Lagos

For other uses, see Lagos (disambiguation).

Lagos Èkó
Lagos Island as seen from the harbour near Victoria Island
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): lag city, Lasgidi, Gidi
City of Lagos showing main urban areas
Lagos Lagos shown within Nigeria
Coordinates: 6°27′11″N 3°23′45″E / 6.45306°N 3.39583°E / 6.45306; 3.39583Coordinates: 6°27′11″N 3°23′45″E / 6.45306°N 3.39583°E / 6.45306; 3.39583
Country	Nigeria
State	Lagos State
LGA	Lagos Island
Government
– Governor	Babatunde Fashola (ACN)
Area[1]
– Urban	999.6 km2 (385.9 sq mi)
Population (2006 census, preliminary)[2]
– City	7,937,932
– Density	7,941/km2 (20,170/sq mi)
Time zone	WAT (UTC+1)
Website	lagosstate.gov.ng

Lagos (English pronunciation: /ˈleɪɡɒs/^[3] lay-gos;^[4] Edo: Èkó)^[5][6] is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa (7th fastest in the world).^[7] Lagos is the economic and financial capital of Nigeria and was once the capital of Nigeria.

Lagos was originally inhabited by the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba people. Under the leadership of their Olofin the Awori moved to an island now called Iddo and then to the larger Lagos Island. In the 15th century the Awori settlement was attacked by the Benin Empire following a quarrel and the island became a Benin war-camp called "Eko" under Oba Orhogba, the Oba of Benin of the time.^[6][8]

Lagos is a huge metropolis which originated on islands separated by creeks such as Lagos Island that fringe the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon protected from the Atlantic Ocean by long sand spits such as Bar Beach which stretch up to 100 km east and west of the mouth. From the beginning Lagos has spread on the mainland west of the lagoon and the conurbation, including Ikeja and Agege, now reaches more than 40 km north-west of Lagos Island. There are suburbs like Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry and recently more local councils have been created to bring the total number of local governments in Lagos to 57.

History

Main article: History of Lagos

Lagos was a war camp for members of the Benin Empire who called it Eko.^[5][6] The Yoruba still use the name Eko to refer to Lagos. Lagos was a name given to the settlement by the Portuguese meaning "lakes". The present day Lagos state has a higher percent of Awori, who migrated to the area from Isheri along the Ogun river. Throughout history, it was home to a number of warring ethnic groups who had settled in the area. During its early settlement, it also saw periods of rule by the Benin Kingdom.^[9]

Portuguese explorer Rui de Sequeira visited the area in 1472, naming the area around the city Lago de Curamo; indeed the present name is Portuguese for "lakes". Another explanation is that Lagos was named for Lagos, Portugal - a maritime town which at the time was the main centre of the Portuguese expeditions down the African coast and whose own name is derived from the Latin word Lacobriga.

Lagos was formally annexed as the British Lagos Colony in 1861. This had the dual effect of crushing the slave trade and establishing British control over palm and other trades.^[10] The remainder of modern-day Nigeria was seized in 1887, and when the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria was established in 1914, Lagos was declared its capital. It continued to be the capital when Nigeria gained its independence from Britain in 1960. Along with migrants from all over Nigeria and other West African nations were the returnee ex-slaves known as Creoles that came from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Brazil and the West Indies to Lagos. The Creole workers had the advantage of Western Education and exposure to the wider world which was why they remained as the core of the African colonial staff of British administration. The Creoles contributed to Lagos' modernisation and their knowledge of Portuguese architecture can still be seen from the architecture on Lagos Island.^[6]

Lagos experienced rapid growth throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a result of Nigeria's economic boom prior to the Nigerian Civil War otherwise called the Biafran War. Lagos was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 up to 1991. The city was stripped of its status when the Federal Capital Territory was established at the purpose-built city of Abuja. On November 14, 1991, the Presidency and other federal government functions were finally relocated to the new Capital city of Abuja. However, most government functions stayed in Lagos for a time since Abuja was then under construction.

Geography

The Lagos Mainland

Most of the population live on the mainland, and most industries are located there too. Lagos is known for its music and night life, which used to be located in areas around Yaba and Surulere In recent years more night clubs have sprung on the island, making the island, particularly Victoria Island, the main nightlife attraction. Lagos Mainland districts include Ebute-Meta, Surulere, Yaba (location of the University of Lagos) and Ikeja, site of Murtala Muhammed International Airport and capital of Lagos State.

Greater Lagos includes Mushin, Maryland, Somolu, Oshodi, Oworonsoki, Isolo, Ikotun, Agege,Iju Ishaga, Egbeda, Ketu, Bariga, Ipaja, Ajah and Ejigbo.

The city of Lagos is the main city of the southwestern part of Nigeria. Some rivers, like Badagry Creek, flow parallel to the coast for some distance before exiting through the sand bars to the sea. The two major urban islands of Lagos in Lagos Lagoon are Lagos Island and Victoria Island. These islands are separated from the mainland by the main channel draining the lagoon into the Atlantic Ocean, which forms Lagos Harbour. The islands are separated from each other by creeks of varying sizes and are connected to Lagos Island by bridges. The smaller sections of some creeks have been sand filled and built over, however.

The Islands of Lagos

Lagos Island

Main article: Lagos Island

Lagos Island contains a central business district. This district is characterized by high-rise buildings. The island also contains many of the city's largest wholesale marketplaces (such as the popular Idumota and Balogun markets). It also has the National Museum of Nigeria, the Central Mosque, the Glover Memorial Hall, Christ's Cathedral (CMS), and the Oba Palace. Though formerly in a derelict condition, Lagos Island's Tinubu Square is a site of historical importance; it was here that the Amalgamation Ceremony that unified the North and South protectorate to form Nigeria took place in 1914.

Ikoyi

Ikoyi is situated on the eastern half of Lagos Island and joined to it by a landfill. Ikoyi is also connected to Victoria Island by a bridge carrying a main road over a Five Cowrie creek. Ikoyi housed the headquarter of the federal government of Nigeria and other buildings owned by the government -including the old federal secretariat complex. The complex today is on reestablishment. In Ikoyi there are military and police barracks, a top-security prison and a federal high court of Nigeria. Ikoyi also has a number of hotels, night clubs, a recreational park and one of Africa's largest golf courses. Originally a middle class neighbourhood, in recent years, it has become a fashionable residential enclave for the upper middle class to the upper class. There are also commercial activities in Ikoyi which is spotted in increasing number of offices, banks and shopping complexes. The commercial sections is concentrated in the South-West,SW.

Victoria Island

Main article: Victoria Island (Nigeria)

Victoria Island with its annex is situated to the south of Lagos Island. It has expensive real estate properties and for that reason, many new luxury condos and apartments are blooming up everywhere. Along with Ikoyi, Victoria Island occupies a major area in the suburbs of Lagos which boasts of several sizable shopping districts. On its sea shore along the Atlantic front, there is environmentally reconstructed Bar Beach.

Iddo

Across the main channel of the lagoon from Lagos Island, there is a smaller settlement called Iddo. Iddo is also a railroad terminus and it is situated on the mainland. It is now connected to the mainland like a peninsula.

Three major bridges join the island to the mainland. They are the Carter Bridge which start from Iddo, the Eko Bridge(formerly called the Second Mainland Bridge) and the Third Mainland Bridge -which passes through densely populated mainland suburbs through Lagos lagoon.

Climate

Lagos has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) that is similar to that of the rest of southern Nigeria. There are two rainy seasons, with the heaviest rains falling from April to July and a weaker rainy season in October and November. There is a brief relatively dry spell in August and September and a longer dry season from December to March. Monthly rainfall between May and July averages over 400 mm (15.7 in), while in August and September it is down to 200 mm (7.9 in) and in December as low as 25 mm (1.0 in). The main dry season is accompanied by harmattan winds from the Sahara Desert, which between December and early February can be quite strong.^[11]

Climate data for Lagos
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	31 (88)	32 (90)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	29 (84)	28 (82)	28 (82)	28 (82)	29 (84)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30.2 (86.3)
Average low °C (°F)	23 (73)	25 (77)	26 (79)	25 (77)	24 (75)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	23 (73)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23.8 (74.9)
Precipitation mm (inches)	28 (1.1)	46 (1.81)	102 (4.02)	150 (5.91)	269 (10.59)	460 (18.11)	279 (10.98)	64 (2.52)	140 (5.51)	206 (8.11)	69 (2.72)	25 (0.98)	1,838 (72.36)
Avg. rainy days	2	3	7	10	16	20	16	10	14	16	7	2	123
Sunshine hours	186	196	186	180	186	120	93	93	90	155	210	217	1,912
Source: BBC Weather[12]

Administration and demographics

In terms of administration, Lagos is not a municipality and has therefore no overall city administration. The Municipality of Lagos, which covered Lagos Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island as well as some mainland territory, was managed by the Lagos City Council (LCC), but it was disbanded in 1976 and divided into several Local Government Areas (most notably Lagos Island LGA, Lagos Mainland LGA and Eti-Osa LGA). The mainland beyond the Municipality of Lagos, on the other hand, comprised several separate towns and settlements such as Mushin, Ikeja and Agege. In the wake of the 1970s Nigerian oil boom, Lagos experienced a population explosion, untamed economic growth, and unmitigated rural migration. This caused the outlying towns and settlements to develop rapidly, thus forming the Greater Lagos metropolis seen today. The history of Lagos is still evidenced in the layout of the LGAs which display the unique identities of the cultures that created them.

The 16 LGAs of Metropolitan Lagos

Local Government Area	Land area[1] (in km²)	Population[2] (2006 Census)	Density (inh. per km²)
Agege	11.2	459,939	41,071
Ajeromi-Ifelodun	12.3	684,105	55,474
Alimosho	185.2	1,277,714	6,899
Amuwo-Odofin	134.6	318,166	2,364
Apapa (home of the main port of Lagos)	26.7	217,362	8,153
Eti-Osa (home of one of Lagos's largest business centres and of the upscale communities of Victoria Island and Ikoyi, formerly the residence of the Nigerian federal government)	192.3	287,785	1,496
Ifako-Ijaiye	26.6	427,878	16,078
Ikeja	46.2	313,196	6,785
Kosofe	81.4	665,393	8,174
Lagos Island (the historical centre and commercial core of the Lagos agglomeration)	8.7	209,437	24,182
Lagos Mainland	19.5	317,720	16,322
Mushin	17,5	633,009	36,213
Ojo	158.2	598,071	3,781
Oshodi-Isolo	44.8	621,509	13,886
Somolu	11.6	402,673	34,862
Surulere	23.0	503,975	21,912
Metropolitan Lagos	999.6	7,937,932	7,941

Map showing the 16 LGAs making up Metropolitan Lagos. Note that Metropolitan Lagos is a statistical area and not an administrative entity unlike Lagos State. Lagos State is made up of these 16 LGAs and 4 other larger LGAs not shown on the map.

Today, the word Lagos most often refers to the urban area, called "Metropolitan Lagos" in Nigeria, which includes both the islands of the former municipality of Lagos and the mainland suburbs. Lagos State government is responsible for some of the utilities including roads and transportation, power, water, health, and education. Metropolitan Lagos (a statistical division, and not an administrative unit) extends over 16 of the 20 LGAs of Lagos State, and contains 88% of the population of Lagos State, and includes semi-rural areas. Lagos City has a considerable amount of high rise buildings which makes up its skyline. Most of the tall buildings are located in around the downtown Central Business District.

Lagos was the former capital city of Nigeria but it has since been replaced by Abuja. Abuja officially gained its status as the capital of Nigeria on 12 December 1991, although the decision to move the federal capital had been made in now Act no. 6 of 1976. Lagos is also home to the High Court of the Lagos State Judiciary, housed in an old colonial building on Lagos Island.^[13]

Eko Atlantic City

Eko Atlantic City is a planned 21st-century city, intended to be built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean. Already, most of the land has been reclaimed. The proposed development is targeting 400,000 residents and 250,000 commuters flowing daily to the island. The project is planned to return the coast to its position in the 1950s and 1960s, reversing damage done by erosion.^[14]

Census data for Lagos

Although the 2006 National Population Census of Nigeria credited the metropolitan area with a population figure of 7,937,932, the figure is at variance with some projections by the UN and other population agencies and groups worldwide. The population figure of Lagos State given by the Lagos State Government is 17,553,924. It was based on conducted enumeration for social planning by the Lagos State Government and it believes that since the inhabitants of the metropolitan area of Lagos constitute 88% of the Lagos State population, the population of metropolitan Lagos is about 15.5 million.^[15] A rejoinder to Lagos State Government views^[16] concluded that "Lagos State concealed the fact that the population projection, for Lagos Urban Agglomeration by the UN agencies had been revised downwards substantially as early as 2003. It failed to interpret the two most important and fairly representative and reliable secondary data sets already in public domain, the National Identity Card Scheme and the 2003 Voters Registration figures from INEC. The recently released figures for 2007 Voters Registration by INEC were an act subsequent to the release of the provisional census results and comprehensively corroborate, vindicate and validate the population figures in no uncertain terms. The provisional population figure of Lagos State is therefore 9,013,534, and not 17,553,924.

According to the official results of the 2006 census, there are 8,048,430 inhabitants in Metropolitan Lagos.^[2] This figure is lower than what had been anticipated and has created a controversy in Nigeria. Lagos Island, the central Local Government Area and historic centre of Metropolitan Lagos, had a population of 212,700 as of the 2006 Census.^[17]

Authorities of Lagos State have attacked the results of the 2006 census, accusing the Nigerian National Population Commission of having undercounted the population of the state. This accusation is denied by the National Population Commission.^[18][19]

Lagos is, by most estimates, one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Lagos is currently experiencing a population increase of about 275,000 persons per annum. In 1999 the United Nations predicted that the city's metropolitan area, which had only about 290,000 inhabitants in 1950, would exceed 20 million by 2010 and thus become one of the ten most populated cities in the world.

There is a huge spectrum of wealth distribution among the people that reside in Lagos. It ranges from the very wealthy to the very poor. Lagos has attracted many young people and families seeking a better life from all parts of Nigeria and beyond.

Economy

Shopping in Lagos

Lagos is Nigeria's most prosperous city, and much of the nation's wealth and economic activity are concentrated here. Most commercial and financial business is carried out in the central business district situated on the island. This is also where most of the country's commercial banks and financial institutions and major corporations are headquartered. Lagos has one of the highest standards of living as compared to other cities in Nigeria as well as in Africa.

The Port of Lagos is Nigeria's leading port and one of the largest and busiest in Africa. It is administered by the Nigerian Ports Authority and it is split into three main sections: Lagos port, in the main channel next to Lagos Island, Apapa Port (site of the container terminal) and Tin Can Port, both located in Badagry Creek, which flows into Lagos Harbour from the west.^[20] The port features a railhead.

The port has seen growing amounts of crude oil exported, with export figures rising between 1997 and 2000.^[21] Oil and petroleum products provide 14% of GDP and 90% of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria as a whole.^[22]

Transport

Highways

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 usually congested in peak hours, due in part to the geography of the city, as well as to its explosive population growth. Lagos is also linked by many highways and bridges.

Third Mainland Bridge

The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway are the major controlled-access highways in the north of the city and serve as inter-state highways to Oyo State and Ogun State respectively. To the west the congested Lagos–Badagry Expressway serves outlying towns such as Festival Town, which was the location for the 1977 Festival of Black Arts and Culture 77.

Lagos's importance as a commercial centre and port and its strategic location have led to it being the end-point of three Trans-African Highway routes using Nigeria's national roads: The Trans–West African Coastal Highway leaves the city as the Badagry Expressway to Benin and beyond as far as Dakar and Nouakchott; The Trans-Sahara Highway to Algiers, which is close to completion, leaves the city as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Lagos State recently implemented a bus rapid transit (BRT) system; the first phase was completed in February 2008. It is expected to operate along eight routes using specially designated bus rapid transit lanes running through the city, with the aim of expanding to other routes in the future. The first phase of the Lagos BRT runs 12 miles through Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue up to CMS. After weeks of test runs, operations started on March 17, 2008, six months earlier than planned.

It has been estimated that the system will transport about 10,000 passengers in each direction per hour during peak travel times. The LAMATA bus rapid transit corridor covers a distance of about 22 kilometres in length. The system is run by two operators, NURTW Cooperative (Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers) and Lagbus, a Lagos State Government owned Asset Management Company which contributes about 180 high capacity buses for the implementation of the first phase Mile 12 to CMS BRT Lite system.

Rail

Main article: Lagos Light Rail

A planned railway line running through the Lagos metropolis is being constructed with plans of completion as early as 2012.

Ferries

Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation runs a few regular routes, for example between Lagos Island and the mainland, modern ferries and wharves. Private boats run irregular passenger services on the lagoon and on some creeks.

Air

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Lagos is served by Murtala Muhammed International Airport, one of the largest airports in Africa and a top international air passenger gateway to Nigeria. The airport is located in the northern suburb of Ikeja and has Domestic and International Terminals. With 5.1 million passengers in 2008, the airport accounts for almost fifty percent of all air traffic in Nigeria. Outbound international travel from Murtala Mohammed Airport accounts for the majority of all air passengers traveling to and from Nigeria.^[23] The airport has recently undergone upgrades along with the addition of a new terminal.

Culture

Music and film industry

Lagos is famous throughout Africa for its music scene. Lagos has given birth to a variety of styles such as the Nigerian-styled Hip hop (Nigerian hip hop), Highlife, Juju, Fuji, and Afrobeat.

Lagos is the center of the Nigerian movie industry, often referred to as 'Nollywood.' Idumota market on Lagos Island is the primary distribution center. Many films are shot in the Festac area of Lagos.

The cinemas are gradually losing their supporters to the movie industry. Yoruba language films happen to be the most watched in the cinemas, followed by Indian films. Films are not premiered for a long period of time in the western sense, especially with Yoruba language films. Films in English are controlled mainly by the Igbos are the most popular and move directly from the studios to the market.

Iganmu is home to the primary centre for the performing arts and artistes in Nigeria: the National Arts Theatre .

Sport

As in other major cities of the world, football is Lagos' most popular sport. Prominent Lagos football clubs include Julius Berger FC, First Bank and Stationery Stores.

The Nigeria national football team, also known as the Super Eagles, used to play almost all of their home games in Lagos at the National Stadium in Surulere; however, games are now mostly played at the larger and newer Abuja National Stadium in Abuja, which is the default home of the Super Eagles.^[24][25]

Tourism

Lagos, subsequently to the re-modernization project achieved by the current administration of Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola, is gradually becoming a major tourist destination, being one of the largest cities in Africa and in the world. Lagos is currently taking steps to become a global city. The 2009 Eyo carnival (a yearly festival originated from Iperu Remo, Ogun State) which took place on April 25, was a step toward world city status. Currently, Lagos is primarily known as a business-oriented and a fast paced community^[where?]. Lagos has a number of sandy beaches by the Atlantic Ocean. Two of the popular beaches include Bar Beach and Lekki Beach. However, in January 2009, a privately owned zoo^[who?] was commissioned in the epe area of Lagos as it serves as a home for many animals that originate from Africa.It is a fully endorsed project by the Lagos State Government. Lagos has a variety of hotels ranging from three star to five star hotels. Some of the popular hotels include Welcome Centre Hotels, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Federal Palace Hotel, Stop Over Motels, Ikoyi Hotel, Sofitel Lagos Moorhouse Ikoyi, Eko Hotels And Suites, The AHI Residence and The Palmview Manor. Visitors are mostly attracted to Nigeria's rich culture, entertainment scenes and vitality which Lagos city offers. Tourist attractions include Oba's Palace, the Nigerian National Museum, Shrine of Fela, the beach resorts.^[26]

Lagos has a high crime rate and foreign tourists are advised to take extreme care when in Nigeria.

Education

The Lagos State Government operates state schools.^[27] The education system is the 6-3-3-4 system, which is practised throughout the country (as well as by many other ECOWAS states). The levels are Primary, Junior Secondary School (JSS), Senior Secondary School (SSS), and university. All children are offered basic education, with special focus now on the first nine years.

Lagos is home to seven^{[citation needed]} postsecondary schools, universities and other vocational institutions that are either operated by the government or private entities.

Polytechnics

• Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) : founded in 1934, the college is Nigeria's first higher educational institution and third in Africa. The college is a center of culture and heritage. Currently it has student enrollment of over 16,000.
• Lagos State Polytechnic is a polytechnic comprising more than six schools including private polytechnics and was founded 25 years ago. Its main campus resides at Ikorodu, along Shagamu road.
• Lagos City Polytechnic, located at 6/8, Bashiru Oweh Street, Off Simbiat Abiola Road (formerly Medical Road),Ikeja - This is the first private Polytechnic in Nigeria. It was established in 1990 by Engr. Babatunde Odufuwa. Engr. Odufuwa hails from Oke-Aye in Ijebu North East Local Government Area (I.N.E.L.G) of Ogun State.
• Grace Polytechnic
• Wolex Polytechnic
• Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology is a monotechnic that offers courses in fisheries technology, general science, marine engineering and nautical science.
• Federal College of Education (tech) Akoka

Universities

• The Pan-African University is primarily a business school, offering two MBA programmes. Founded in 1996 and awarded University status in 2002, it consists of the Lagos Business School and of Enterprise Development Services. The University also places some emphasis on the study of art.

• The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a large institution dating from 1962, with over 35,000 students. It comprises 13 faculties, run by over 4,000 staff.^[28]

• Lagos State University (LASU) is a multi-campus university established in 1984 and owned by the Lagos State government. The main campus is located at Ojoo, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
• National Open University of Nigeria National Open University is the first open university in Nigeria, it is located on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos
• Lagos State College of Health Technology(LASCOHET)Yaba- A mini institution that run health courses such as Health information Management, Pharmacist Technician, Medical Laboratary Technician,Community health extension worker and Environmental Health Technology, it is located in Yaba
• Lagos State University College of Medicine, (LASUCOM), Ikeja
• Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba-Mushin, Lagos.
• Caleb university , Imota Ikorodu , lagos.

Important people

Main article: People from Lagos

• The kings (obas) of Lagos, the keepers of traditions
• Herbert Macauley
• Henry Rawlingson Carr
• Brig.Gen. Mobolaji Johnson (First Governor of Lagos State)
• Frank Cuthberth Oladipupo Coker (Alias "F.C.O Coker). (1st Nigeria City Treasurer, 1st President of ICAN, 1st Sec.Gen Lagos State)
• Justice G.B.A Coker (Former Supreme Court Judge of Nigeria, The Chairman of the committee that formed the basis of the Lagos State Applicable Laws Edict No. 2 of 1968, which came into force on 1st May 1968. )
• Bola Tinubu
• Babatunde Fashola
• Fela Kuti
• Fatade Adams

(Brig.Gen.Mobolaji Johnson, F.C.O Coker & Justice G.B.A Coker's profile was added by Sope Coker)

See also

Nigeria portal

• 2006 Abule Egba pipeline explosion
• 2006 Atlas Creek pipeline explosion
• Lagos Island
• Lagos State
• Large Cities Climate Leadership Group
• Treaty of Lagos

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b} Summing the 16 LGAs making up Metropolitan Lagos (Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, Surulere) as per:
   The Nigeria Congress. "Administrative Levels - Lagos State". http://www.nigeriacongress.org/FGN/administrative/statedetails.asp?state=lagos. Retrieved 2007-06-29. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Summing the 16 LGAs making up Metropolitan Lagos (Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, Surulere) as per:
   "2006 Population Census". National Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria. May 2007. http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/nbsapps/Connections/Pop2006.pdf. Retrieved 14 September 2010. 
3. ^ Lagos (Dictionary.com Unabridged ed.), Random House, Inc., http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Lagos, retrieved 2010-10-29 
4. ^ Room, Adrian (2007). The pronunciation of placenames: a worldwide dictionary. McFarland. p. 108. ISBN 0-786-42941-0. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Olupọna, Jacob Obafẹmi Kẹhinde; Rey, Terry (2008). Òrìşà devotion as world religion: the globalization of Yorùbá religious culture. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 132. ISBN 0-299-22460-0. http://books.google.com/books?id=bZD-1kObnMQC&pg=PA132. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Williams, Lizzie (2008). Nigeria: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 110. ISBN 1-841-62239-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=fwuQ71ZbaOcC&pg=PA110. 
7. ^ World's fastest growing cities and urban areas from 2006 to 2020, by CityMayors.com
8. ^ Smith, Robert Sydney (1988). Kingdoms of the Yoruba (3 ed.). University of Wisconsin Press. p. 73. ISBN 0-299-11604-2. http://books.google.com/books?id=ric6OhxbCS0C&pg=PA73. 
9. ^ "The Origin of Eko (Lagos)". Edo Nation. http://www.edo-nation.net/eko.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
10. ^ "Lagos, Nigeria - Atlanta Sister City Committee". Atlanta, Georgia, USA: Official Website for the City of Atlanta. http://atlantaga.gov/international/sistercity_lagos.aspx. Retrieved 18 September 2010. 
11. ^ "Weather BBC Weather Lagos Nigeria". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/83#. Retrieved 2011-07-15. 
12. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/83#
13. ^ Lagos Judiciary
14. ^ Elumoye, Deji (2007-09-26). "'Eko Atlantic City Underway'". Thisday (via allAfrica.com) (AllAfrica Global Media). http://allafrica.com/stories/200709260377.html. Retrieved 2008-02-04. 
15. ^ http://www.nigerianmuse.com/20070207234037zg/important_documents/Lagos_Census_Affairs
16. ^ "NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION - MISUNDERSTANDING, MISPERCEPTION AND MISREPRESENTATION OF CENSUS 2006 A REJOINDER TO THE PUBLICATION - "The Falsification of Lagos Census Figure" by Lagos State Government". Economicconfidential.com. http://www.economicconfidential.com/repopulation.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
17. ^ "Legal Notice on Publication of the Details of the Breakdown of the National and State Official Totals 2006 Census" (PDF). Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette 96 (2). 2 February 2009. Archived from the original on 2007-07-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20070704042011/http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/Connections/Pop2006.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-29. 
18. ^ Obasola, Kemi (2007-02-05). "Lagos rejects population commission's figures". The Punch (Punch Nigeria Limited, via Biafra Nigeria World News). http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/punch/2007/02/05/lagos_rejects_population_commissionas_figures_announces_stateas_population_as_175m.php. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
19. ^ Government of Nigeria, National Population Commission (8 February 2007). "Lagos State Claim on the Provisional Result of the 2006 Census is Unfounded" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2007-06-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20070623051012/http://www.population.gov.ng/press-02-07.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-29. 
20. ^ "OT Africa Line - Nigeria Page". Otal.com. 2007-02-01. http://www.otal.com/nigeria/index.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
21. ^ "OT Africa Line - Lagos Port Statistics" (PDF). http://www.otal.com/Country%20Info%20Images/lagosport.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
22. ^ CIA World Factbook - Nigeria
23. ^ Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. "Data & Statistics". http://www.faannigeria.org/statistics.php. Retrieved 2008-03-11. 
24. ^ "Nigeria". World Stadiums. http://www.worldstadiums.com/africa/countries/nigeria.shtml. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
25. ^ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nig-intres.html
26. ^ Offiong, Adie Vanessa (2010-02-26). "Tourism Has Spiritual Face Too". Weekly Trust. http://weekly.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2567:tourism-has-spiritual-face-too&catid=32:travel-and-leisure&Itemid=141. 
27. ^ Education
28. ^ University of Lagos official website

External links

Government

• Lagos State Government Official Site
• Lagos State Judiciary Board
• Lagos Nigeria The Ups and downs
• More Pictures of Lagos

News

• The Punch daily newspaper
• The Guardian daily newspaper
• This Day daily newspaper
• Vanguard daily newspaper
• MyNaijaNews Online News Service Based in Lagos
• Lagos State Online Lagos Community Website

Other

• Street map of Lagos street level map of lagos
• http://www.pressplay360.com- online destination for Nigerian Entertainment Jist