Megacities

• What is a megacity?


  Cites or agglomerations (an urban area incorporating several large towns or cities) with a population of more than 10 million people
• Megacity trends


  In 1950: 2 - NY and Tokyo

  In 2014: 28 including London

  In 2025: 37

  In 2050: 50
• Classifying megacities

  1. Immature
  2. Consolidating
  3. Mature
  4. Established
• What is an IMMATURE megactiy? (e.g. Lagos) 


  >Rapid, uncontrolled growth due to rural-urban migration

  >Health, housing and population issues
• What is a CONSOLIDATING megacity?(e.g. Mumbai)


  >Slower growth

  >Self-help schemes to improve housing and water

  >Many still work in informal sector
• What is a MATURE megacity? (e.g. Sao Paulo)


  >More developed formal economy

  >Legal, well built homes to improve QOL

  >Advanced transport, education etc
• What is an ESTABLISHED megacity? (e.g. London)


  >Stable, advanced effective governance

  >Regeneration, urban sustainability project

  >High end professional jobs

  >Higher QOL
• EXAMPLE: Nigeria 


  2010 population - 10 million

  2100 predicted population - 88 million

  Population growth per hour - 85
• EXAMPLE: Nigeria - rural-urban migration ~ Push factors

  • Rainfall unreliable in semi-arid parts of central and northern Nigeria
  • Islamic militia group Boko Haram terrorised communities in N Nigeria
  • ↑ tractors and machinery have ↓ demand for agricultural labourers
  • Oil pollution polluted farmland
• EXAMPLE: Nigeria - rural-urban migration ~ Pull factors to Lagos

  • 70% of Nigeria's investment is in Lagos
  • City is major port for imports of raw materials and exports of manufactured goods, Lagos is 40% of Nigeria's oil trade
  • New gov built housing in Lagos
  • 90% of Lagos's population have access to electricity
  • Lagos port handle 80% of countries imports
  • Fewer people per doctor than anywhere else in Nigeria
  • Lagos generates 40% Nigeria's taxes > build infrastructure
• EXAMPLE: Lagos, Nigeria - importance:

  Regional (in west Africa):

  > EkoAtlantic financial hub

  National (in Nigeria):

  > Trade hub, 40% of Nigeria's oil trade and 40% of Nigeria's taxes

  International (beyond Africa):

  > 2 international airports, international port handles 80% of imports, 7th largest economy in Africa
• Urban expansion: 


  Megacities are where the pressures of... are felt:

  • Migration
  • Globalisation
  • Economic development
  • Social inequality
  • Environmental pollution
  • Climate change