*It’s a long way away, but Lagos, Nigeria is on its way to becoming the world’s largest city. The Daily Express reports the African city is is projected to capture the title by the end of the century with an estimated population of approximately 100 million people.
Adding to that is Ontario Tech University, which suggests Lagos could surpass Tokyo, Delhi, and Shanghai to be the most densely populated urban area globally.
Lagos may not be the largest city in the world yet, but its 20 million residents can take comfort embracing its current status as Africa’s largest city. Citing reports from the United Nations, The Express notes Lagos’ population growth, fueled by high birth rates and swift migration from rural regions, clocks in at an annual rate of 6%. With job seekers and business prospects drawn to the location, Lagos is gaining ground among the world’s cities with a fast-growing economy. As Nigeria’s financial hub, the location has positioned itself as a significant player in the banking, technology and entertainment industries.
News of Lago’s path to becoming the world’s largest city comes amid mega-cities emerging across various continents, contributing a rising world population. The UN predicts the number of people around the globe will peak around 10 billion by the mid-2080s.
Entertainment-wise, Lagos couldn’t be in a better setting, with Africa’s biggest film industry, Nollywood, there as well as a rising number of tech startups. Urban expansion in Lagos reflects dramatic growth in populations across African cities. According to the Clean Air Fund, it is project that 65 percent of Africa’s population will be city dwellers by 2060. A strained infrastructure, housing, and service could result from the expansion.
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The reality of Lago’s growth is a longstanding issue city officials are grappling with, as confirmed via traffic congestion, a lack of adequate housing, and insufficient public services.
As with anything positive (rich culture, a lively nightlife, a thriving arts scene), the negatives figure in with many residents have limited access to clean water electricity and sanitation from living in informal settlements and traveling on jammed roads.
Needless to say, the struggle is real for Lago’s public transport system struggling to keep up with the demand. Fortunately, there is hope with initiatives like the Lagos Rail Mass Transit system being developed to enhance transportation as well as new housing projects coming to help with the growing population.
The future could shape up to be a bright one for Lagos, but experts warn that without significant investments made in infrastructure and urban planning, severe challenges await the recently ranked city, which Time Out magazine ranked the 19th best to visit globally.
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