Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria. It is a huge city of somewhere between 10 and 20 Million people. Really, nobody can tell you accurately because the last census was in the mid 80's, although a new census was undertaken in March 2006.
Understand
Originally, the city was a Yoruba Settlement, known then as Eko, ruled by kings, which were conquered by neighbouring Benin - the city of Benin is not to be confused with the country of same name. After this, the Portuguese and British colonies successively made puppets of these locally revered leaders, to further their trading needs.
Lagos was famous for being the trading hub of many spices and metals. For a long period, it functioned as a slave trading post too, although it's hard to find remnants of this history in contemporary Lagos.
Currently, Lagos is the major business centre in Nigeria, although it is no longer the capital city. This is because the new 1994 civilian government found the mix of vibrant commerce and governace a little too chaotic and decided to start afresh in Abuja. 10 years later, it looked like Abuja was going the same way, but the interventions of its no -nonsense mayor, Nasir el Rufai has helped to remodel the city in line with its original masterplan.
Lagos still serves as the main area of activity because of its convenient location as a seaport, accessway to other West African countries, and its bubbly cosmopolitan culture. Most of the business is located on the islands(Lagos and Victoria)although the majority of the popluation live on the mainland.
Lagos is best traveled at dusk, in evening or at weekends and public holidays when traffic is low. However,as would be expected in such a sprawling cosmopolis, please exercise caution in certain neighbourhoods in the night- should you decide to go for a walk as armed robbery and mugging could happen. Do also keep an eye out for "Area Boys," as the local thugs, or street urchins are called.
However,many residential neighbourhoods have gates constructed on their main street entrances to keep away the unwanted. Such gates, manned by neighbourhood guards, often require a gatepass issued by your host, before you are allowed exit after dark.
Get in
You can fly in from most European cities (London, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome), Dubai, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Get around
If you are not on a tight budget, you should hire a Car and Driver, usually available from most of the major hotels and the Airport. The price will be around ₦1,000 - ₦2,000 per hour, you will be expected to haggle. Talk to the drivers and find one you think will be able to communicate best with as they will be able to tell you things about the places you pass.
Use buses to move around the city if you know the routes. Larger Buses are called Molue and the smaller Mini-Bus type are called Danfo. Buses are often overcrowded to the point where the conductor must stand on the side, with the side door open. Taxis cost more than buses, typically 10 times the price, you will be expected to negotiate the price before you enter and pay on arrival. They are however much safer than buses, especially at night where Buses are often subjected to highway robbery. You should be certain to inspect the Taxi before you enter, Taxis are often in a poor state of repair, balding tires and worn shocks leading to a very bumpy, nauseating ride.
For travelling short distances, you can use motorbike Taxis called Okada. These motorbikes are quick, cheap and save a lot of walking but they are also very Dangerous. Okada accidents are very common and no safety equipment is provided. If you want to take the risk, you can safely halve their first price, and usually there are lots to choose from. Choose an older driver as the younger ones are cowboys.
See
Tafawa Balewa Square on the Lagos Island ; be careful never to go there at night as you will almost surely get mugged!
Badagry ; the ancient slave port, the wispering palms, the 'sun tan' beach, the bubbly Vespa Market
Abuja; the great Zuma rock ( one side is rumored to be a human face! )
Northern Nigeria ; the anciant city of Zaria and the Sokoto Sultanate
Do
Lagos is for tourists like England is for food. It's a stereotype and not really true, but you have to put the effort in to see it.
There are a lot of great beaches. Especially if you make the effort to get outside the side (like Badagari). Inside the city, Lekki is about as good as it gets.
There are also lots of markets to see, although it can be very tiring. Usually safe during the day.
There is the lekki Conservartory down on the lekki/Epe express way which is really good for relaxation, its a dense park with a few animals and birds, there are walkways and benches to rest on.
Buy
Unless you are in a Supermarket or Restaurant/bar with fixed prices, you will be expected to negotiate the price you pay for an item down to the lowest the vendor would sell. When you are stuck in traffic, expect to see hawkers selling anything from potatoes to toilet seats to the most graphic pornography. Expect any brand names in these informal markets to be fake, and should you wish to purchase them aim for a very low price.
On Beaches, Hawkers will be trying to sell their wares. Selling necklaces, fake wristwatches, fake sunglasses and wooden carvings. Don't be tempted to buy any animals, dead or alive, and avoid anything you are told has ivory in it, even though it is probably bone or plastic. There is little enough wildlife, with exception of lizards and insects, in Lagos and the environs as it is.
Beggars are also very common where there is traffic, best advice is if you feel like giving, don't give it to anyone who can walk, talk, see, hear and has all their limbs.
If you hold a Visa, MasterCard or Maestro Credit/Debit card you can withdraw cash in Naira from various ATM's around Lagos. Visa machines can be found at Standard Chartered Bank. MasterCard/Maestro machines are found in Ecobank and some Zenith Bank branches.
Foreign Currency, US Dollars, Pounds Sterling, or Euros can be exchanged in various places, usually near large hotels and the Airport. This is not a formal Beurau de Change and you will need to haggle the price, it is a good idea to count the money you receive in presence of the exchanger, and don't be afraid to walk away if you are not happy with the deal.
Eat
Ikoyi also has a lot of good places to grab a bite such as Double 4 and Albasha. (no longer there)
On VI (Victoria Island) you will find a clean and nice lebanese restaurant - Lamia. Also on VI, in Picolo Mondo, is the only thing in Lagos that reminds a real espresso coffee.
Make sure not to miss the nigerian traditional "Pepper Soup" - the strongest can be found in Da Grotto bar, on VI.
Il Sirriso is great for Italian and Saipan is the best Chinese, plus has a great nightclub. Both are on VI.
Drink
Ikeja
Ikoyi
Victoria Island
Terra Kulture is a restaurant, gallery and bookshop combined. It is located on VI and it is a good place to pick up some local art as well as a plate of African snails.
Sleep
Tourism is not big in Lagos. Unless you are very rich, hotels are really not an option. They're either very expensive or not too safe. The best thing to do is stay with people you know, which is fairly easy since Nigerians are very hospitable.
Budget
Mid range
Protea, a South African group, has three hotels in Lagos, all of acceptable standard but not cheap. The prices are reduced if you hold a group loyalty card, the ProKard.
In addition on Ikoyi in Glover St is a small, new serviced aparthotel called La Cour.
Night Clubs
JAcks bar is ok but when Jacks closes everybody moves on to a club called WHY NOT it is open until 6am i think the charge for the vip room is 1000 niara about £4 and the bar prices are reasonable for Lagos 350-500 for a beer and the girls are very friendly all ways keep your eyes open
Contact
You will hardly be able to find your way in Nigeria especially the busy environ of Lagos unless you have been provided earlier direction.
Lagos (pron. , or overseas) is the most populous city in Nigeria and the second most populated in Africa after Cairo. The Lagos metropolitan area is currently the 22nd most populated in the world. Lagos is a huge metropolis with its population spread along the Nigerian coastline and upon the islands to the southwest that form an archipelago just off the mainland.
In terms of administration, Lagos is not a city (municipality) and has therefore no city administration. The Municipality of Lagos, which covered the islands of Lagos Island (locally known as Eko), Ikoyi and Victoria Island, as well as some mainland territory, was managed by the Lagos City Council (LCC), but it was disbanded in 1976 and divided into several Local Government Areas (most notably Lagos Island LGA, Lagos Mainland LGA and Eti-Osa LGA). The mainland beyond the Municipality of Lagos, on the other hand, comprised several separate towns and settlements such as Mushin, Ikeja and Agege. In the wake of the 1970s Nigerian oil boom, Lagos experienced a population explosion, untamed economic growth, and unmitigated rural migration. This caused the outlying towns and settlements to develop rapidly, thus forming the greater Lagos metropolis seen today. The history of Lagos is still evidenced in the layout of the LGAs which display the unique identities of the cultures that established them.
Today, the word Lagos most often refers to the urban area, called "Metropolitan Lagos" in Nigeria, which includes both the islands of the former Municipality of Lagos and the mainland suburbs. All of these are part of Lagos State, which is divided into 20 LGAs. Metropolitan Lagos (a statistical concept and not an administrative unit) extends over 16 of the 20 LGAs of Lagos State, and contains more than 90% of the population of Lagos State. According to the preliminary results of the 2006 census, there are 9,013,534 inhabitants in Lagos State.
Portuguese explorer Ruy de Sequeira visited the area in 1472, naming the area around the city Lago de Curamo; indeed the present name is Portuguese for "lakes". From 1704-1851 it served as a major center of the slave trade. In 1841 Oba Akitoye ascended to the throne of Lagos and tried to bring an end to slave trading by placing a ban on the act. Lagos merchants, most notably Madam Tinubu, resisted the ban, deposed the king and installed his brother Oba Kosoko.
While exiled, Oba Akitoye met with the British, who had banned slave trading in 1807, and got their support to regain his throne. In 1851 he was reinstalled as the Oba of Lagos.
Lagos was formally annexed as a British colony in 1861. This had the dual effect of crushing the slave trade and establishing British superiority over palm and other trades.
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. It continued to be the capital when Nigeria gained its independence from Britain in 1960.
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; it was stripped of this title when the Federal Capital Territory was established at the purpose-built city of Abuja. However, most government functions (especially the head of state) stayed in Lagos for a time since Abuja was still under construction. In 1991, the head of state and other government functions finally moved to the newly built capital in a mass exodus.
Past Oba (or Yoruba Kings) of Lagos
Climate
The climate in Lagos is similar to that of the rest of southern Nigeria. There are two rainy seasons, with the heaviest rains falling from April to July and a weaker rainy season in October and November. There is a brief relatively dry spell in August and September and a longer dry season from December to March. Monthly rainfall between May and July averages over 300 mm (12 in), while in August and September it is down to 75 mm (3 inches) and in January as low as 35 mm (1.5 inches). The main dry season is accompanied by harmattan winds from the Sahara Desert, which between December and early February can be quite strong. According to BBC Weather, the average temperature in January is 27°C (79°F) and for July it is 25°C (77°F). On average the hottest month is March; with a mean temperature of 29°C (84°F); while July is the coolest month.
Geography
Lagos consists of a large lagoon (hence its name) 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. The main docks are in Apapa directly opposite Lagos Island. The rest of the city is built on the African mainland. Districts on the mainland include Ebute-Meta, Surulere, Yaba (Lagos) (site of the University of Lagos), Mushin, Maryland, Isolo, Ikotun and Ikeja, site of Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
Law and government
Like many African and developing country cities, Lagos does not have its own mayor or council (the Lagos City Council was disbanded in 1976 when the Municipality of Lagos was split into several Local Government Areas), but is instead governed as part of a regular Nigerian state. Since 1967, Lagos has been part of Lagos State. The former Municipality of Lagos was the headquarters of Lagos State until 1976, when this was moved to Ikeja.
Lagos State covers some of the area beyond the urban area of Lagos proper, such as Badagri, but its primary focus is on Lagos proper. Lagos State is split into 20 Local Government Areas. The state is responsible for utilities including roads and transportation, power, water, health, and education.
Lagos 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 most prosperous city, and most of the nation's wealth and economic activity are concentrated there. The standard of living is higher in Lagos than in the rest of Nigeria, as residents have considerably greater access to food, fresh water, indoor plumbing, and modern technology.
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. The port features a railhead.
The port handles imports of consumer goods, foodstuffs, motor vehicles, machinery, and industrial raw materials. Its export trade in timber and agricultural products such as cacao and groundnuts has declined since the early 1970s, although the port has seen growing amounts of crude oil exported, with export figures rising between 1997 and 2000. Oil and petroleum products provide 20% of GDP and 95% of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria as a whole.
Lagos is also Nigeria's commercial centre. Many of the country's largest banks and financial institutions are located here. More than half of Nigeria's industrial capacity is located in Lagos's mainland suburbs, particularly in the Ikeja industrial estate. A wide range of manufactured goods are produced in the city, including machinery, motor vehicles, electronic equipment, chemicals, beer, processed food, and textiles.
419 advance fee fraud
Many 419 advance fee fraud scams are based out of Lagos. Several neighborhoods, such as Festac Town, are main operation areas of scammers, who use shady cybercafes to implement scams. Six areas, including Oluwole, contain many businesses that produce false documents used in scams .
The EFCC was established in 2003 to eradicate scamming networks .
Transport
Ferries and highways link the parts of the city together. However, transport links within Lagos are congested, due in part to the geography of the city, as well as its explosive population growth.
Local roads in Lagos vary in quality from well-maintained to pothole-ridden.The freeways were built by German contractors, most notably Julius Berger PLC, and the steady climate in Lagos keeps the freeways from cracking. Most freeways are currently in working shape.
The city is teeming with poor quality transit buses known to locals as Danfo's or Molue's, as well as taxi motorcycles known as Okada's. Both means of transport are a vital part of Lagos' Transport Network, however, they are notorious for vehicle collisions and robberies. Many foreign tourists avoid travelling on them.
An agency called Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) has been created to solve the transportation problems in Lagos.
A chain of salt-water lagoons run west to Badagry and also east toward Ogun State.
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 links over 500,000 Lagosians with the kilometer 42 Redeemed Christian Church Prayer City, historically referred to as "camp."
Air Travel
Murtala Mohammed International Airport serves the city from Ikeja Lagos.
Demographics
The urban area of Lagos, called "Metropolitan Lagos" in Nigeria, extends over 16 of the 20 Local Government Areas of Lagos State, and contains more than 90% of the population of Lagos State. According to the preliminary results of the 2006 census, there are 9,013,534 inhabitants in Lagos State, up from 5,725,116 at the 1991 census.
The Nigerian national football team, also known as the Super Eagles, used to play almost all of their home games in Lagos; however, games are now split between the Surelere Stadium in Lagos and the larger, newer Abuja Stadium in Abuja, which may soon become the default home of the Super Eagles.
The Lagos State government features the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Social Development.
Lagos is not a common tourist destination, as it is primarily business-oriented and has a reputation for danger and squalor amongst many foreigners. However, some tourist attractions do exist, such as Oba's Palace. There are also several shopping malls, including the Falomo Shopping Centre. Visitors are also drawn to the musical heritage of Lagos, such as fuji music (see Music section).
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 .
The education system is the 6-3-3-4 system; the system is run throughout the country. The levels are Primary, Junior Secondary School (JSS), Senior Secondary School (SSS), and university. Every child has right to basic education, especially for the first 6 years. The level of poverty may determine how far the child will go after this.
Colleges and universities
Lagos is home to four universities:
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a large institution dating from 1962, with over 35,000 students. It comprises 13 faculties, run by over 4,000 staff.
The Pan-African University is primarily a business school, offering two MBA programs. Founded in 1996 and awarded University status in 2002, it consists of the Lagos Business School and of Enterprise Development Services. The University also places some emphasis on the study of art.
Yaba College of Technology (now Lagos City University) was the first higher institution in the country, and one of the first in Africa.
Lagos and Koolhaas
Lagos has received increasing attention since the 1990s due to architect Rem Koolhaas' study of the city. His observations have challenged previous assertions in the urban theory literature about what it means to be a modern city. Recently Koolhaas became interested in the infrastructure built during the 1970's in Lagos, designed and executed by Yugoslav engineering company Energoprojekt, based in Belgrade.
See also
External links
Government and commerce
News
Education
Pictures of Lagos
Other
