Lagos Then And Now
Lagos , the foremost commercial city in Nigeria and indeed West Africa , has experienced both the highs and lows of rapid growth and urban expansion. It was once an upbeat city — and it remains so, though its evolving modern outlook now redefines what is acceptable in public life and urban conduct. In earlier decades, street traders were fewer, and homeless individuals often sought shelter beneath flyovers, largely due to the unchecked influx of migrants into the state. Lagos was — and still is, the preferred destination for Nigerians seeking greener pastures. Unsurprisingly, many prominent individuals and families from both the northern and southern regions of the country have, at one time or another lived and worked in Lagos. As Nigeria’s former federal capital, Lagos housed most high commissions, embassies, and corporate headquarters. However, the relocation of the federal capital to Abuja in the 1990s significantly altered the city’s social and economic landscape. Lagos Island , ...