Lagos, also known as Lagos City, is a large city and port in southwestern Nigeria. As of November 2025, the city’s population is estimated to be between 17 and 21 million people. This makes Lagos the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area in Africa, and one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world. Lagos was Nigeria’s national capital until 1991, when the government moved the capital to Abuja, a city in the center of the country. Lagos is an important financial center in Africa and serves as the economic hub of Lagos State and Nigeria. The city influences many areas, including commerce, entertainment, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, and fashion in Africa. Lagos is among the world’s fastest-growing cities and has the second-highest GDP in Africa. It also has one of the busiest seaports on the continent. Because of its large population and heavy port traffic, Lagos is classified as a Medium-Port Megacity.

Lagos was originally home to the Awori people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people from West Africa. They settled in the area in the 15th century, in what are now parts of Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Amuwo-Odofin, and Apapa. Before the 15th century, the Awori lived on a farmstead near the coast. In Yoruba, "farmstead" is called "Ereko," which is the origin of Lagos’s name, "Eko." The land is separated by small water channels and is near the mouth of Lagos Lagoon. It is protected from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier islands and long stretches of sand, such as Bar Beach. As the city grew, it expanded west of the lagoon to include areas like Lagos Mainland, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and Surulere. This expansion led to the city being divided into two main areas: the Island, which was the original city, and the Mainland, which it later expanded into. Until 1967, Lagos was governed directly by the Federal Government through the Lagos City Council. In 1967, Lagos State was created, splitting the city into seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) and adding other towns from the Western Region to form the state.

In 1976, the state capital was moved to Ikeja, and in 1991, the federal capital was moved to Abuja. Today, Lagos is often called "Metropolitan Lagos" or "Lagos Metropolitan Area." It is an urban agglomeration, or a large area made up of many cities and towns, consisting of 16 LGAs, including Ikeja, the state capital. This area covers 37% of Lagos State’s land and is home to about 85% of the state’s population.

The population of Metropolitan Lagos is debated. In the 2006 federal census, the area had about 9 million people. However, the Lagos State Government later estimated the population to be around 16 million. The city grows by about 3,000 people each day, or roughly 1.1 million people each year. Based on this growth, the population of the greater Lagos area in 2022 was estimated to be about 28 million, up from around 23.5 million in 2018. Lagos may now be the most populous city in Africa, surpassing Kinshasa. The Lagos conurbation is part of a growing transnational megalopolis on the West African coast, including areas in five countries, such as the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor.

The University of Lagos is one of Nigeria’s first universities. The business district of Lagos includes Tinubu Square, named after Efunroye Tinubu, a historical figure. Lagos also has Murtala Muhammed International Airport, named after Murtala Muhammad, a former Nigerian president. This airport is one of the busiest in Africa. The Lagos National Stadium has hosted international events, such as the 1980 African Cup of Nations.

Etymology

The name Lagos comes from the Portuguese word for "lakes." In British and Nigerian English, it is usually pronounced as /ˈleɪɡɒs/ (LAY-goss). However, in American English, it is often pronounced as /ˈlɑːɡoʊs/ (LAH-gohss). This is because many place names in the United States have origins in Spanish, which is closely related to Portuguese. The Yoruba people, who are native to the region, also use the name Èkó for the city. Lagos was likely named after Lagos, Portugal, because that city was the main place where Portuguese ships traveled along the African coast during the 15th century.

Administration

Lagos was once the capital city of Nigeria, but this changed when Abuja became the new capital on December 12, 1991. The decision to move the capital was made earlier, in 1976, through Act No. 6 of that year. Lagos still has the High Court of Lagos State Judiciary, which is located in an old colonial building on Lagos Island.

Lagos is not a single city with one government. Instead, the area known as Metropolitan Lagos includes 16 of the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos State. These LGAs manage the region’s government. Before 1976, the area that included Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and parts of the mainland was governed by the Lagos City Council (LCC). This council was dissolved in 1976 and replaced by several LGAs, including Lagos Island LGA, Lagos Mainland LGA, and Eti-Osa LGA.

The mainland areas outside the old Lagos Municipality included towns like Mushin, Ikeja, and Agege. During the 1970s, Nigeria’s oil boom caused Lagos to grow rapidly in population and economy. Many people moved from rural areas to the city, leading to the fast development of these towns. This growth formed the modern "Metropolitan Lagos" area. The current layout of LGAs reflects the cultural history of the region.

By 2006, the area around Lagos had grown so large that it became a megacity. This larger area, called "Greater Metropolitan Lagos" or "Lagos Megacity Region," covers an additional 1,535.4 square kilometers (592.8 square miles). It includes LGAs near Lagos’s eastern and western sides in Lagos State and some LGAs in nearby Ogun State, such as Obafemi Owode, Sagamu, Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, and part of Ewekoro.

Today, the term "Lagos" usually refers to the urban area called "Metropolitan Lagos," which includes the islands of the old Lagos Municipality and the mainland suburbs. The Lagos State government manages services like roads, transportation, power, water, health, and education. Metropolitan Lagos covers 16 of the 20 LGAs in Lagos State and includes about 85% of Lagos State’s population, including some semi-rural areas. Lagos is known for its many high-rise buildings, especially in the downtown Central Business District.

Demography

The 2006 National Population Census of Nigeria reported that the metropolitan area of Lagos had a population of 7,937,932 people. However, this number differs from some estimates made by the United Nations and other global population groups. The Lagos State Government claims the population of Lagos State is 17,553,924. This figure was based on a separate census conducted by the state for planning purposes. The government believes that since 88% of Lagos State’s population lives in the metropolitan area, the population of metropolitan Lagos is about 15.5 million.

A response to the Lagos State Government’s claims stated that the state did not share information about a major change in United Nations population estimates for Lagos Urban Agglomeration, which was updated in 2003. The state also did not consider two important data sets already available: the National Identity Card Scheme and the 2003 Voters Registration figures from INEC. The 2007 voter registration numbers from INEC, which came after the 2006 census results, supported the census figures. According to the 2006 census, Metropolitan Lagos had 8,048,430 people. This number was lower than expected and caused controversy in Nigeria. Lagos Island, the central area of Metropolitan Lagos, had a population of 212,700 according to the 2006 census.

The Lagos State Government has challenged the results of the 2006 census, saying the Nigerian National Population Commission undercounted the state’s population. The National Population Commission denies this claim. A study by Africapolis, an organization supported by the Agence française de développement, found that the 2006 census figures for Lagos State, which were about 9 million, were accurate. The study also noted that the state’s own estimates were likely too high.

Lagos is home to the Yoruba people, and the Yoruba language is widely spoken there. Most estimates show Lagos is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Each year, the city gains about 275,000 new residents due to people moving there for work. In 1999, the United Nations predicted that Lagos’s metropolitan area, which had about 290,000 people in 1950, would grow to over 20 million by 2010, making it one of the ten most populous cities globally.

Geography

Lagos is divided into two main geographical areas—the "Island" and the "Mainland."

The city of Lagos has the tallest skyline in Nigeria. The buildings in Lagos show many different architectural styles, including tropical, traditional, colonial European, and modern designs. Some buildings, like the Water House and Shitta Bey Mosque, reflect Brazilian-style architecture brought by the creoles. Most skyscrapers and high-rise buildings are located on the Island, while the Mainland has some high-rise buildings. In recent years, the Lagos State government has improved existing parks and green spaces, aiming to expand them in the future. Many well-built structures are found throughout the city.

The term "Island" refers to the area of Lagos separated from the Mainland by a large channel that connects the lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean, forming Lagos Harbour. The Island consists of several small islands linked by bridges. Some smaller parts of the creeks between the islands have been cleared and built over. This area is where most business, entertainment, and upscale residential neighborhoods are located. The Local Government Areas (LGAs) on the Island include Lagos Island and Eti-Osa. Major upscale neighborhoods in these areas are Ikoyi and Victoria Island. Three bridges connect the Island to the Mainland: the Carter Bridge (starting from Iddo), the Eko Bridge (formerly called the Second Mainland Bridge), and the Third Mainland Bridge (passing through densely populated areas on the Mainland). The Ikoyi link bridge connects Ikoyi to Lekki Phase 1, both of which are part of the Island.

Construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge is expected to begin in 2022, according to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Lagos Island includes a central business district, which is known for its high-rise buildings. The Island also has large wholesale markets, such as Idumota and Balogun Markets. It is home to the National Museum of Nigeria, the Central Mosque, the Glover Memorial Hall, Christ's Church Cathedral (CMS), and the Oba’s Palace (Iga Idunganran). Another important area on the Island is Marina, which borders the markets and houses major banks. Tinubu Square, once in poor condition, is historically significant as the site of the 1914 Amalgamation Ceremony that united the North and South protectorates to form Nigeria.

Ikoyi is located on the eastern half of Lagos Island and connected to it by a landfill. It is also linked to Victoria Island by the Falomo Bridge, which spans the Five Cowrie Creek. Falomo Garden, a public green space developed by the state government and Fidelity Bank in 2017, is located under the bridge. Ikoyi previously housed the headquarters of the federal government and other government buildings, such as the old federal secretariat complex, which is now being restored. The area includes military and police barracks, a top-security prison, a federal high court, hotels, nightclubs, a recreational park, and one of Africa’s largest golf courses. Originally a middle-class neighborhood, Ikoyi has become a popular residential area for the upper middle class and upper class. The commercial section is mainly in the southwest.

Victoria Island, along with its annex, is located to the south of Lagos Island and has a postal code of 101241 assigned by NIPOST. It is known for expensive real estate and features many new luxury apartments and condos. Along with Ikoyi, Victoria Island is home to several shopping districts. On its Atlantic Ocean shoreline, there is an environmentally restored Bar Beach.

The Lekki Peninsula shares prestige with Ikoyi and Victoria Island. Development has expanded the area, including the Ibeju axis, which is often considered part of Lekki despite being closer to Epe, a city on the outskirts of Lagos. The area begins at the Lekki toll gate, where the #EndSars protest took place in October 2020, and extends to Ibeju-Lekki. Communities like Ajah, Awoyaya, Sangotedo, Abijo, and Eputu are gradually becoming suburbs. Notable places in the area include the Lekki Conservation Centre, Novare Mall, the Lekki Free Trade Zone (where Dangote, Africa’s richest man, is building a refinery), Lagos Business School, Eleko Beach, Elegushi Beach, La Campagne Tropicana (a beach and tourist resort), and Pan-Atlantic University. The area also includes a Catholic monastery.

Across the lagoon from Lagos Island is a smaller settlement called Iddo. Iddo is a railroad terminus and is now part of the Lagos Mainland Local Government Area after being connected to the Mainland like a peninsula.

A large number of Lagosians live on the Lagos Mainland, where most industries are located. The Mainland is known for its music and nightlife, which used to be centered in areas like Yaba, Ikeja, and Surulere. In recent years, more nightclubs have opened on the Island, making the Island—especially Victoria Island, Ikate, and Lekki Phase 1—the main nightlife destination. Local Government Areas (LGAs) on the Mainland include Surulere, Apapa, and Lagos Mainland. Suburban LGAs in Metropolitan Lagos include Agege, Amuwo Odofin, Mushin, Oshodi-Isolo, and Ikeja (home to Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the capital of Lagos State).

Major areas on the Mainland include Ebute Metta, Yaba, and Ejigbo. Some rivers, like Badagry Creek, flow parallel to the coast for a distance before reaching the sea through sand bars.

Climate

Lagos has a tropical savanna climate (Aw), as classified by the Köppen system. This is because Lagos receives less than 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain in three months each year, and its total annual rainfall is not high enough to be classified as a tropical monsoon climate. The wet season runs from May to October, while the dry season occurs from November to April. There is also a brief dry period from July to August. June is the wettest month, with 316 mm (12.44 in) of rain, and January is the driest, with only 13 mm (0.51 in) of rain.

Because Lagos is near the equator, its temperatures change only slightly throughout the year. Average high temperatures range from 28 to 32 °C (82 to 90 °F). March is the hottest month, with temperatures between 32 to 26 °C (90 to 79 °F), while August is the coolest, with temperatures between 28 to 24 °C (82 to 75 °F). This pattern is similar to the seasons found in coastal areas of the Southern Hemisphere. The coolest months, June, July, and August, are also the rainiest, while the hottest season occurs during spring (March to May).

A 2019 study published in PLOS One predicted that by 2050, Lagos’s climate under a moderate climate change scenario (RCP 4.5) would closely resemble the current climate of Panama City. Under this scenario, annual temperatures would rise by 1.6 °C (2.9 °F), and the warmest month would be 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) warmer. The coldest month would be 2.9 °C (5.2 °F) warmer. Current global warming trends align with a 2.7 °C (4.9 °F) increase, which matches the RCP 4.5 scenario.

According to the 2022 IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, Lagos is one of 12 major African cities most at risk from rising sea levels. These cities include Abidjan, Alexandria, Algiers, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Lomé, Luanda, and Maputo. The report estimates that these cities could face combined damages of $65 billion under RCP 4.5 and $86.5 billion under the high-emission RCP 8.5 scenario by 2050. If marine ice sheet instability is included, damages could reach up to $137.5 billion under RCP 8.5 and $397 billion under extreme ice sheet instability. Additional risks from rare but severe events could increase total damages to $187 billion under RCP 4.5, $206 billion under RCP 8.5, and $397 billion under extreme ice sheet instability. Sea level rise will continue for thousands of years, increasing costs unless adaptation measures are taken. Subsidence, or the sinking of the land, is worsening the situation, with land sinking at a rate of up to 87 mm (3.4 in) per year.

Economy

The city of Lagos is an important economic center in Nigeria, producing about 30-35% of the country's total money made from goods and services. Most businesses, banks, and large companies operate in the central business district on the island. This area is also where many of Nigeria's banks, financial institutions, and major corporations are located. Lagos is the main hub for information and communication technology (ICT) in West Africa. Lagos is working to develop a 24-hour economy, where businesses operate around the clock.

The globalization of Lagos's economy is rated "beta minus" by the GaWC. This rating is similar to cities like Manchester or Edinburgh in the UK. Lagos is the most globalized city in West and Central Africa. Five out of seven African tech "unicorns" (companies worth over 1 billion euros) are based in Lagos. Lagos has more technology centers than any other city in Africa.

Yves Bellinghausen from the German magazine ZEIT says, "Lagos is Africa's Hollywood, Manhattan, and Silicon Valley all rolled into one."

Lagos is a major center for banking and finance. The four largest banks in West and Central Africa are based in Lagos, and nine other banks in Lagos are among the 20 largest in the region. Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and First Bank each have more than US$2 billion in capital. Banking headquarters are located on Victoria Island and Lagos Island.

The insurance industry in Nigeria is modest, with about US$1 billion in annual sales. Like banks, most insurance company headquarters are in Lagos.

The Port of Lagos, officially called the Lagos-Elbert Mathews Memorial Port, is Nigeria's main port and one of the largest and busiest in Africa. Because of its large population, Lagos is classified as a medium-port megacity using the Southampton System. The port is managed by the Nigerian Ports Authority.

The Port of Lagos / Apapa is the oldest and largest port in Nigeria, both in size and cargo volume. More than half of Nigeria's maritime trade passes through here, and it serves as a place where goods are transferred to other ships for landlocked countries like Chad and Niger. About 1,000 ships carrying 5.7 million tonnes of cargo visit the Lagos port complex each year.

Tin Can Island Port is located west of Apapa near the Lagos Port Complex. It was built in 1975.

In early 2023, the deep sea port of Lekki was opened 50 km east of Lagos. This port is not part of Lagos but belongs to the state with the same name.

Lagos is the center of the West African film, music, and TV industries. The film industry in the Surulere area is ranked second or third in the world, depending on the survey. PricewaterhouseCoopers Int. predicts that the Nigerian entertainment industry will grow by 85% to $15 billion. After the success of the Nigerian thriller "The Figurine," Nigerian films have focused on high-quality productions that are also commercially successful. This has led to new box office records in Nigeria, such as from "The Figurine" (2009), "Half of a Yellow Sun" (2013), "The Wedding Party" (2016), and "Battle on Buka Street" (2023).

In Nigeria, newspapers are available in digital format and are mostly produced in Lagos. The most widely read newspaper in Lagos is Punch. The Vanguard newspaper is one of the few dailies that is available both online and in print. Other publications include The Guardian, The Nation, The Sun, and the Nigerian Tribune, which was founded in 1949 during colonial times.

The most watched television station in Lagos (and Nigeria) is Channels TV, a 24-hour news channel based in Lagos. Some of its presenters use British English that some people find overly formal. Arise TV and the state broadcaster NTA also use British English. The private African Independent Television focuses on entertainment and infotainment. Programs in pidgin English or Yoruba are now available on digital streaming services, offering action films, comedies, and romantic stories.

Seven tech start-ups in Africa are called "unicorns" because they are worth over 1 billion euros. Five of them are based in Lagos: Flutterwave provides virtual bank cards. Opay and Interswitch are platforms for online bookings. Andela trains software engineers and places them in the Nigerian job market. Jumia is an online retail company that sells a wide range of products, such as electronics and fashion.

Lagos has more technology hubs than any other city in Africa. With over 90 million internet users, Lagos is attracting investors who want to take advantage of this growing technology center. Startupgrind.com calls Lagos "Africa's Silicon Valley." Bloomberg highlights "Nigeria's Chaotic Rise as the Tech Heart of Africa," referring specifically to Lagos, especially the Yaba district.

Lagos is the only African city with both a Google and a Microsoft office. MTN operates the first and still dominant 4G network in Nigeria. Airtel is another 4G provider. 9Mobile and Dataflex are internet service providers. Paystack is used by Nigerians who receive payments from abroad. ULesson offers a platform for secondary school learning content. Hotels.ng allows hotel bookings across Africa.

For many years, Nigeria did not have an oil processing industry, except for illegal refineries in the Niger Delta, which are very polluting. Nigeria had to send its crude oil to refineries in the US or Europe, which added costs and gave middlemen a profit. The Lekki oil refinery, which opened in December 2023, now produces 650,000 barrels of oil per day, with plans to expand to 14 million barrels per day.

In October 2025, Dangote announced plans to increase the Lekki refinery's daily production to 1.4 million barrels at a cost of USD 350 million. This would make Lekki the largest refinery in the world. At the same time, neighboring states of Ogun and Ondo announced plans to build their own refineries: Ogun on Tongeji Island near Ipokia and Ondo in the 'Sunshine Free Trade Zone Igotiri' in Ilaje, 50 km east of the Lekki refinery.

Since 2022, a new fertilizer plant has been producing 3 million tonnes of fertilizer each year, roughly equal to Germany's annual consumption. With no Russian fertilizer available in 2022 due to the invasion of Ukraine, Nigeria is filling a gap in the market. Dangote, the company owner, says, "The fertilizer market is a seller's market. People are begging us to sell, and we are selective about who we sell to."

Nigeria hosts about 60% of Africa's pharmaceutical production capacity (as of

Tourism

Lagos is becoming a popular tourist destination in Africa and around the world. This change happened after a modernization project led by the previous administration of Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola. Many visitors, including African people living abroad and those from East and Southern Africa, come to Lagos to learn more about Nigeria through movies made by Nollywood.

Lagos has beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, such as Tarkwa Bay, Elegushi Beach, and Alpha Beach. The city also has private beach resorts, like the Inagbe Grand Beach Resort.

On Wole Olateju Crescent, near the Lekki Bridge, companies offer boat tours and rent kayaks or jet skis.

Nightclubs are mostly found on Victoria Island, where wealthy people and foreign visitors gather, and along Adeniran Ogunsanya Street in Surulere.

Rooftop restaurants on the Atlantic Beach or near the lagoon provide delicious food, beautiful views, and a cool breeze from the sea for visitors who feel hot.

Before the local currency, the naira, lost value in June 2023, Lagos was a place where US$10 (about 9.10 euros) could buy a full day of meals and souvenirs. Bargain hunters can find brand-name clothing at very low prices at the eco-market and Martin Street.

The Lekki Arts and Crafts Market, known as Oba Elegushi Market, is the largest art market in Nigeria. It displays many types of African crafts and artwork.

Freedom Park is a memorial and recreational area in Lagos City Center on Lagos Island. It was once a prison called Her Majesty's Broad Street Prison. The park was designed by architect Theo Lawson to honor Nigerian history and culture. It includes monuments that remember the colonial past of Lagos and the prison’s history. Built to celebrate Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary in 2010, the park is now a peaceful place for reflection and public events.

Tinubu Square, formerly called Independence Square, is a large open space on Broad Street, Lagos Island. It is named after Efunroye Tinubu, a historical figure. The square became popular after Nigeria gained independence and is the most well-known public space in Nigeria.

Tafawa Balewa Square is a stadium that once served as a racecourse under British rule and where Nigeria’s independence was announced in 1960. Sculptures of four white horses and seven red eagles are at the entrance. After Lagos lost its status as the capital to Abuja, the stadium fell into disrepair. Efforts by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to restore it have not succeeded as of 2023.

Ndubuisi Kanu Park is a public green space where people enjoy relaxation.

The Lekki Conservation Centre, also known as Lagos Zoo, is a fenced area that mimics rainforests, mangroves, and savannahs. It is home to monkeys, birds, snakes, and crocodiles. A small museum with stuffed animals is also there. On Sundays, the area is used for long religious services. According to a tourism website, it is the second most popular attraction in Lagos after the Nike Gallery.

Lufasi Nature Park is part of the Lekki Urban Forestry and Animal Shelter Initiative. It helps protect wildlife and endangered species. Nollywood film crews often use this park as a filming location.

Other notable places in Lagos include:
– The National Theatre in Iganmu, now called the Wole Soyinka Center for Culture and Creative Arts.
– The Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, Nigeria’s first cable-stayed bridge.
– The Oba’s Palace at Iga Idunganran, an ancestral home for the Oba of Lagos, who preserves the traditions of the Eko people.
– The Cathedral Church of Christ in Lagos.

Other landmarks include:
– The Herbert Macaulay memorial statue.
– The "Welcome to Lagos" statue, showing three Lagos white cap chiefs. Locals say this statue warns visitors not to be too trusting, foolish, or naive.
– Takwa Bay, a popular spot to watch ships entering and leaving the Lagos port and to enjoy water activities.
– Festac Town.

Culture

Lagos is a cultural center of Nigeria. As a port city and the starting point of British colonization, Western influence is stronger here than in any other Nigerian city. All Nigerian ethnic groups live in this city, with the Yoruba people being the most common. The music and film industries in Lagos are important parts of the country and are well-known around the world.

Lagos used a style of architecture called tropical modernist, which was designed to work well in the local climate. This style used materials like reinforced concrete and included features such as clean lines, louvres, and sun-screen facades to help control heat and environmental conditions. Architects like Onafowokan Michael Olutusen and Oluwole Olumuyiwa helped popularize this style in Nigeria. These buildings focused on simple designs rather than elaborate decorations. Between the 1960s and 1980s, Lagos followed a clear pattern of city planning. Lagos Island, the historic colonial center, was the main area for government and business. Other areas like Yaba, Apapa, and Surulere grew around it. This layout helped manage traffic and spread economic activity. City planning often separated different functions, following modernist ideas influenced by the CIAM movement.

A famous building in Lagos is the National Arts Theatre. It has an oval base and a shape that looks like a spaceship or a military hat, inspired by Japan’s Metabolist movement. This movement connected building design to function and national identity. The theatre was renovated in March 2023. Now, it is easier to reach because the new "blue line" Lagos light rail has a station called "National Theatre" near the building.

Another well-known structure is the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, often called the Lekki Bridge.

The Cathedral Church of Christ is in the oldest part of Lagos. It was built between 1867 and 1869, shortly after British colonial rule began.

The Bookshop House was built in 1973 by G. Cappa and designed by John Godwin and Gillian Hopwood. It used special sun screening and windows with a sunbreaker facade to reduce the need for air conditioning by 75% on office floors.

The Synagogue Church of All Nations was built in 2004.

Lagos is home to many famous sculptors, such as Ben Enwonwu, who is known for his wood and bronze artwork, and Dotun Popoola, a contemporary artist who uses scrap metal. Other artists include Peju Alatise, Idowu Sonaya, and Collins Abinoro Akporode, who are helping shape Lagos’s modern art scene.

The Nike Art Gallery, owned by Nike Davies-Okundaye, is likely the largest art gallery in West Africa. It has a five-story building and a collection of about 8,000 works by Nigerian artists like Chief Josephine Oboh Macleod.

Red Door Gallery focuses on African contemporary art.

The Ovuomaroro Studio and Gallery is one of the oldest art galleries in Lagos.

The Alexis Galleries, owned by Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, is on Victoria Island. Since 2011, it has shown Nigerian contemporary art, including painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture. It supports the Nigerian art community.

In 2002, Lagos was one of the African cities where the art exhibition Documenta 11 took place.

The National Museum in Onikan on Lagos Island has collections of archaeological and ethnographic items, as well as traditional art. Visitors can buy Nigerian crafts at the nearby craft center. At the Jankara market, people can negotiate prices for items like spices, cotton fabric, and leather goods.

The John K. Randle Centre has an exhibition on Yoruba culture that started in 2023. It works with artists, writers, and historians to share Yoruba traditions. The museum uses modern Western practices to tell stories inspired by Yoruba culture. It collects many items and helps return Yoruba artifacts from European museums.

The Kalakuta Republic is a museum that honors the late musician Fela Kuti.

The Mindscape Children’s Museum, opened in 2015, is Nigeria’s top children’s museum. It encourages social interaction and helps children explore their curiosity.

The Muson Centre is a theatre and performance hall. It hosts concerts in Nigerian and Western styles. Its choir has performed since 1995, and its symphony orchestra, Nigeria’s only professional one at the time, since 2005. Both groups perform at the annual MUSON Festival and during the Society’s concert season.

Lagos has festivals in different months. These include the Lagos Carnival in January, the Eko International Film Festival in March, the Lagos Black Heritage Carnival in April, the Lagos Photo Festival in November, the Book & Art Festival in November, and the Lagos Food Festival in December. The Lagos Jazz Festival features music of all genres with a focus on jazz. The Experience is a loud gospel concert held in Talewa Balewa Square by the House of the Rock Church on the first Friday in December.

The Eyo Carnival is a festival that started in Iperu Remo, Ogun State. It does not happen regularly.

Some famous dishes in Lagos include eba and egusi, amala and ewedu, jollof (a popular party dish), ofada rice, plantains (called dodo), beans, suya (spicy grilled beef), and eba made from cassava. Other dishes include Iyan (pounded yam), asaro, and Egusi (melon soup). The city also has European, Middle Eastern, and Asian food.

Lagos is known for its music scene. It has a lively nightlife and is the birthplace of styles like Sakara music, Nigerian hip hop, highlife, juju, fuji, and Afrobeats.

James Brown performed in Lagos in 1970. In 1973, Paul McCartney and his band Wings recorded their album Band on the Run in an EMI studio in Lagos. Other international musicians who have performed in Lagos include Sean Paul, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Akon, Ashanti, Usher, Shaggy, R Kelly, Cardi B, Migos, Shakira, John Legend, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Boyz II Men, T-Pain, Brian McKnight, JayZ, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Brandy, Ciara, Keri Hilson, and Lauryn Hill.

The Surulere district is the center of Nigeria’s film industry, called Nollywood. Many films are made in Lagos, and the city is often used as a setting in movies.

Sports

Association football is the most popular sport in Lagos. Well-known football clubs in Lagos include Bridge Boys F.C., MFM F.C., and First Bank. All of these clubs play in the Nigeria National League, which is the second level of football in Nigeria.

The Nigeria national football team, known as the Super Eagles, used to play most of their home games in Lagos at the National Stadium in Surulere. Later, some games were played at the New Abuja National Stadium in Abuja. Now, the Super Eagles mostly play at the newer Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, which is their main home stadium. Lagos also hosted the 2nd All-African Games in 1973.

Quality of life

In 2018, a study ranked Lagos 218th out of 241 cities around the world based on quality of life. In 2023, Lagos was ranked second, behind only Manila, in a global survey by Statista Research Department that looked at cities with the lowest quality of life. The quality of life index is made up of eight different categories.

It is important to note that these rankings often rely on opinions from people in Europe or North America, not on data collected locally. For example, the CPI from Transparency International is based on what people think, not on actual experiences or detailed analysis. Some people criticize these rankings for showing the biases of Western countries in numbers.

Social situation, informal economy

Lagos has a wide range of wealth among its people. Some individuals are very wealthy, while others live with very little money. Many young people and families from other parts of Nigeria and other countries move to Lagos in search of better opportunities.

In certain areas of Lagos, people enjoy one of the highest standards of living in Nigeria and across Africa.

However, reliable information about unemployment and how many people earn less than the amount needed to meet basic needs is not widely available for Lagos or the surrounding region. Any data that exists should be viewed carefully, as it may not be accurate. This is partly because of the large informal economy in West Africa. Many people cannot find jobs in traditional workplaces, so they turn to the informal economy for work. In this sector, workers often do not receive a minimum wage, pay taxes, or have rights like holidays or safe working conditions.

According to the International Monetary Fund, about 5.5 million people in Lagos State work in the informal economy, which makes up about three-quarters of the city’s total workforce. Around Lagos, you can see many people working in the informal sector, such as street vendors, artisans, small business owners, shared taxi drivers, tricycle and motorcycle drivers, domestic workers, and market traders.

Work in the informal economy is not included in official economic reports. As a result, important details about the population’s wealth, as well as unemployment rates, are often not fully understood unless the large informal economy is considered.

Crime

The Council on Foreign Relations' Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) keeps a record of violent deaths, such as murder and manslaughter, caused by criminals, religious groups (like Boko Haram), and police actions in Nigeria for each state.

Interestingly, the NST shows that Nigeria's two largest cities, Lagos and Kano, have much lower rates of violent deaths compared to rural areas. In Lagos State, the NST reports 135 violent deaths in the last 24 months, up to July 2023. This equals about 5.6 homicides each year for every million people. For comparison, the United Kingdom reported 10 homicides per million people in 2022, and Turkey reported 24. Across Nigeria as a whole, there were 93 violent deaths per million people, with 62% of these cases linked to police actions, especially unofficial justice efforts. Boko Haram has a very small role in Lagos as of 2023.

Education

The Lagos State Government manages state schools. The education system in Nigeria follows the 6-3-3-4 structure, which is used nationwide and by many countries in the Economic Community of West African States. This system includes four levels: Primary, Junior Secondary School (JSS), Senior Secondary School (SSS), and university. All children receive basic education, with a strong focus on the first nine years of learning. Many schools in Nigeria are funded by the federal government and often operate as boarding schools. Examples include Federal Government College Odogbolu, Federal Government Girls’ College Sagamu, and Federal Government College Kano. Lagos also has federally funded high schools, such as Federal Government College Ijanikin (also known as FGC Lagos), King’s College Lagos, and Queen’s College Lagos.

Lagos has postsecondary schools, universities, and vocational institutions run by the government or private organizations.

• Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT): Established in 2000, IIT is a vocational school for boys from families with limited resources. It uses the Dual Training System, which combines classroom learning with hands-on work experience.
• Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH): Founded in 1934, YABATECH is Nigeria’s first higher education institution and the third in Africa. It has over 16,000 students and serves as a cultural and heritage center.
• Lagos City Polytechnic: Located in Ikeja, this is Nigeria’s first private polytechnic. It was founded in 1990 by Engr. Babatunde Odufuwa from Ogun State.
• Grace Polytechnic
• Wolex Polytechnic
• Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology: This school offers courses in fisheries technology, marine engineering, and nautical science.
• Federal College of Education (Tech) Akoka
• Ronik Polytechnic

• University of Lagos (UNILAG) Akoka: Founded in 1962, this large university has over 55,000 students and 13 faculties led by more than 4,000 staff.
• Lagos State University (LASU): Established in 1983, LASU is owned by Lagos State and has its main campus in Ojo.
• Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH): Located in Ikorodu, LASUSTECH was created from Lagos State Polytechnic in 2018, leaving Lagos without a state-owned polytechnic.
• Pan-Atlantic University: Formerly called Pan-African University, it offers programs in business, media, and communication. It also runs the Virtual Museum of Modern Nigerian Art.
• National Open University of Nigeria: The first open university in Nigeria, it is located in Lagos.
• Caleb University: A private university in Imota, Lagos.
• Lagos State College of Health Technology (LASCOHET): Located in Yaba, it offers courses in health information management, pharmacy, and medical laboratory technology.
• Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja
• College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL)

Healthcare

Lagos has many hospitals and medical centers. The oldest hospital in Nigeria is located in Lagos, and the first air ambulance service in West Africa began operating in the city. The healthcare system in Lagos is split into public and private parts. These parts provide medical care at three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Transportation

Lagos has one of the largest and most extensive road networks in West Africa. It also has suburban trains and some ferry services. Highways are often crowded during busy times because of the city’s geography and fast-growing population. Lagos is connected by many highways and bridges.

The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway are the main controlled-access highways in the northern part of the city. These highways connect Lagos to Oyo State and Ogun State, respectively. To the west, the busy Lagos–Badagry Expressway links the city to nearby towns like Festival Town, where the 1977 Festival of Black Arts and Culture took place.

Lagos’s role as a major commercial center and port, along with its location, has made it the endpoint of three Trans-African Highway routes that use Nigeria’s national roads. The Trans–West African Coastal Highway leaves Lagos through the Badagry Expressway toward Benin, Dakar, and Nouakchott. The Trans-Sahara Highway, which is nearly completed, leaves Lagos through the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway toward Algiers.

The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) manages public transportation in the city.

Since 2021, people who use buses or the light rail system must pay with a public transport card instead of cash. This card works on both BRT and LBSL buses. Cards can be bought at ticketing booths at bus terminals across Lagos State.

There are two main bus companies in Lagos: BRT (Lagos Bus Rapid Transit System) and LBSL (Lagos Bus Services). City buses are air-conditioned, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, air conditioning was turned off.

BRT started in 2008 and allows payments with bank cards. Dedicated bus lanes for BRT buses are on Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue. BRT buses come from different brands, including Ashok Leyland and Yutong. Primero Transport Services (PTS) Ltd. operates all BRT buses.

Before the new automated bus system, Lagos relied on older buses called "Molue," which are now rare and mostly found on specific routes.

LBSL began operations in 2019 and uses buses built in Brazil by Marcopolo.

The main bus terminal in Lagos is the Oshodi Bus Terminal, the largest in West Africa. It opened in 2019 and serves both city and long-distance buses.

In May 2023, LAMATA introduced electric buses in Lagos.

The first part of the Lagos Light Rail system started operating in February 2023. The "Blue Line" runs between Mile 2 and Marina (east-west direction), and the "Red Line" runs between Agbado and Oyingbo (north-south direction). Extensions of the Blue Line toward Okokomaiko and the Red Line toward Marina are currently being built.

Plans include additional light rail lines: the Green Line (Marina to Lekki), the Yellow Line (Otta/Airport to Iddo), the Purple Line (Redeem to Ojo), the Brown Line (Mile 12 to Marina), and the Orange Line (Redeem to Marina).

In early 2024, it was reported that the Lagos suburban railway carried 583,000 passengers in its first four months of operation. On February 14, 2024, Governor Sanwo-Olu announced that the Red Line between Agbado and Oyingbo would open on February 29, 2024, in the presence of Nigerian President Tinubu.

As of June 2021, Lagos has a double-track standard gauge railway to Ibadan and a modern train station called Mobolaji Johnson. The Lagos–Ibadan train service runs three times on Fridays and Saturdays, departing at 8:00 PM, 12:00 PM, and 4:00 PM on Fridays, and 8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM on Saturdays. On other days, trains run at 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Tickets are sold in person with cash, but electronic ticketing will be added soon. The Nigerian Railway Corporation operates the service.

A common way to travel in Lagos is by yellow minibuses called "Danfo" or "Faragan." These buses, mostly VW T3 or LT models, follow fixed routes but do not follow a strict schedule.

Residents often find that traveling by car in Lagos takes six times longer than using a ferry. In 2021, the Ferry Authority recorded about two million passengers each month.

The main ferry terminal in Lagos is Five Cowries Terminal, located on the lagoon between Lagos Island and Victoria Island. It opened in August 2018 and serves as the headquarters of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA). The terminal includes a jetty, restaurant, bar, offices, ticket booths, waiting areas, restrooms, elevators, a conference room, and ATMs. Private and other ferry operators also use the terminal. A multi-story parking lot with space for over 800 vehicles is connected to the terminal. The terminal is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is near the Falomo Bridge. LASWA ferries travel to destinations like Marina, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Apapa, Ikorodu, and Badagry.

Lagos is served by Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), one of Africa’s largest and busiest airports. MMIA is Nigeria’s main international gateway and was originally called Lagos International Airport. It was renamed in 1976 after General Murtala Muhammed, who was a former Nigerian leader. The airport’s international terminal opened in 1979 after being built in the 1970s. It has been renovated several times, with major improvements starting in 2013. By 2014, the lounge area was expanded, and new systems were added to handle more passengers.

A second airport, Lekki-Epe International Airport, was approved by the Nigerian government in April 2023.

Recycling, sewage and water supply

In Lagos, 40% of waste is collected, and 13% is recycled. The city produces 13,000 tonnes of waste every day. Some people burn their waste, which makes pollution worse.

Tap water in Lagos is not safe to drink but can be used for cooking and showering. The water in the pipes is often polluted. Because the water in the lagoon is too dirty, the city gets its water from the Ogun and Owo rivers. People have discussed the poor water quality in Lagos for many years. Many residents live in slums without access to clean water or proper sanitation.

Lagos does not have an efficient sewage system. Rainwater carries sewage into open drainage systems. This polluted water flows into rivers and the lagoon. Sewage also seeps into groundwater through broken septic tanks and latrines. Contaminants can then pollute water in wells and boreholes. Water sold by street vendors may also be polluted because it comes from the same sources.

Twin towns – sister cities

Lagos is twinned with the following cities:

• Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• Gary, Indiana, United States
• Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• Bucharest, Romania
• Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago