14 - Urban growth in Nigeria

• Megacity


  World's largest cities with populations over 10 million
• In 1975, there were only 4 megacities - Tokyo, New York, Mexico City and São Paulo
• Today, there are 29 megacities and the number is rising year by year
• The world's largest city is Tokyo, with a population of around 38 million
• Megacities are home to about 12% of the world's urban population - over 4 billion people
• Most urban dwellers live in cities with less than 5 million people, many of which are growing rapidly
• Urbanisation


  When an increasing proportion of people live in towns and cities
• Over half the world's population now lives in cities
• By 2030, 60% of the world's population will live in urban areas
• By 2050, 70% of the world's population will live in urban areas
• Factors affecting the rate of urbanisation

  • Rural-urban migration
  • Natural increase
  • Location
  • Economic development
• Asia is where over half the world's population lives, with China and India both having over 1 billion people
• Over 50% of China's population now live in cities compared to just 20% in 1980
• By 2050, the world's largest megacity is likely to be one that does not even exist at the moment - a planned megacity in China's Pearl River Delta with a population of 120 million
• Most of the new megacities in future are likely to be in Asia, particularly in China and India
• Cities do not grow at a constant rate. Some cities that grew rapidly in the twentieth century, such as Tokyo in Japan, have now slowed down. Meanwhile, other cities that grew slowly in the twentieth century, such as Lagos in Nigeria, are now urbanising rapidly
• By 2050, the world's largest megacity is likely to be one that does not even exist at the moment! At least, it does not have a name. China has plans to merge cities in the Pearl River Delta to create one large megacity with a population of 120 million. The existing cities of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou would merge to form an urban area 20 times the size of London, with a population 12 times bigger. Most of the new megacities in future are likely to be in Asia, particularly in China and India.
• World's megacities


  • Tokyo
  • Mumbai
  • Mexico City
  • São Paulo
  • New York
  • Delhi
  • Shanghai
  • Kolkata
  • Jakarta
  • Dhaka
  • Lagos
  • Karachi
  • Buenos Aires
  • Los Angeles
  • Cairo
  • Manila
  • Beijing
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Osaka-Kobe
  • Istanbul
  • Moscow
• Migration


  Affects the rate of urbanisation
• Natural increase


  Affects the rate of urbanisation
• Location


  Affects the rate of urbanisation
• Economic development


  Affects the rate of urbanisation
• By which date – 1950, 1975, 2000 or 2015 – did each of these cities reach a population of ten million: Tokyo, Mexico City, Shanghai, Lagos
• Some megacities are growing faster than others in the twenty-first century. For example, Lagos is growing faster than Tokyo.
• Many of the world's fastest growing cities are now in Africa, where population growth and rural-urban migration rates are still high. Most cities with low growth rates are in Europe, North America and Japan.
• Lagos is Africa's biggest city and one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.
• Lagos lies in the southwest of Nigeria, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, close to the border with Benin.
• Until the fifteenth century, Lagos was a small fishing village on an island. In 1472, Portuguese settlers gave it the name 'Lagos' (or 'lakes' in Portuguese) after the water that surrounds it. In the early twentieth century, by then under British rule, Lagos was made the capital of Nigeria. It remained the capital after independence from Britain in 1960.
• In 1991, the Nigerian government moved to Abuja, which became the new capital of Nigeria, though Lagos retained its importance as the country's centre of trade and commerce. About 80 per cent of Nigeria's industry is based in and around Lagos, and it is now the main financial centre in West Africa. The city also has a major international airport and a busy seaport. The population of Lagos continues to grow.
• Lagos is the largest city in Africa, with an estimated 17 million people. It has many schools, hospitals and universities, generates 25 per cent of Nigeria's wealth, and is home to many large companies and Nollywood, Nigeria's film industry. It is a transport hub, with an international airport and a port, and has a thriving arts and culture scene.
• In 1960, the city of Lagos still had a population of less than a million people, but this grew to about 4 million by 1990 and about 17 million by 2019.
• The main driver of growth in Lagos over the past 50 years has been rural–urban migration. People are encouraged to leave the countryside by push factors such as the lack of job opportunities and low wages. They are brought to the city by pull factors such as the prospect of well-paid work and the attraction of an urban lifestyle.
• Another reason for Lagos' population growth is the high rate of natural increase in the city's population. This is due to the city's youthful population, since most migrants to the city are young.
• Nigeria is becoming an increasingly urbanised country. Just over half the population are still living in rural areas, but as rural–urban migration continues, the majority will be urban within the next few years.
• At first sight, Lagos might not look like the sort of place where you would choose to live. The city is straining under the pressure of a growing population. Congested roads, electricity in short supply, a sewage system that hardly works – these are problems that Lagos residents regularly have to contend with.
• Yet, despite the problems, there are plenty of social and economic opportunities in Lagos.
• Social opportunities are the chances for people to improve their quality of life through services, like education and healthcare.
• Economic opportunities are the chances for people to improve their standard of living through employment and business opportunities.
• Urban growth in Lagos

  • Creates opportunities and challenges
  • What the opportunities are
  • What the challenges are
• Homes with a car/truck

  • Nigeria
  • Lagos