A History Of Africa’s Big Apple

Nigerian Cities

A History Of Africa’s Big Apple

The dynamic economic powerhouse of the continent, Lagos is rising up with an innovative and ambitious vision to pave the way for national development, growth and vibrancy.

Lagos is the world’s fastest growing city, with an increase in population growth from 1.4 million in 1970, to an estimated mind-boggling 21 million today, heralding it as the most populous city in the whole of Africa. According to data from the United Nations, the population in Lagos is predicted to increase by 77 people every hour from 2010 to 2030, and is set to be the largest city in the world by 2100. With thousands of people pouring into the city every day, in search of opportunity and a better life, Lagos is making sure that it can accommodate and sustain the influx, and have fun while they’re doing it.

Out of Nigeria’s 36 states, Lagos has always been the nation’s centre of power. It has been demonstrated that if Lagos was a country, it would be among Africa’s largest economies; indeed its economy is currently larger than the whole of Kenya’s put together.

Initially emerging as a port city, Lagos has been always been a land for traders and settlers with a tendency towards industrialism. Currently, it is the largest and busiest seaport on the continent, with its main hubs of commerce and financial business located on the two small islands of Lagos and Victoria, where headquarters for the majority of national and international commercial banks, financial institutions and major corporations have been set up and consolidated.

Political competence and efficient guidance have been key drivers to the city’s growth and economic stability. Governors, such as Bola Tinubu to Babatunde Fashola (Nigeria’s current Minister of Works and Houses), Akinwunmi Ambode and present incumbent, Babajibe Sanwo-Olu have been driving the same productive vision and political machine towards modernisation and progress. Their forward-thinking leadership has placed infrastructure development of the fastest growing city at the forefront of all their policies. With an emphasis upon private-sector input, the city has been transformed physically and productively, providing a dynamic contribution to Nigeria’s economy. Since 2007, development of Lagos’ urban infrastructure really took off, new power plants, Africa’s first suspension bridge, roads, highways, skyscrapers and bridges have been built, metamorphosing Lagos into the megacity it is today. Fiscal security has also been restored via effective tax implementation put into place by Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), leading the city to

With an emphasis upon private-sector input, the city has been transformed physically and productively, providing a dynamic contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

outperform every other state in Nigeria and providing it with the capital to invest in infrastructure.

Lekki’s free trade zone on the peninsula to Lagos’ mainland is symbolic of the city’s innovative vision and enterprising attitude. A modern city within a city, Lekki FTZ aims to integrate industries, commerce, business, real estate development, warehousing, logistics, tourism and entertainment all within one area. Due to tax incentives, Dangote, Africa’s richest man and a Lagosian resident, is building Dangote’s Refinery at the Olojola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) free trade zone in Lekki. Projected to be the largest oil refinery in the world, once operational the refinery has the potential to completely transform the face of Nigeria’s economy forever.

Lagos has reinvented itself; an attractive and important destination for investors and visitors the world over. It has helped reverse disapora, and as the biggest ICT hub in West Africa with a 24-hour economy, it offers possibilities to ambitious entrepreneurs. Reputed to be a city of millionaires, expanding banking, telecommunications and service sector have broadened Lagos’ middle class, injecting hope and positivity into its surroundings. “Lagos is like a single market in Nigeria and its melting pot,” explains Chairman of FIRS, Dr Babatunde Fowler. “People from all over the country have found a very conducive environment for business and for living.”

The city that rose from the sea The Eko Atlantic scheme is another ambitious project currently underway in Lagos which encapsulates an innovative and futuristic vision, not only for Nigeria but the whole of Africa. Eko Atlantic is a privately funded multi-billion dollar project which has turned back time on 100 years of coastal erosion, and extended the coastline by two kilometres offshore, through the building of a new peninsula upon a vast area of land from the Atlantic Ocean. The project provides a powerful resounding solution to Lago’s growing population, as well as supporting its ambitious dreams. Ten new city districts will be built with luxurious and iconic commercial, residential and recreational buildings with their own independent power, water, fibre optics and drainage systems. Its objective is to become Nigeria’s, and indeed the whole of West Africa’s, future financial hub whose Eko Boulevard will be on a par with New York’s Fifth Avenue.

Cultural capital and powerhouse Alongside Lagos’ financial hub, a growing, vibrant and colourful cultural scene has been injecting life into the city for decades, simultaneously filling in the gap in Nigeria’s culture-tourism market. Known for being a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant and thriving music, fashion and film scene that resonates around the continent and beyond, Lagos has also been labelled as Africa’s capital for the arts and the city that never sleeps. Indeed, Lagos teems with life and energy, proffering a rich variety of restaurants and music clubs, as well as being home to the National Arts Theatre, the primary centre for performing arts and artistes in Nigeria. Lagos also hosts a number of important, influential and trend-setting arts events such as the Lagos Fashion Week, LagosPhoto Festival and the Ake Arts and Book Festival which moved from Abeokuta to Lagos in 2018, upping attendance by 18%. Other festivals include the Eyo Festival, Festac Food Fair, Eko International Film Festical and Lagos Jazz Series.

Dreaming Big Originally inhabited by the Awori group of the Yoruba people, today Lagos is a cosmopolitan and multiethnical diverse place, known as one of the safest cities in Nigeria. People live in complete harmony and security in this dynamic global city buzzing with optimism and aspirations, Lagos is Nigeria’s throbbing heart, a model mega-city for Africa, and a city like no other.