traffic congestion?

Answer 28

Bus Rapid transit (BRT)

The Lagos Rail Mass transit - Blue rail line

Question 29

Advantages and disadvantages of Bus Rapid transit system?

Answer 29

• 220,000 passengers daily
• Average bus wait time = 10 minutes
• Growing population means increased pressure on system
• Only runs from North to South so only covers part of city

Question 30

What is Makoko?

Answer 30

The worlds biggest floating slum

Wooden shacks stood on stilts

Question 31

Opportunities of Makoko

Answer 31

Water supply is more reliable than other areas of Nigeria

Job opportunities in the informal sector

Question 32

Challenges of Makoko

Answer 32

Most homes are constructed from waste materials - unstable housing

15 homes share 1 toilet

Sanitation is poor and healthcare can be unaffordable

Question 33

Advantages of Makoko Floating school?

Answer 33

Only public space in the area

Vital meeting point for the community

Acts as solution for affordable housing

Rain water collection, local building materials and solar panels

Question 34

What is Eko Atlantic?

Answer 34

A new city with reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean

Question 35

Advantages of Eko Atlantic

Answer 35

Bring in new economic investments

Designed to protect Lagos from flooding and storm surge

Green conscious

Question 36

Disadvantages of Eko Atlantic

Answer 36

Potential risk from sea level rise

Fishing communities forced out