Lagos is the commercial capital of Nigeria and the most populated city in the country and Africa.
Ikoyi
Lagos was the administrative capital of Nigeria until December 1991 following the government’s decision to move the capital to Abuja in the centre of the country.
Victoria Island
Lagos is a major African financial centre and is an economic hub.
The city has been described as the cultural, financial, and entertainment capital of Africa, and is a significant influence on commerce, entertainment, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, and fashion.
Lagos is also among the top ten of the world’s fastest-growing cities and urban areas.
Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos is an Anglican cathedral on Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
The megacity has the fourth-highest GDP in Africa and houses one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent.
Third Mainland Bridge across the Lagos Lagoon
The Lagos metropolitan area is a major educational and cultural centre in Sub Saharan Africa.
Lagos emerged as a home to the Awori tribe of the Yoruba of West Africa islands, which are contained in the present day Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Amuwo-Odofin and Apapa.
The islands are separated by creeks, fringing the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon, while being protected from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier islands and long sand spits such as Bar Beach, which stretch up to 100 km east and west.
Due to rapid urbanisation, the city expanded to the west of the lagoon to include areas in the present day Lagos Mainland, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Surulere.
This led to the classification of Lagos into two main areas: the Island, which was the original city of Lagos, and the Mainland, which it has since expanded into.
Market
This city area was governed directly by the Federal Government through the Lagos City Council, until the creation of Lagos State in 1967, which led to the splitting of Lagos city into the present-day seven Local Government Areas (LGAs), and an addition of other towns (which now make up 13 LGAs) from the then Western Region to form the state.
Ferry terminal
However, the state capital was later moved to Ikeja in 1976, and the federal capital moved to Abuja in 1991.
Even though Lagos is still widely referred to as a city, the present-day Lagos, also known as “Lagos Metropolitan Area” is an urban agglomeration or conurbation, consisting of 16 LGAs including Ikeja, the state capital of Lagos State.
Airport
This conurbation makes up 37% of Lagos State total land area, but houses about 85% of the state’s total population.
