Lagos's blog

Rapid urbanization through natural growth and rural-to-urban migration is overwhelming cities in the emerging world — cities which are already struggling to develop their infrastructure. Lagos, where guest contributor Olatunbosun Obayomi has lived all his life, is no exception. The United Nations estimates that the city's population will hit 16 million by 2015, making it the world's 11th-largest urban system. Its population density has already reached an extreme level at 4,193 people per square kilometer. Meanwhile, a combination of official neglect, corruption, extreme poverty, and rapid, largely uncontrolled population growth has led to the decay of the existing urban infrastructure — a key determinant of how livable the city will be. Read and discuss.

It is only the start of the rains in Lagos, yet the danger signs in coastal belts are all too evident. The vulnerability of poor communities in the low-lying areas of Lagos will only increase with the advent of climate change, due to intense rainfall and increasing storm surges. Meanwhile, this year's extreme weather demands well-planned and inclusive mitigation strategies. Read and discuss.