Good Urban Governance in the Global South: Lagos City as a Case Study

Urban Governance in the Global South:  Lagos City as a Case Study

UQ SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

PLAN7614: Urban Management & Governance in Developing Countries

By: Ezimah Chidinma ID: 44245092

[email protected]

source: Pulse.ng

Like  most  emerging  economies,  urban-­‐centred  development  has   heightened   rural-­‐urban   migration   to   Lagos,   as   it   has  decent  infrastructures  relative  to  other  states  in  Nigeria.    It  is  home   to   about   17million   people   and   is   expected   to   keep  increasing.  

This   rapid   population   growth   breeds  urban   challenges.   A   few   will   be  mentioned.  

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Source:Trip.me

Unconventional buildings in Lagos shanties, indication of overcrowding, weak institutional and regulatory frameworks. Shanties are notorious for violence, flooding amongst many others.

Urban challenge: Shanty Towns

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Source: Lagosians Hub

A regular rush hour for residents at the Lagos mainland. Indication of over crowdedness, poor infrastructures and so on. This affect efficiency of workers, as they get to work late and stressed.

Urban challenge: Traffic

Source: World map

A section of the financial hub of the city. Indication of poor zoning laws, and poor urban planning.

Urban Challenge: Poor Zoning Law

Source: Pulse.ng

An environmentally polluted Lagos shanty, just like many other shanties. Residents are exposed to disease epidemics in such environments. What is Lagos government doing about these challenges you must wonder?

Urban Challenge: Pollution

Lagos State

Former Bar BeachLagos occupies the smallest land mass in Nigeria but has the largest population. 10million square meters of land has been reclaimed from the former bar beach located in the City to create Eko Atlantic city.

Source: The News

Eko atlantic today Land has been reclaimed from bar beach, by construction of an ongoing 8.5 kilometres sea wall. It will be the new financial hub and home to many, tourist attraction location and most importantly will solve some of the

urban challenges in Lagos

Source: Eko atlantic

The future of Eko Atlantic Eko atlantic has a lot of potentials as it has the support of many international investors. All things equal, with

proper management, it brings Lagos closer to solving its urban issues. Is this strategy enough?

Source: Eko Atlantic

No, Eko Atlantic is not enough to address the enormous challenges facing Lagos. A more permanent solution will involve decentralized

development programs that engender the needs of rural areas to curb the ongoing wave of rural-urban migration. Modern city plan

programs like Eko Atlantic and proper zoning laws, environmental protection regulations and participatory city governance will be crucial in addressing urban development across Nigeria, not just

Lagos.