Lagos

Lagos sits on the Gulf of Guinea and spreads across mainland districts and several islands, forming the largest urban region south of the Sahara. Residential neighborhoods alternate with commercial zones, port areas and busy markets linked by roads, bridges and waterways.

A Portuguese navigator reached the lagoon in 1472 and gave it a name that evolved into Lagos over time. The settlement grew as a trading post and became the national capital before that role moved to Abuja.

Afrobeat and fuji music play from shops and passing cars, setting the daily rhythm across neighborhoods and markets. Film crews work openly on streets and in courtyards, producing movies that travel across West Africa and beyond.

Travelers move between districts and islands using yellow minibuses, marked rapid transit lanes or ferries. Murtala Muhammed International Airport connects the city to destinations in Africa, Europe and beyond.

Over 20 million people live here, spread across neighborhoods built on water, on islands and on the mainland. The economy remains focused on this region even though the political capital sits elsewhere.

Location: Lagos State

Inception: 1472

Elevation above the sea: 34 m

Website: http://lagosstate.gov.ng

GPS coordinates: 6.45506,3.39418

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:43