LAGOS

• what Lagos is like:

  • largest city in Africa - megacity
  • modern high rise buildings
  • busy traffic system - highly polluted
  • Christian + Muslim religions
• where Lagos is located:

  • West coast of Nigeria
  • Northern hemisphere
  • neighbouring countries - Cameroon, Benin, Chad
• why Lagos is an important city:

  • regionally - 80% of Nigeria's industry is based in and around Lagos
  • nationally - main financial centre in west Africa
  • internationally - major international airport and seaport
• Social opportunities created by urban growth:

  • 68% of the population have secondary education
  • healthcare is available
  • water treatment plants provide safe drinking water
  • 2 new power stations are planned to reduce the city's shortage of electricity
• Economic opportunities created by urban growth:

  • good transport links - airport, seaport, expressway
  • hold 10% of Nigeria's population and 30% of its GDP
  • people earn more money in Lagos than in Nigeria (higher percentage of tertiary jobs)
• Managing urban growth - slums and squatter settlements:

  • house construction cannot keep up with the population growth
  • people have been forced to build their own homes illegally
  • 66% of the population live in slums
  • settlements are densely populated
  • some homes are built on stilts
  • lack of basic facilities and sanitation
• Providing access to services - health and education:

  • many people cannot afford good healthcare
  • free healthcare often has long ques
  • access to primary education is not universal and can be expensive
  • public schools can be congested and not good quality
  • only 1 school in Makoko slum
  • people who are unable to access school aren't able to develop skills needed later on in life
• providing clean water, sanitation systems and energy:

  • about 40% of the city is connected to the state water supply
  • to have clean water most people buy is in bottled water from streets
  • water in the lagoon is not for drinking
  • drinking the water can lead to diseases
  • toilets are shared by 15 households
  • unreliable electricity and regular power cuts
• reducing unemployment and crime:

  • big gap between rich and poor people
  • unemployment leads to crime for people to survive
  • Lagos suffers from armed robberies, muggings and more
  • 60% of the population lives in squatter settlements
  • without education you're forced to work in the informal sector earning less than £1 a day
• Managing environmental issues - waste disposal, air/water pollution and congestion:

  • average resident of Lagos take over 3 hours stuck in traffic commuting
  • one of the most congested cities
  • poor links to the city - only one expressway
  • sewage runs untreated into the lagoon
  • only 40% of the rubbish is properly collected
• Why tempo housing improves the quality of life in Lagos:

  • made from storage containers - reusing them
  • well ventilated
  • has good sanitation - clean running water
  • can be stacked up to 9 storeys high - takes up less space
  • affordable
  • constructed in 7 days
  • can last up to 50 years