An aerial drone photo taken on March 3, 2024 shows a city view in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria’s old capital Lagos is the country’s financial center with a population of over 20 million. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
Leaving behind the tranquility of his residence in Nigeria’s south-eastern Enugu state some two decades ago for Lagos, the country’s financial hub, Emeka Okafor’s journey began with a dream of a brighter, more fulfilling future.
ABUJA, April 20 (Xinhua) — Leaving behind the tranquility of his residence in Nigeria’s southeastern Enugu state some two decades ago for Lagos, the country’s financial hub, Emeka Okafor’s journey began with a dream for a brighter , more satisfying future.
With determination as his compass, the 37-year-old Okafor learned and ventured into the trade, carving a niche for himself and navigating the various experiences that the bustling metropolis of Lagos threw at him. “It was not an easy decision to leave my home and family back in the village,” Okafor told Xinhua in an interview.
“I knew if I wanted to succeed, I had to take a risk in Lagos. And I’m glad I did,” he said. With a thriving business dealing in hair products and cosmetics at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, where he now has five different outlets and a sixth in progress elsewhere in the city, the entrepreneur is a testament to the limitless possibilities that Lagos promises.
Okafor’s success story is not without its trials and tribulations. Like many who flock to Lagos in search of prosperity, he overcame the onslaught of challenges the city presented. “Lagos is a city of contrasts,” he said, noting “for every opportunity, there’s an obstacle. But it’s how you navigate those obstacles that defines your experience.”
An aerial drone photo taken on March 3, 2024 shows a city view in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria’s old capital Lagos is the economic center of the country with a population of over 20 million. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
With a vibrant culture, three bustling ports, bustling markets and a notable influence on entertainment, fashion, tourism and the arts in Africa, as well as commerce, technology, politics and education, Lagos remains the most populous city in Nigeria.
Figures from the state government show that although the smallest state in Nigeria in terms of land, Lagos has the highest urban population in the country at 27.4 percent. With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 120 billion naira (over US$104 million) by 2023, Lagos generates about 30 percent of Nigeria’s total GDP, according to state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Lagos was formerly the capital of Nigeria, but has been replaced by Abuja since December 1991. Lagos has over 200 local financial institutions, including the headquarters of the majority of local banks and the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Lagos has at least 29 industrial estates and four central business districts. It accounts for over 80 percent of Nigeria’s foreign trade flows and generates over 50 percent of the country’s port revenue.
Commonly referred to as “Eko” by the natives, the history of Lagos dates back to the 15th century when it first came to the attention of the Portuguese who gave it its current name derived from “lakes”. It was later officially annexed as the British Colony of Lagos in 1861.
“Lagos is the most accepting of all the cities in the country. You come with your baggage — religious, tribal, cultural — and Lagos will make way for you,” media professional Muyiwa Adetiba wrote in an op-ed which was published in the local daily Vanguard.
In Adetiba’s words, Lagos offers a bear hug to all with “a dream” in all aspects of life and rewards individuals accordingly. “And if swindling people is your thing, Lagos will still give you room to ply your trade. You could come with just the shirt on your back and be a shopkeeper in a year and a landowner in five or less.”
This aerial drone photo taken on March 2, 2024 shows a view of the Makoko floating slum in Lagos, Nigeria.
The paradox of life in Lagos is evident in its socio-economic landscape. In the rainy recesses of the floating shanty town of Makoko, located on a lagoon where poverty looms large, residents struggle with the harsh realities of urban existence. By contrast, in the many luxury homes of Lagos’ wealthiest neighborhoods, such as the man-made Banana Island, where affluence reigns supreme, the narrative takes on a different tone.
“In Makoko, the most notorious slum in Lagos, every day is a struggle. As a teenager living in Makoko, I grew up watching people living hand to mouth, scraping by whatever scraps they could find. There is no way they can live, but what do people have a choice?’ Fatima Ibrahim, a former resident of Makoko, told Xinhua Now married and living in Agege, a densely populated suburb along the newly inaugurated Red Line rail corridor, Ibrahim described Lagos as “a city of opportunity and a place where dreams come true”.
“Lagos has an electrifying energy,” noted Chukwudi Okonji, a shipping agent near the newly inaugurated Chinese seaport of Lekki on the outskirts of the city.
This photo taken on February 28, 2024 shows a view of the city in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria’s old capital Lagos is the country’s financial center with a population of over 20 million. (Xinhua/Han Xu)
Overall, Lagos has remained the epicenter of Nigeria’s economic revitalization and the Lekki deep sea port is a testament to the coastal city’s pivotal role in driving innovation and growth, he said.
The Lekki port is “a game changer that has opened up new avenues for trade and commerce, not just for Lagos, but for the entire country,” he said, noting that the newly constructed world-class airport terminal in the capital Ikeja’s Lagos, also built by Chinese engineers, is a symbol of Lagos’ ambitious commitment to progress and modernization.
Amidst the whirlwind of progress, the Blue Line and Red Line projects that criss-cross the urban landscape like veins of opportunity have become some of the most talked about recent transformational projects in the Nigerian state, aimed at solving the traffic congestion that characterizes frantic Lagos.
This aspect of socio-economic development, which makes life easier for ordinary people and reduces travel time, is a “lifeline” for those who rely on public transport, noted Taiwo Adekunle, a local insurance broker.
From the electrifying nightlife of Victoria Island to the vibrant music scene of Ikeja, Lagos pulsates with a rhythm of its own while maintaining its status as Nigeria’s entertainment hub, especially the melting pot of Nollywood, the local film industry.
“This (Lagos) is where dreams are born and nurtured; a city of opportunity, where talent thrives and creativity knows no bounds,” said Tolani Abbas, a budding actress.
“Life in Lagos is like a dance — you learn to move with the beat, navigate the twists and turns with grace and determination. It is this spirit of resilience and indomitable will to succeed that defines Lagos — a city unlike any other another, where dreams are born and destinies are forged in the hustle and bustle of urban life,” he added. ■