Lagos state, Nigeria in brief

The former British crown colony of Lagos is as significant as it is popular. It was founded by the Benin Empire about 300 years ago, the Bini called it Eko meaning 'War Camp' in the Bini dialect. It acquired the name Lagos from the Portuguese who established a slave port there. The most populous state in Nigeria, West Africa with over 15 million people, it is also the oldest state in the Federation. It had a monarchical system of government for so many centuries which was finally overthrown with the coming of the British in the 19th century when the erstwhile Oba or King, Akintoye ceded control of Lagos to the British in 1861.

Lagos was made a state in 1967 and it was for many years the capital city of Nigeria. It ceased being so in 1991. It is located on the south-western region of the country along a narrow strip of territory impinging on the Atlantic. It is a melting pot where the entire tribal and ethnic make-up of the country is represented.

Lagos in recent times has been one of the most visited cities in West Africa; almost 250,000 people visit Lagos every day. Known as 'the center of excellence', it is known for its high degree of commerciality. It is the home of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. It is the hub of the Nigerian economy where the largest volume of trade and financial transactions take place. As a consequence of its commercial preeminence, it has been able to attract its own fair share of foreign investors who have used Lagos as a base for the expansion of their operations.

Peculiarities about Lagos abound. For one thing, Lagos has remained a hectic environment based on its over- population. From the chic, relatively sophisticated, high- brow areas like Victoria Island and Ikoyi where the wealthy reside and where most of the diplomatic missions are located to the sprawling high density, low-income slum areas like Ajegunle and Mushin, Lagos is indeed a state of contrasting outlook.

The usual life in Lagos can be described as chaotic, confused and stressful. Roads are pot-holed. This is because a miserably pitiful amount of money is budgeted for road maintenance. This has brought about large numbers of fatal vehicular accidents, and heavy traffic jams. As a result the transportation system is chaotic. Transport is largely in the hands of private operators whose daily activities are not governed by any schedule or time-table whatsoever. They start work when they feel like and they pack it up for the day when they like as well. These private operators lack the knowledge and expertise to run an efficient transportation system. They are also partly responsible for the chaotic scenes on the roads. We rely mainly on road transport in Lagos. Very little happens on the decrepit rail system and on the lagoons and creeks. Water transport in Lagos is presently at its infancy.

Power supply in Lagos can be described as very epileptic and unreliable. You can go without power for days, weeks, sometimes even months. The situation seems terrible but Lagosians and in general Nigerians are hardy and have learned to cope.

Water supply is at best 'skeletal'. Most people get their water from communal water sources. Some choose to buy their water from peripatetic water hawkers who are mainly non- Nigerians e.g. Malian and Nigerien. Right now this government is recently working to help improve the living condition of its citizens.

Social life is a little bit below average in Lagos as a result of widespread insecurity. The cops in Lagos are simply not up to the job of providing adequate and tangible security. The security situation is so bad that individual neighborhoods have had to resort to the hiring of private security personnel to provide them with the security they need. Social activities are ever present on the calendar e.g. fun fests and musical shows, but for a city/ state the size of Lagos, they are rather few and far between. There are quite a number of nightclubs in Lagos. Very few are top-notch, most being notorious as hang-outs for prostitutes and criminals. These are subjected to frequent raids by the cops. Some clubs in Lagos offer decent entertainment; there is no doubt about that. A lot of hype and frenzy is generated when established artists come to perform.

Education can be described as ubiquitous as many schools have been built, but with the exception of a few well-financed schools, almost all privately-run, standards can be described as below average. Despite this handicap, some pretty clever students are products of the Public School System condition of virtually free educational system. Lagos has two universities and two polytechnics for higher education. More are on the way as private bodies have been given the go-ahead to establish universities and polytechnics.

Tourism seems to be one of the most adventurous peculiarities for foreigners. It as the first story building in it, located at Badagry, one of the oldest city in Lagos and also the Slave Coast during the colonial era. Lagos as remained conservative base on is traditional festival which attracted so many individuals from different part of the world e.g. ADAMU EYO ORISA festival, IGUNUKO festival, EGUNGUN festival etc. even recently a new king was installed in Lagos "Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu1" whose coronation attracted so many celebrities from all parts of the world. The governor of the state is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is a little insight of what I can give you about Lagos, there is a lot more to be said about Lagos I hope this will just give you some idea of what Lagos is and what it represents.

Peace
Fleet (Lead Organizer G.A.ME Nigeria)
FleetMilitant@kickgame.com