Perspectives on Urban Renewal and Transportation Development in Lagos: Implications for Urban Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Lagos city has emerged a growing Primate city, at least, growing faster than any other city in sub-Sahara Africa in terms of population, urban renewal, roads and infrastructural development. The problems of urban development and transportation in Lagos can be summarized into the following: the problem of old narrow streets in most of the unplanned areas of the city and the emerging incursion of transport infrastructural facilities into the residential areas as a result of growing traffic volumes on Lagos roads. Similarly, the problems of haphazard development and slum expansion due to increased population pressure have necessitated the state Government to initiate massive renewal programmes. These are implemented through Public Private Partnership Initiatives. This has given rise to the building of the Atlantic City’ and the Bus Rapid Transit. What happens in Lagos if extended to other states is being envisaged to be the panacea to urban development in Nigeria.