Largely due to an economic downturn beginning in the s, Lagos witnessed significant migration from those in rural areas in search of employment. Read the full study below, or download it as a PDF here.
The Nigerian federal government moved its capital to Abuja in [3] and many people hoped this would alleviate pressure on Lagos and its aging infrastructure. However, due to an economic downturn beginning in the s, Lagos witnessed significant migration from those in rural areas in search of employment.
In recent years, economic migrants have been joined by those escaping conflicts in northern areas and elsewhere in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. Lagos extends on a westβeast axis; to the west towards the border with Benin and to smaller riverine towns to the east. It is low-lying and subject to flooding and coastal erosion. Major infrastructural schemes in the s, s and, most recently, in the s, have involved the creation of flood barriers, coastline management and land reclamation.
The high-profile urban development scheme, Eko Atlantic, has involved further land reclamation from the Atlantic Ocean. Lagos State is the smallest state in Nigeria, with a land mass of 3, km2. With a population density of 4, km2, rising to 12, in some low-income areas, Lagos also has the densest population conurbation in Nigeria. Its urban area has expanded at an average annual rate of 2. This forms much of its central business district.
The administrative infrastructure for Lagos State is now located in Ikeja on the mainland. There are a number of informal settlements on the outskirts of the historic central business district. More recent residential suburbs exist towards the Ibadan expressway and on the Lekki Peninsula. The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority has proposed an urban rail network comprising seven lines, two of which are currently under construction.
