Lagos notes geography/13th jan/21 - Marina

Advantages & disadvantages of location

The coastal location of Lagos has been key in its development as a megacity. Since
the settlement was established as a fishing village its geography has enabled it to
become a thriving seaport. Lagos Lagoon provides a sheltered harbour for ships
which makes it very accessible.
Airports and travel
Originally known as Lagos Airport, Murtala Muhammed International Airport has
also increased the accessibility of Lagos. It is now the main arrival point for 80% of
flights to West Africa. It is also the main base for Nigeria’s largest airline, Arik Air.
In 2015 over 7 million passengers passed through the airport
Lagos has developed into a major industrial powerhouse as the result of its
excellent transport links. Additionally, the growing population provides as
workforce for goods and services along with a market for them.
Additionally, with more schools and universities, the workforce is becoming better
skilled and educated. All of these factors combine to encourage industry to locate
in Lagos.
Primary, secondary and tertiary industries
As a country develops a greater proportion of the workforce is employed in tertiary
industry and few people work in the primary industry.
The graph shows that there was a rise of 10% from 2000 to 2016 in the secondary
industry, a rise of 30% in the tertiary industry and a massive decrease of 40% in the
development in Nigeria for the primary industry.
The economy
Lagos makes a significant contribution to the Nigerian economy. It contributes 30%
to Nigeria’s GDP. This is remarkable considering Lagos is home to only 10% of the
population of Nigeria. The majority of Nigeria’s manufacturing is based in Lagos as
well as many service industries such as finance.
A new city
Lagos is constructing a new city on the coast called Eco Atlantic. Eko Atlantic is an
entire new coastal city being built on Victoria Island adjacent to Lagos, Nigeria.
The project is privately funded by South Energyx Nigeria Limited – the developers
and city planners, a subsidiary of the Nigeria-based Chagoury Group of companies –
working in strategic partnership with the Lagos State Government and supported
by the Federal Government of Nigeria. It will be home to a quarter of a million
people and employ 150,000 more.
The rate of unemployment in Lagos is lower than the rest of Nigeria. The rate was
9.9% in 2015. However, for those without a job there are no government benefits
available. Most people who are not formally employed work in the informal
economy to get by. This includes jobs such as shoe shining, waste recycling or
street vending.
Like we saw on that picture of people living on rubbish heaps – their births are
probably not even recorded, meaning that if even of they did apply for a job,
there would be no full proof that they are who they say they are. Informal
employment also means that they cannot be properly protected by the government
and would most likely not have full rights to sue, take legal action if necessary,
etc.
This division of opportunity and possible employment discrimination can put
families and workers in an inferior position, often limiting their potential, simply
because they are not being paid as much as those formally employed. Additionally,
the runoff from landfills, carrying with it toxic chemicals from our waste are
extremely dangerous for one to inhale regularly, especially those with lung
conditions – not to mention it easily ends up in Lagos’ water supplies.
The advantages of the landfills are, that they are a source of energy, they are
cheap, and they keep hazardous waste segregated.
Plenary – to summarise
We looked at some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in Lagos, e.g.
coastal location in relation to developing megacity, how the airport and travel
system are so successful in terms of accessibility, industrial development and how
much Lagos contributes to the economy of Nigeria. We looked at different types of
employment and the rates of them, and we compared the primary, secondary and
tertiary industries in relation to each other on the graph.