Geographic consequences of Lagos as a megacity that has experienced rapid growth

Useful background information

Reason for megacity growth

Political consequences

Economic consequences

Environmental consequences

internal rural to urban migration (push factors)

natural increase.

Fertility rate of Lagos Sate: 3.4

Income inequality between urban and rural areas.

Food, water and energy insecurity.

Subsistence farming is common - primary sector = low pay

Risk of violence and terrorism (Boko Haram)

= higher than 2.1 replacement rate = Population growth!

Economic Core

Accounted for more than 1/3 of Nigeria’s GDP. 

GDP per capital = over $5,000 – 2x the Nigerian average.

80% of all Nigeria’s industry occurs in Lagos.

Social consequences

Housing issues

Few financial resources (taxes) to manage their growth

Traffic problems.

Congestion => people compete for houses on the island because that’s where most of the companies and jobs are => high rental costs.

Lack of housing and transportation development

Inadequate service provision

City spreads outward => local agencies often struggle to provide water, sanitation and electricity => people rely on overcharged services by private companies.

State evicted residents from slum community to build luxurious estates.

Lagos State government proposed and approved a 200 to 400 percent increase in land use tax (political) => impact tenants (political)

People was chased away from their waterfront communities (to make way for new (Eko Atlantic) and become homeless (social)

Corruption

state POWER is deployed to subjugate the poorest in the interests of the rich = widen inequality (social)

Lack of transportation infrastructure (road)/planning to keep up with growth.

Social inequality and Class division

Improper waste management

Olusosun Landfill Site - largest in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

Health and physical risks (fire outbreak, methane emission,...)

Limited employment opportunities

Sanitation issues for people living at the slum - dirty water,..

Slum development

Eko Atlantic

Planned to become a financial/business center for West Africa, and eventually Africa.

A vision of privatized green areas for the ultra-rich surrounded by slums lacking water or electricity, scrambling for depleting resources and shelter to fend off the coming floods and storms (social)

Forced eviction makes people living in slum becoming homeless

Rapid urban expansion = enormous strains on land and water capacity

E-waste

Systemic neglect and accusations of corrupt deals have undermined the water and sanitation sector => access is getting worse.

POWER - Down the list in terms of investment priorities => under-serviced = lack basic services, water and energy insecurity = life expectancy below 50 + absolute poverty = poverty cycle

Air pollution

Water pollution

Uncontrolled disposal of raw sewage => carrying runoff and effluents into the Lagoon system

waterborne illness (cholera & diarrhoea)

Just 10% of the population of Lagos have a treated piper water supply. The remaining 90% rely on wells to reach underground water supplies = contamination (social).

Impact: illness and premature deaths (social)

Causes: Traffic Congestion

Losses of $2.1 billion in 2018 (economic)

Inadequate housing

Makoko

Lack legal legitimacy = forced evictions can happen

Employment

Around 40% of the workforce are employed in informal jobs (waste recycling, car-washing, street vending) => poorly paid and unregulated conditions => dangerous and exploitation.

Low unemployment 7.6%

Over 60% of the population of Lagos live in slum housing

City infrastructure shows a strong bias towards the economic centre and wealthier neighbourhoods

Population

experienced huge rates of urban sprawl (uncontrolled outward growth) since 1990

Population within the inner core: 11m.

A  primate city and a megacity, experiencing rapid growth.

POSSIBILITIES

Access to water and electricity

Cuture Proofing Lagos – Energy Sector aims to provide 100% of the population with access to energy (up from 60%)

New developments

Bus rapid transport system (BRT) = transports 200,000 commuters to the central business district.

Eko Atlantic

New coastal city being built and will be home to a 250,000 thousand people and employ 150,000 more.

Sustainable city = clean and energy efficient with minimal carbon emissions

modern defence against climate change by including a massive rock armor wall designed to withstand the largest floods.

Lack of healthcare and education

Lack of planning + infrastructure investment = Expensive and unaffordable housing for a normal worker = slum.

2020 Water Master Plan aims to meet the rising demand through the construction of several water treatment plans.