Lagos
In the 15th century, a group of Awori people settled on a farmstead along the coastal line of what is now southwestern Nigeria. They worked and lived in this area, which they called Ereko in their Yoruba language. The Portuguese explorers arrived later and named the place Lagos after the city of Lagos in Portugal, their main center for maritime expeditions down the African coast. This name stuck even as the indigenous population continued to refer to it as Eko. The land was separated by creeks that fringed the southwest mouth of the Lagos Lagoon. Barrier islands and long sand spits like Bar Beach protected the area from the Atlantic Ocean to the east and west.
The Federal Government governed the city directly through the Lagos City Council until 1967 when Lagos State was created. In 1976, the state capital moved to Ikeja, and the federal capital shifted to Abuja on the 12th of December 1991. The former Municipality of Lagos covered parts of Lagos Island, Ikoyi, and Victoria Island before being disbanded. It split into several Local Government Areas including Lagos Island LGA and Eti-Osa LGA. Today Metropolitan Lagos comprises 16 of the 20 Local Government Areas of Lagos State. These areas include Agege, Mushin, and Surulere alongside the historic island districts. The conurbation covers 37% of Lagos State's total land area but holds about 85% of its population.
Daily growth in the Lagos area adds approximately 3,000 people or around 1.1 million annually according to recent estimates. The 2006 federal census recorded a population of roughly 9 million for the metropolitan area. The Lagos State Government disputed this figure and released data placing it at approximately 16 million. By 2022, projections suggested the true population reached roughly 28 million up from 23.5 million in 2018. This rapid increase has made Lagos one of the fastest-growing megacities globally. In 1950 the city had only about 290,000 inhabitants yet by 2010 the United Nations predicted it would exceed 20 million. The influx of people seeking economic opportunities drives much of this expansion across the sixteen local government areas.
Lagos generates between 30 and 35 percent of Nigeria's GDP making it a major financial focal point. Five out of seven African tech unicorns operate out of the city including Flutterwave and Jumia. The Port of Lagos handles more than half of Nigeria's maritime trade with around 1,000 ships calling annually carrying 5,700,000 tonnes of cargo. A deep sea port named Lekki was commissioned in early 2023 fifty kilometers east of the urban center. An oil refinery went into operation in December 2023 producing 650,000 barrels per day with plans to expand capacity significantly. A new fertilizer plant started production in 2022 creating three million tonnes annually. These developments position Lagos as Africa's Silicon Valley and a critical hub for global commerce.
The film industry centered in Surulere ranks second or third globally behind Hollywood depending on the survey source. Nigerian films like The Figurine released in 2009 have set new box office records while productions such as Half of a Yellow Sun appeared in 2013. Music scenes include genres like Sakara highlife juju fuji and Afrobeats that originated here. Paul McCartney recorded his album Band on the Run at an EMI studio in August and September 1973. James Brown performed in the city in 1970 bringing international attention to its vibrant nightlife. Art galleries like Nike Art Gallery house thousands of works by artists including Chief Josephine Oboh Macleod. Festivals ranging from the Eko International Film Festival to the Lagos Black Heritage Carnival take place throughout the year attracting visitors from across the continent.
Climate change poses severe risks with sea levels rising up to one centimeter per year due to subsidence. A 2019 study estimated cumulative damage could reach US$65 billion under moderate warming scenarios by 2050. Only forty percent of waste is collected and thirteen percent recycled daily generating thirteen thousand tonnes of refuse. About five point five million people work in the informal economy representing three-quarters of the workforce without minimum wages or labor rights. Crime statistics show Lagos remains significantly safer than rural areas regarding homicides yet violence persists. The quality of life index ranked it second lowest globally among major cities in a 2023 survey despite its economic dynamism. Infrastructure strain affects transportation systems where highways congest during peak hours and ferry travel offers faster alternatives for some commuters.
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Common questions
When did the Awori people settle on the farmstead that became Lagos?
The Awori people settled on a farmstead along the coastal line of what is now southwestern Nigeria in the 15th century. They worked and lived in this area, which they called Ereko in their Yoruba language.
Why was the city named Lagos by Portuguese explorers?
Portuguese explorers arrived later and named the place Lagos after the city of Lagos in Portugal, their main center for maritime expeditions down the African coast. This name stuck even as the indigenous population continued to refer to it as Eko.
What date did the federal capital shift from Lagos to Abuja?
The federal capital shifted to Abuja on the 12th of December 1991. The state capital had moved to Ikeja in 1976 before this national transfer occurred.
How many Local Government Areas make up Metropolitan Lagos today?
Metropolitan Lagos comprises 16 of the 20 Local Government Areas of Lagos State. These areas include Agege, Mushin, and Surulere alongside the historic island districts.
When was the Lekki deep sea port commissioned?
A deep sea port named Lekki was commissioned in early 2023 fifty kilometers east of the urban center. It serves as a major addition to the Port of Lagos which handles more than half of Nigeria's maritime trade.