Lagos

Question 1

Where is Lagos?

Answer 1

The largest city in Nigeria, located in the SW, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea

Question 2

What is the population of Lagos?

Answer 2

21 million

Question 3

How has Lagos’ population changed since 1960?

Answer 3

1) The population was less than 1 million in 1960. Over 250,000 migrants arrive annually causing an outward urban sprawl - since 1960, Lagos has expanded 15km North and 10km West.

Question 4

How is Lagos important to Nigeria and Africa?

Answer 4

1) Main financial centre for the whole of West Africa. 80% of Nigeria’s industry is based in and around Lagos. Largest airport and seaport in Nigeria

Question 5

Give 4 push factors from rural Nigeria

Answer 5

1) Subsistence farming pays very low wages. Very few opportunities (mainly agriculture). Northern Nigeria experiences heavy drought leading to malnutrition. NE Nigeria is home to terrorist group ‘Boko Haram’, which generates political unrest and insecurity in the area

Question 6

GIve 4 pull factors to Lagos

Answer 6

1) Jobs in manufacturing pay better than farming. More job opportunities. Better sanitation and medical facilities. Established schools and colleges i.e. better education

Question 7

Give 4 social opportunities in Lagos

Answer 7

1) Healthcare. Education. Sanitation. Electricity

Question 8

How does Lagos’ healthcare compare to the rest of Nigeria?

Answer 8

1) More clinics and hospitals in Lagos. Basic healthcare is free. Life expectancy in Lagos is 70, compared to 53 in the rest of Nigeria

Question 9

How does Lagos’ education compare to the rest of Nigeria?

Answer 9

1) More schools and universities in Lagos. In Lagos 68% of the population have secondary education, but in rural Nigeria 40% do not even attend primary school

Question 10

How does Lagos’ sanitation compare to the rest of Nigeria?

Answer 10

Water treatment plants provide safe water piped directly to parts of the city

Question 11

How does Lagos’ electricity provide opportunities?

Answer 11

People have access to electricity for cooking and lighting, which can also help to develop businesses

Question 12

Give 3 economic opportunities in Lagos

Answer 12

1) Offers the most jobs in Nigeria - informal and formal economy. Rapid growth of city means that there are an increasing number of jobs available in construction - e.g. Eko Atlantic will employ 150,000 people. Jobs are better paid that in rural Nigeria, with an average salary of $5500

Question 13

Give 2 social challenges in Lagos

Answer 13

1) 60% of Lagos’ population lives in slums, such as Makoko. Average population density of 20,000 people per km² puts pressure on the city infrastructure

Question 14

Give 3 environmental challenges in Lagos

Answer 14

1) Only 40% of rubbish is officially collected, leading to large rubbish dumps containing toxic waste, such as Olusoson rubbish dump. Waste disposal and emissions from factories are not controlled leading to air and water pollution. Traffic congestion causes more carbon dioxide to be released

Question 15

Detail the challenges of water supply and pollution

Answer 15

1) Only 10% of people in Lagos have a piped water supply that has been treated and purified. Drinking water often contains bacterial or chemical pollution that can cause disease, due to sewage leaks and poor drainage. Rising sea levels could cause increased flooding which would lead to groundwater contamination

Question 16

Detail the solutions to management of water supply and pollution

Answer 16

1) In 2012, the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC) began: regulating water supply and vendors; issuing licences for boreholes; ensuring a safe and reasonably priced water supply. Floating communities such as Makoko floating school have been built (2014)

Question 17

Detail the challenges of traffic congestion

Answer 17

1) High congestion

Question 18

Detail the solutions to management of traffic congestion

Answer 18

1) In 2003, LAMATA was set up to improve transport

Question 19

How does the informal economy provide opportunities in Lagos?

Answer 19

1) 90% of new jobs in Lagos are in the informal economy. The informal economy accounts for 40% of the total workforce. The unemployment rate is only 9.9% in Lagos (very low for Africa), due to the multitude of jobs in the informal economy

Question 20

How does Olusoson rubbish dump provide opportunities in the informal economy?

Answer 20

1) 500 people work there daily. 3000 tonnes of rubbish are sorted per day, which are then sold to be recycled. This has formed a community and has helped to cope with Lagos’ huge rubbish

Question 21

What is a squatter settlement?

Answer 21

A small community that tends to be found on unwanted land

Question 22

Give 5 problems with sanitation in Makoko

Answer 22

1) 75% of people live in one room. 33% of waste sewage is poured directly into a drain or river. Only 10% of people have adequate sanitation. Communal toilets are shared by 15 households. Buildings are prone to flooding

Question 23

Why are there high levels of crime in Makoko?

Answer 23

The area is self-policed by a gang called “The Area Boys”