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.