Lagos – The commercial hub of Nigeria

Lagos State has been described as the Centre of Excellence and a forward thinking State. It is arguably the most economically important state of the country, containing Lagos, the nation's largest urban area. Lagos State lies to the south-western part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the West Coast of Africa.

Lagos State is a socio-cultural melting pot attracting both Nigerians and foreigners alike. The name ‘Lagos’ was given by a Portuguese explorer called Ruy de Sequeira who visited the territory in 1472 and named it Lago de curamo’ meaning lake, after the Port of Lagos In Southern Portugal on account of its wet topography.

Lagos is a port city and the most populous city in Nigeria, with a population 11.2 million according to an estimate made by the United Nations in 2011. (UN, 2011). The Port of Lagos is Nigeria's leading port and one of the largest and busiest in Africa. The port has seen growing amounts of crude oil exported, with export figures rising between 2008 and 2010. Oil and petroleum products provide 14% of GDP and 90% of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria as a whole.

The commercial, financial and business centre of Lagos and of Nigeria are situated in the business district of Lagos Island, where most of the country’s largest banks and financial institutions are located.

Its progress, development and growth originate from its dynamism as the nation’s commercial and cultural melting pot in tourism, football, education and from the commendable foresight of successive administrations that have governed the state.

Lagos State is known for its culture, with festivals playing a big role in shaping the lives and beliefs of the people. The major festivals include the Adamu Orisha (Eyo masquerades) of Lagos Island, Egungun, Kori and Osun lya Alaro festivals at Ikeja, Eluku Festival at Ikorodu, Ebi Festival and Okoso Festival (Boat regatta) of Epe, the Sangbeto Masquerades of Badagry and a host of others.

One of the most famous festivals in Lagos is the Eyo festival also known as the Adamu Orisha Play. This festival is unique to the Yoruba’s and is traditionally performed on the Lagos Island.

Lagos also has one of the largest and most extensive road networks in West Africa some of which include a bus rapid transit (BRT) system, air, rail and ferries.

The Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway are the major arterial routes in the north of the city and serve as inter-state highways to Oyo and Ogun States respectively. To the west the Lagos – Badagry Expressway serves outlying towns such as Festival Town, which was the location for the 1977 Festival of Black Arts and Culture 77….Festac 77.

Lagos's importance as a commercial centre and port and its strategic location have led to it being the end-point of three Trans-African Highway routes using Nigeria's national roads. The Trans–West African Coastal Highway leaves the city as the Badagry Expressway to Benin and beyond as far as Dakar and Nouakchott; The Trans-Sahara Highway to Algiers, which is close to completion, leaves the city as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Lagos is known to be the second fastest growing city in Africa and the seventh fastest in the world. Lagos has one of the highest standards of living as compared to other cities in Nigeria as well as in Africa.

Lagos is known to be the second fastest growing city in Africa and the seventh fastest in the world. Lagos has one of the highest standards of living as compared to other cities in Nigeria as well as in Africa.

The People

Lagos State is made up various groups of indigenous settlers. The Pioneer settlers are the Aworis, who arrived from Isheri along the Ogun River led by an Ife prince called Ogunfuminire and later settled at Iddo between 1400AD and 1550AD.

Other dominant indigenous settlers are the Egun of Badagry and the Ijebu of Ikorodu and Epe divisions of the State. These settlers are famous for their business enterprises. The Ijebu of Epe are believed to have migrated from Remo in Ogun State. Others are the Sano and Agunda who established themselves at Olowogbowo, Breadfruit, Bamgbose and Campos areas of the State.

There is also a mixture of other pioneer settlers collectively known as the Ekos.

While the State is essentially a Yoruba-speaking environment, the official Language for Lagos State is English. Other dialects spoken are Egun and Ijebu.