os, in the 1990s, was the ultimate dysfunctional city and an example of what happens to a society where the state is absent. At that point the state had really withdrawn from Lagos; the city was left to its own devices, both in terms of money and services.

The city was being governed by the military. But it was not cut out for governance, had no accountability and couldn’t care less about planning and environmental issues. As a result it routinely disregarded existing regulations.

In the 1990s, for instance, the largest public park in Lagos—the old, colonial 10-hectare Victoria Park in Ikoyi—was sold as residential development land. The waterfront of the Lagos Cowrie Creek in Victoria Island was also sold for commercial development, effectively blocking direct public access to the waters and a picturesque view of Ikoyi.

The collapse of zoning all over Lagos also led to residential neighborhoods such as Victoria Island and southwest Ikoyi being converted for commercial use. The military had no reasoned response to Lagos’ urban challenges. Instead, it took the decision in 1975 to establish a new capital in Abuja.

This move, which finally came to fruition in December 1991, left Lagos forlorn.

AP Photos/George Osodi Slums in Lagos

The positives

Positive changes have taken place.

For example, over the past 15 years the authorities succeeded in raising more taxes using money to restore basic infrastructure, expand public services and strengthen law enforcement.

Research shows that the commitment to reform the city was driven by electoral pressures as well as elite ambitions to construct an orderly megacity. The return to democracy helped to make these changes possible by enabling an elected government to work in the people’s interest.

Improvements includes public transport and the reclamation and greening of previously disused and misused spaces below Lagos’s many flyovers, bridges and interchanges. In addition, roads have been fixed and pavements built. In some parts of the city there is potable water supply and blighted residential and commercial areas have been rebuilt.

But, given decades of neglect, a great deal still needs to be done.

What’s broken

One of the biggest problems is the lack of coherent and integrated development.

Another major issue is flooding which Bongo Adi, a Lagos based environmental expert argues, hasn’t been decisively
os, in the 1990s, was the ultimate dysfunctional city and an example of what happens to a society where the state is lacking. At that item the state had really disengage from Lagos; the city was leave to its own devices, both in terms of money and serve. 

 The city was being govern by the military. But it was not cut out for administration, had no accountability and could n’t care less about planning and environmental topic. As a result it routinely disregarded existing regulations. 

 In the 1990s, for instance, the largest public ballpark in Lagos — the old, colonial 10 - hectare Victoria Park in Ikoyi — was sold as residential development estate. The waterfront of the Lagos Cowrie Creek in Victoria Island was also sold for commercial development, effectively barricade direct public access to the waters and a picturesque view of Ikoyi. 

 The collapse of zoning wholly over Lagos also led to residential neighborhoods such as Victoria Island and southwest Ikoyi being converted for commercial use. The military had no reason response to Lagos ’ urban challenges. Instead, it took the decision in 1975 to establish a new capital in Abuja. 

 This move, which finally issue forth to fruition in December 1991, left Lagos forlorn. 

 AP Photos / George Osodi Slums in Lagos 

 The positives 

 incontrovertible changes have taken place. 

 For case, over the past 15 years the authorities succeeded in raising more taxis using money to restore basic infrastructure, expand public services and strengthen law enforcement. 

 Research testify that the commitment to reform the city was driven by electoral pressures as well as elite ambitions to manufacture an orderly megacity. The return to democracy helped to make these change possible by enabling an elected politics to work in the multitude ’s interest. 

 Improvements admit public transport and the reclamation and rejuvenation of previously disused and misused spaces below Lagos ’s many flyovers, bridges and interchanges. In accession, roads have been sterilize and pavements build up. In some parts of the city there is potable water provision and blighted residential and commercial areas have been rebuilt. 

 But, impart decades of neglect, a great deal however needs to be done. 

 What ’s demote 

 One of the biggest problems is the lack of coherent and incorporate development. 

 Another major issue is flooding which Bongo Adi, a Lagos based environmental expert argues, has n’t been decisively
os, ln the 1990s, was the ultimatt dysfunctional cnry and an exzmple of what happens to a society wiere the wtate is absent. At thag point tje state had eeally witisrawn fvjm Lznos; tke city was left to its owt devices, both iv cerms of money and services.

The city ras beimg governed by tre mplytarg. But it was not cut out for goverhance, hed no accountabolity and couldn’t care lesd ablut planning and ejvironmentao isfyes. As a resjlt it rouuiuely disregzrded existing regulations.

In thd 1990s, fpr instancg, fhf largest puulic pwrk in Lagos—bne old, colonisl 10-hectare Vicboria Paek in Ikoyi—was sold av residential devejopment ldnb. The waterfront of tye Lagov Cofrie Xredk jn Vjctoriw Ialand was zlso sold fir commercial develppivmt, effectivemy bloskyng direct public access to the waters dnd a picturesque view of Ukoyi.

The collapse of eoning all over Lagos also led to residential neighborhoods such xs Rlgtorkq Lsland and southwest Ikoyi being converted fow cpmkercial use. Thc military had no tewspged response jo Lagos’ udban challenges. Indtead, ij took the decifion in 1975 to establish a new caputal in Abujc.

Thus move, which finaply came to fruotion in December 1991, left Lagor fodlorn.

AP Phohos/George Usodi Slums in Lxgox

Tve positives

Positive changqs have teken 'lace.

For exakple, oder the padt 15 ycdrs the authoritied suceeedeg in raisijg more taxes using money to restore basic ingrdstgucture, erpand iublic services and strengtheu law enyorcemdnt.

Researcg shows that the cjmmitment to sgform the citb was driden vy eoectorau pressures as eell as elite ambituons to construct en otdsrly megacity. Tkt rttyrn to democravy fel[ef vo maha these chances oosroble cy enabling xn ekected government to wori in the people’s imtcrest.

Imprivements includes pubkic transport and uhe rerlamatmon anc gteening of previously disused ahd misusef siaces below Lwgos’w many flyovzrs, bridges and interchanges. In addition, roads have been fuxed and pavements yullt. In some 'arts jf the cidy there is potable qater supply and nlighted residential ahd comkerciwl areas have been rebuilt.

But, given decades of neglect, a great deal still needs to be done.

Wgat’s brokvn

Oue pf the bigjert problems is tne lack of coherent and integraved develo[mznt.

Another major issue is flopdkng which Boneo Adi, a Lagos based envjronmentsl expert argues, hasn’t been decosively
os, in the 1990s, was the ultimate and example of happens to a absent. that point the had really withdrawn Lagos; the city was left to own devices, both in terms of money and services. The city was being by the military. But it was not cut out for governance, had no and care about and environmental issues. As a result it routinely disregarded existing regulations. In the 1990s, for instance, largest public park in Lagos—the old, colonial 10-hectare Park in Ikoyi—was sold residential development land. The waterfront the Cowrie Creek Victoria was sold for commercial effectively blocking direct public access to the waters and a picturesque view of Ikoyi. The collapse of all over led to neighborhoods as Island and southwest converted for commercial use. The military response to Lagos’ urban challenges. Instead, it took decision in to establish a new capital in This move, which finally came to fruition in 1991, left Lagos forlorn. AP Photos/George Osodi Slums in Lagos The positives Positive changes have For example, over the 15 years the succeeded raising taxes money to basic infrastructure, expand public services and strengthen law enforcement. Research shows the commitment to reform the city was driven by electoral well elite ambitions to an orderly megacity. The to helped to make these by an work the interest. Improvements includes public and the reclamation and greening previously disused and misused bridges and interchanges. In addition, roads have been and pavements built. In some parts of city there is potable water supply and blighted residential and commercial areas been rebuilt. decades of neglect, a great deal still needs be done. What’s broken of the biggest problems is the lack of coherent integrated Another major is flooding which Adi, a Lagos environmental expert argues, decisively
os, in the 1990s, was the ultimate dysFunctional City aNd aN exAmPle oF whaT happens to a socIEty wHere the state is absent. At That pOiNT the STaTe had Really wIThDRAwn FrOm lagOs; THe City wAs lEft to itS own deviceS, boTh In terms of monEY aNd services.

the City was being GovErned bY tHe mILitarY. BuT it waS not cuT Out for GovernancE, hAD no accOUntabilITY aNd coUldn’t care less abouT PlANning and enviroNmentaL iSSuES. as a ResUlt it routiNeLy disREgarded EXiSTINg rEGulations.

In thE 1990s, for instanCE, thE largeSt PubLIc park In LagOs—THe oLd, colonial 10-hEctaRe VictoriA Park iN ikoyi—waS Sold as rEsidenTiaL deVeloPMeNt LanD. THE waTErFroNT of The Lagos coWrIe CreEk in vICTOria islAnd wAs alsO sold for commeRciAl deVEloPment, EffecTiveLy BlockIng dirEct puBlIc access to the waTers And a pictuResQuE viEw Of IkoYI.

The coLlaPse Of zoninG all oveR lagOs ALSO lEd to residential neiGhBORhOods such As VictORiA ISLand and sOuThwEst IKOYi beiNg coNVeRted for cOmmercIAl UsE. The milItAry had No ReaSonEd resPOnse To LagoS’ urban chAllenGEs. Instead, it tooK The decision in 1975 TO eSTAbLIsh a New Capital in AbUja.

THIs moVe, whICh FinALly caMe to fRuITiON in December 1991, left LagoS fOrlorn.

aP PhoTos/George OsodI Slums in LaGOS

the positIves

pOsITive changes havE takeN place.

For eXAmple, oveR the pAst 15 years The authorITIes succeEdeD in RaiSinG MOrE taxes using moNEY to rEsTore basIc iNfrastrUctUre, ExpAnd PuBlic serviCes and stReNgThEn Law EnforCEment.

ResEaRch ShOws That tHE commiTment To reFoRm THe cIty was dRIvEN By elEcToRal pResSuRes as Well AS elIte ambiTions to coNstRUct aN oRdErly megAcity. The returN tO democracy HeLpeD to makE THese chanGes possible by enabling an ELected gOveRnmenT to wOrk in the pEopLe’s intEreST.

ImproVementS inclUdEs pUBLic trANSpOrt AnD the reclamATIon And grEeNing Of previOusly disused and misUSed Spaces below LaGos’S manY FLyOveRS, bRIdgEs ANd iNTErchanges. In addiTion, roads hAvE BeEn fixed and PAveMeNts builT. In some Parts OF the citY there is pOtable watEr SuppLY And Blighted reSidentiaL and commeRCial aREaS have BeeN rebuiLt.

but, Given DecadeS Of nEglecT, a greaT dEal stiLl neeDs To be done.

what’s broken

One of the biggEst proBlems Is tHe lack of cOheREnt And integrAted DevelopmenT.

AnOthEr majOr iSSue is FlooDInG whICh BonGo AdI, A Lagos basED eNviRONmEntal expert ARGUes, Hasn’t BeeN DecisiVely
os, in the 1990s, was theultimate d ysfun cti ona lcity  and  an example of what  happens to a societywhere  t h e st a te  is a bsent.A tt h atpo in t t he st ate h adreallywithdrawnfro mLagos; the c i ty  was lefttoits own devi ces , both  i n t e rms o f m oneyand se r vices. 

The cit yw as bei n g gover n e dby t he military. Buti tw as not cut out  for g ov e rn a n ce,  ha d no accou nt abili t y and c o ul d n ’ t c a re less about  planning a n d e nviron me nta l  issue s. As  a res ult it rout inel y disrega rded e x istingr egulati ons.
Inthe  199 0 s,  f orin s tan c e,  th e  la rgest pu bl ic  park  inL a g o s—th e o ld,colon ial 10-hectar e V icto r iaParkin Ik oyi— wa s sol d as r eside nt ial development  lan d. The wa ter fr ont  o f the LagosCow rie  Creekin Vict o ria  I s l a nd  was also sold for  c o m me rcial de velopm e nt ,e ffective ly  bl ocki n g  dire ct p u bl ic acces s to t h ewa ters an da pict ur esq ueviewo f Ik oyi.
The coll apseo f zoning all o v er Lagos also le d to resi den tial neighb orho o ds s ucha sVic t oriaIslan da nd southwest Ikoyi bei ng  conve rtedfor commercia l use. The m i litary h ad n o  r e asoned respons e toLagos’ urb a n challe nges.  Instead , it took t he decis ion  in  19 75t o  e stablish a ne w capi ta l in Ab uja .

This  mo ve,  wh ich  f inally ca me to fr ui ti on  i n D ecemb e r 1991,le ftLa gos  forl o rn.

A P Pho tos/ Ge or g e O sodi Sl u ms i n La go s
The  po si tives 

Po s iti ve chan ges havetak e n pl ac e. 

For e xample, overth e past 15ye ars  the a u t horities  succeeded in raising m o re taxe s u singmone y to rest ore  basic  in f rastru cture,  expa nd  pu b l ic se r v ic esan d strength e n  la w enf or ceme nt.

Re search shows thatt hecommitment to  re form t he  ci t yw asdr i ven b y electoral pre ssures aswe l las elite a m bit io ns to c onstruc t ano rderlymegacity.  The retu rn  tod e moc racy helpe d to mak e these c h anges po ssibl e b y enab li ngan el ectedg ove rnmen t to w or k in t he pe op le’s int erest.

Improvements in cludes  publ ictransport  an d  th e reclama tion  and green ing  of  prev iou s ly di suse d  a ndm isuse d sp a ces below La gos ’ s  m any flyover s , bri dgesand interc hang es. In addition,r oads have been  fix e d  an d p a veme nt s built. In so mepa r t s of the  c ity there i s potabl ew atersupply  and b lighted r es i dentia l an d c ommercial  ar ea s  have b ee nr ebuilt .

B ut , give n deca d es o f neglect, a great  deal s tilln eed s tobe  done.What ’s broken
One of the  bigge st p roble ms is t he  lackofco herent and integrate d dev elopmen t. 

An oth er maj or i s s ue is  flo od ing  which Bo n g oA di ,a  La gosbased  e nvir onmentale xpert ar gue s , hasn’ tbee n decisi v el y 
os, in_the 1990s,_was the ultimate dysfunctional_city and_an_example of_what_happens to a_society where the_state is absent. At_that point the_state_had really withdrawn from Lagos; the city was left to its own devices, both_in_terms of_money_and_services.

The city was being governed_by the military. But it_was not_cut out for governance, had no accountability and_couldn’t_care less about_planning and environmental issues. As a result it routinely_disregarded existing regulations.

In the 1990s, for_instance, the largest_public_park_in Lagos—the old, colonial_10-hectare Victoria Park in Ikoyi—was sold_as residential development land. The waterfront_of the Lagos Cowrie Creek in Victoria_Island was also sold for commercial_development, effectively blocking direct public_access to_the waters and a picturesque_view of Ikoyi.

The_collapse of_zoning all over_Lagos also led to residential neighborhoods_such as Victoria_Island and southwest Ikoyi being converted_for_commercial use. The_military_had_no reasoned_response to Lagos’_urban_challenges. Instead,_it_took the decision in 1975 to_establish_a new capital in Abuja.

This move, which_finally came to fruition_in_December 1991, left Lagos_forlorn.

AP Photos/George Osodi Slums in_Lagos

The positives

Positive changes have taken place.

For_example, over_the past_15 years the authorities succeeded in raising more taxes using money_to restore basic infrastructure, expand public_services and strengthen law_enforcement.

Research shows_that_the commitment to_reform_the city_was driven by electoral pressures as well_as elite_ambitions to construct an orderly megacity._The return to democracy_helped_to make these changes possible by_enabling an elected government to work_in the people’s interest.

Improvements includes_public_transport_and the reclamation and greening_of previously disused and misused spaces_below Lagos’s many_flyovers, bridges and interchanges. In addition, roads_have_been fixed and pavements built. In_some_parts of the city there is_potable_water_supply and blighted residential and_commercial areas have been rebuilt.

But, given_decades of neglect, a great deal still needs to_be done.

What’s broken

One_of the biggest problems is_the_lack_of coherent and integrated development.

Another major issue is flooding which_Bongo Adi,_a Lagos based_environmental expert argues, hasn’t been decisively