Africa’s Big Apple

Lagos in Nigeria is Africa’s big apple. An estimated 18 million people now live in the sprawling metropolis with approximately 6,000 people moving to Lagos every day. The city, growing at 8% a year, is even forecast to become the third largest mega-city in the world by 2015. Lagos’s pulse is Nigeria’s heartbeat; the city is creating wealth fast but also growing chaotically.

The neighbourhood of Makoko is located on the shores of Lagos lagoon. It is a “floating” slum, where everyone travels round in boats. It is compared to Lagos’s version of Venice. Canals bear the name of streets. The origins of the village were traced up to the 18th century when Makoko was a peaceable fishing village.

The growing population caused resourceful locals to extend their village gradually into the sea. People reclaimed land from the water. A village on stilts was born - Nigeria’s answer to ecological problems such as rising sea levels. Many residents are fishermen and some have migrated from neighbouring Togo and Benin. Until July 2012 it was home to an estimated 85.000 people, although not included in the 2007 census as not being an “official” part of Lagos.

On the 17th of July 2012, with only 72 hours’ notice, local residents were asked to vacate their houses as they would be demolished by government troops. One resident was killed in the process and others injured according to a local community chief. It is not known what has become of people made homeless after the destruction of part of the village.

Lagos may continue the destruction of this historic community in order to redevelop what is now seen as prime waterfront location. Part of the slum destruction is an effort to make Lagos more efficient. State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola says he wants to get the city ready for its predicted population of 40 million people.