HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IN LAGOS STATE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Lagos is the economic and social “nucleus” of Nigeria and the West African subregion, accounting for 32 per cent of national GDP. It is also one of the fastest growing cities in the world; by 2015, it is expected to be the globe’s third largest city, according to UN estimates. Over the past decades, the city has had to contend with the challenges that accompanied staggering population growth rates.But since 1999, a consistent leadership has guided a reform process hinged on sustainable urban development. Now, Lagos’s transformation is from its former status as an infamous, decaying metropolis into a modern, attractive, and functional city.
Lagos is a classic example of a modern city, having transformed from a small farming and fishing village in the fifteenth century to a burgeoning mega city in 2010, when its population rose to over 10 million people. Until recently, this mega city was generally written about in a negative light and frequently satirized. Today, however, the face of Lagos is changing as a result of a series of transformations effected by a new style of governance adopted from 1999.
In the past, scant attention was paid to land-use planning, basic infrastructure, and other public services needed to sustainable accommodate the city’s exploding population growth. One of the most visible manifestations of this was severe traic congestion, which ultimately led to the relocation of Nigeria’s
political capital from Lagos to Abuja in 1986. Now, new parks are just one sign that Lagos is on a new path towards sustainable urban development. Less visible signs of local government reform include improvements in basic city services and physical infrastructure. Since Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999, the successive governors of Lagos State have initiated and pursued a knowledge-based approach to critical reforms. Aside from promoting sustainable development, these reforms also span resource mobilization, innovative and inclusive approaches to spatial planning principles, transportation upgrades, provision of educational health care services and facilities, and partnership building with the private sector in development. As a result of these reforms, Lagos is being transformed into a modern city that oers a high level of services provided by an increasingly efficient city administration.
Statement of the Problem
Demographic change is one of the key challenges today for urban development together with globalization, knowledge/technological shi, climate change and the development of the green economy, inclusiveness and poverty. Strategic solutions cannot be based on addressing one of these factors alone but must take into account the interplay of these elements within a particular local area of development (urban or rural). At the same time that there are important challenges to be addressed, there are also opportunities to be fostered such as the development of the “silver” economy of older entrepreneurs, the “white” economy for medical services for the elderly population, or the natural “green” advantage of shrinking areas. However, policy responses are still fragmented and there is no articulation of a sustainable answer to ensure and increase the quality of life in the light of these changes.
Objectives of the Study
1. To deduce the history of development and its impact on the demographic change of Lagos state.
2. To determine the impact of demographic change on Lagos state residents.
3. To create an overview of the history of the development and demographic change of Lagos state.
Research Questions
1. Does development impacts on the demographic change of Lagos state?
2. What is the impact of demographic change on Lagos state residents?
3. To create an overview of the history of the development and demographic change of Lagos state.