6°27N 3°28E, pop (2000e) 1 642 000. Chief port and former capital (to 1982) of Nigeria, 120 km/75 mi SW of Ibadan; on Lagos I (8 km/5 mi long and 1·6 km/1 mi wide), connected to the mainland by two bridges; port facilities at Apapa and Tin Can I; settled c.1700; slave trade centre until the mid-19th-c; occupied by the British, 1851; colony of Lagos, 1862; part of the S Nigeria protectorate, 1906; capital of Nigeria, 196082; airport; university (1962); tanker terminal; metals, chemicals, fish, gas, brewing, tourism; national museum, palace, racecourse.
| Lagos, Nigeria | |
| Lagos as seen from Ikoyi Harbor. | |
| Map of Nigeria showing the location of Lagos in the lower southwest corner of Nigeria. | |
| Coordinates: 6°27′11″N, 3°23′45″E | |
|---|---|
| Province | Lagos State |
| Governor | Bola Tinubu |
| Area | |
| - City | 787 km² |
| - Land | 614 km² |
| - Water | 173.14 km² |
| Population | |
| - City (2005) | 1,274,000 |
| - Density | 1,380/km² |
| - Urban | 11,700,000 |
| - Metro | 11,700,000 |
| estimated | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+1) |
| Website: http://www.lagosstate.gov.ng/ | |
Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria.
Lagos has grown from a small Yoruba settlement, and undergone periods of domination by two European powers, to become the commercial and population center of Nigeria.
History
Main article: History of Lagos
Lagos was once a big head Yoruba settlement of Awori people called Eko, whose name stemmed from either Eko (Cassava farm) a result of the conquest of that region by the Benin Empire or Edo Empire (1470-1897). The present day Lagos state has a higher percent of this sub-group who actually migrated to the area from Isheri along the Ogun river. Portuguese explorer Sequeira visited the area in 1472 , naming the area around the city Lagos, meaning lakes.
Lagos was formally annexed as a British colony in 1861. The remainder of modern-day Nigeria was seized in 1886, and when the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria was established in 1914 Lagos was declared its capital. Lagos experienced rapid growth throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a result of Nigeria's economic boom prior to the Biafran War. Lagos was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 - 1991; However, most government functions (especially the head of state) stayed in Lagos for a time since Abuja was still under construction.
Past Oba (of Kings) of Lagos
King Ado King Gabaro (1720-1730) Eletu Kekere (1730-1734) King Akinsemoyin (1734-1779) Erelu Kuti(female) King Ologun Kutere King Adele (1806-1813), (1834-1836) King Eshinlokun (1836-1841) Oba Idewu Ojulari King Oluwole King Akintoye Oba Kosoko Oba Adeyinka OyekanOba Rilwan Akiolu
Climate
The climate in Lagos is similar to that of the rest of southern Nigeria.
Geography
Lagos consists of a large lagoon (hence its namesake) and an archipelago of large islands in the lagoon. The three major islands are Lagos Island, Ikoyi, and Victoria. The commercial centre remains Lagos Island, which is connected to the mainland by three large bridges: Eko Bridge, Carter Bridge, and Third Mainland Bridge. Ikoyi and Victoria island are closely connected to Lagos Island. Districts on the mainland include Ebute-Meta, Surulere, Yaba (Lagos) (site of the University of Lagos), Mushin, Maryland and Ikeja, site of Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
Law and Government
Unlike many major first world cities, but like many African and developing country cities, Lagos does not have its own mayor or council, but is instead governed as part of a regular Nigerian state. Since 1967, Lagos is part of Lagos State. Lagos was the headquarters of Lagos State until 1976, when this was moved to Ikeja.
Lagos State covers some of the area beyond the city's borders, such as Badagri, but its primary focus is on Lagos proper.
The city is also home to the High Court of the Lagos State Judiciary, housed in an old colonial building on Lagos Island.
Economy
Lagos is Nigeria's leading port. The Port of Lagos, operated by the Nigerian Port Authority is split into three main sections: Lagos port, Apapa Port and Tin Can Port, all located on the Gulf of Guinea.
Lagos is also Nigeria's commercial center.
More than half of Nigeria's industrial capacity is located in Lagos's mainland suburbs, particularly in the Ikeja industrial estate. However, transport links within Lagos are congested, due in part to the geography of the city, as well as its explosive population growth.
An agency called Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) has been created to solve the transportation problems in Lagos. The Bus Rapid Transit scheme is set to be launched on the 4th of June 2006.The Lagos - Ibadan expressway and the Lagos - Abeokuta expressway are the major arterial routes in the city and serve as an inter-state highway to Ibadan, Oyo state and Abeokuta, Ogun State respectively. The Lagos - Ibadan expressway also serves as a Christian highway because every first friday of every month, the highway links over 500,000 Lagosians with the kilometer 42 Redeemed Christian Church camp.
Demographics
As no census has been completed in Lagos since 1991, definitive demographic information is hard to come by.
Lagos is, by most estimates, one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. This will make Lagos one of the world's five largest cities.
Neighborhoods
The Lagos Mainland is the center of most of the population that commute to work on Lagos Island which in some respects is the economic nerve center of Nigeria. Other areas of the mainland include the middle class, slums, and suburbs of Ebute-Meta, Surulere, Yaba (site of the University of Lagos), Mushin, and Ikeja.
Lagos Island is the nerve center of the city and contains many of the largest markets in Lagos, its central business district, the central mosque, and the oba's palace.
Ikoyi island, situated to the east of Lagos Island houses the headquarters of the state government and all other government buildings.
Victoria Island, situated to the south of Lagos Island, is a wealthy enclave that is one of the homes to Nigeria's ruling elite and the country's wealthiest. Film industry
Lagos is famous throughout West Africa for its music scene.
Lagos is the centre of the famous Nigerian film industry, often referred to as 'Nollywood.' Many of the large film producers have offices in Surulere, Lagos, though there aren't any film
studios in Nollywood, in the Hollywood sense. The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and the Lagos State Football Association (LAFA) are both based in Lagos.
The Nigerian national football team, also known as the Super Eagles, used to play almost all of their home games in Lagos;
The Lagos State government features the Ministry of Youth, Sports &
Lagos is not a common tourist destination, as it is primarily business-oriented and has a reputation for danger and squalor amongst many foreigners.
Poverty
Many residents of Lagos are poor, and live in slums such as Ajegunle, whilst there are districts of considerable wealth. Lagos, like many cities in developing countries has attracted many young entrepreneurs and families seeking a better life from throughout Nigeria and beyond.
Education
The Lagos State Government operates state schools .
Colleges and Universities
Lagos is home to four universities:
University of Lagos Pan-African University Lagos State University Cetep UniversityThe University of Lagos(UNILAG) is a large institution dating from 1962, with over 35,000 students.
Notes and references
^ Edo Nation - The Origin of Eko (Lagos) ^ [http://apps.atlantaga.gov/sister/lagos/nigeria/lagos.html City of Atlanta, Georgia - Sister City ^ ^ Lagos State Website - About Lagos State ^ Lagos Judiciary ^ OT Africa Line - Nigeria Page ^ OT Africa Line - Lagos Port Statistics ^ CIA World Factbook - Nigeria ^ Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority ^ Lagos State Official Website ^ Africa Travelling - Lagos Culture ^ GESource ^ Nigeria Sports ^ World Stadiums - Nigeria ^ RSSSF - Nigeria Results ^ Lagos City ^ University of Lagos Official Website ^ Pan-African University ^ LSU at the AfricaDatabase ^ Cetep City University official website
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