lagos gcse geography case study

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Lagos – an urban case study

In this unit you’ll learn about the megacity of Lagos, its site, situation and growth from the initial settlements on the west of Lagos Lagoon. You’ll consider processes of population change through migration, and look at development, inequality, differences in the quality of life and urban challenges.  

Then try the quiz to see how much you’ve learned about Lagos. 

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Urbanisation Case Study: Lagos

Urban growth in lidcs: lagos.

Lagos' state government says the population of Lagos is 17.5 million. The national government claims it is 21 million people. Either way, Lagos is a megacity. It is the largest city in Nigeria.

Demographic and healthcare

• The annual rate of natural increase in Nigeria is 25% every 5 years.
• The life expectancy of someone living in Lagos is 54.5 years. Across Nigeria as a whole, the average life expectancy is 53.4 years.
• There are more doctors and hospitals in Lagos than in the surrounding rural areas.

Social opportunities from urban growth

• In some rural states, the adult literacy rate was as low as 14% and it was 57% on average in Nigeria.
• Lagos has clean water supplies, electricity into housing and good entertainment centres and malls.

Economic opportunities from urban growth

• This is 50% of all the startup investment in Africa and most of this funding was negotiated in Nigerian cities.
• 30% of the Nigerian population works in agriculture.
• In 2018, the GDP per capita in Lagos was $5,000 (twice the GDP per capita of Nigeria).
• Lagos is Nigeria's biggest city for banking, investment, and international transactions.

Housing opportunities

• Despite urban growth, housing in Nigeria is 77% more expensive and food is 26% more expensive in African cities (vs rural areas).

Challenges of Urban Growth in Lagos

The rapid growth of Lagos has created challenges for the people living there and the local government.

Managing urban growth and slums in Lagos

• In 2016, the World Bank found that 2/3 of people living in Nigeria lived in slums.
• Makoko, Badia, and Agege are some of the largest slums in Lagos.
• Lots of people in the Makoko slum moved to Lagos to earn a living fishing. However, the waters near the slum are full of sewage and fish struggle to live there. These fishermen struggle to get other jobs.
• Many of the children living in the Lagos slums do not go to school.

Crime and unemployment in Lagos

• Unemployed men who live in the Makoko slum create vigilante groups to provide security. These people are called 'Area Boys'.
• Fishermen struggle to catch fish and earn a living.
• Lots of people scavenge for rubbish in the city to try to earn a living.
• Nigeria's murder rate is 9.85 murders per 100,000 people. In the UK it is 1.2 per 100,000 people.

Environmental issues in Lagos

• There are 1 million cars in Lagos and their emissions can contribute to things like acid rain. Traffic is awful in Lagos, public transport is bad and a few key bridges act as bottlenecks for all the cars.
• Smog is a problem in Lagos.
• Air pollution is measured using a metric called PM2.5. A safe level is 56 and in 2016, parts of Lagos had PM2.5 readings of 217. This shows that the air in Lagos is very polluted and could be dangerous to the inhabitants of the city.
• The Olusosun landfill site is the largest dump in Africa. 10,000 tons of rubbish is put in the ground there each day. It gets 3.1 stars on Google Reviews.

Clean water and sanitation in Lagos

• People drink water from the area where fishermen fish and people go to the toilet in the same water. This spreads waterborne diseases like cholera.
• The World Bank has given funding to try to improve the sanitation in the Lagos slums.
• The water in Lagos' lagoon is too polluted to be used as drinking water.
• Between 67% and 81% of people have daily access to clean water in Lagos.

1 The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1 Natural Hazards

1.1.1 Types of Natural Hazards

1.1.2 Hazard Risk

1.1.3 Consequences of Natural Hazards

1.1.4 End of Topic Test - Natural Hazards

1.1.5 Exam-Style Questions - Natural Hazards

1.2 Tectonic Hazards

1.2.1 Tectonic Plates

1.2.2 Tectonic Plates & Convection Currents

1.2.3 Plate Margins

1.2.4 Volcanoes

1.2.5 Effects of Volcanoes

1.2.6 Responses to Volcanic Eruptions

1.2.7 Earthquakes

1.2.8 Earthquakes 2

1.2.9 Responses to Earthquakes

1.2.10 Case Studies: The L'Aquila & Kashmir Earthquakes

1.2.11 Earthquake Case Study: Chile 2010

1.2.12 Earthquake Case Study: Nepal 2015

1.2.13 Living with Tectonic Hazards 1

1.2.14 Living with Tectonic Hazards 2

1.2.15 End of Topic Test - Tectonic Hazards

1.2.16 Exam-Style Questions - Tectonic Hazards

1.2.17 Tectonic Hazards - Statistical Skills

1.3 Weather Hazards

1.3.1 Global Atmospheric Circulation

1.3.2 Surface Winds

1.3.3 UK Weather Hazards

1.3.4 Tropical Storms

1.3.5 Features of Tropical Storms

1.3.6 Impact of Tropical Storms 1

1.3.7 Impact of Tropical Storms 2

1.3.8 Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina

1.3.9 Tropical Storms Case Study: Haiyan

1.3.10 UK Weather Hazards Case Study: Somerset 2014

1.3.11 End of Topic Test - Weather Hazards

1.3.12 Exam-Style Questions - Weather Hazards

1.3.13 Weather Hazards - Statistical Skills

1.4 Climate Change

1.4.1 Evidence for Climate Change

1.4.2 Causes of Climate Change

1.4.3 Effects of Climate Change

1.4.4 Managing Climate Change

1.4.5 End of Topic Test - Climate Change

1.4.6 Exam-Style Questions - Climate Change

1.4.7 Climate Change - Statistical Skills

2 The Living World

2.1 Ecosystems

2.1.1 Ecosystems

2.1.2 Ecosystem Cascades & Global Ecosystems

2.1.3 Ecosystem Case Study: Freshwater Ponds

2.2 Tropical Rainforests

2.2.1 Tropical Rainforests - Intro & Interdependence

2.2.2 Adaptations

2.2.3 Biodiversity of Tropical Rainforests

2.2.4 Deforestation

2.2.5 Case Study: Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest

2.2.6 Sustainable Management of Rainforests

2.2.7 Case Study: Malaysian Rainforest

2.2.8 End of Topic Test - Tropical Rainforests

2.2.9 Exam-Style Questions - Tropical Rainforests

2.2.10 Deforestation - Statistical Skills

2.3 Hot Deserts

2.3.1 Overview of Hot Deserts

2.3.2 Biodiversity & Adaptation to Hot Deserts

2.3.3 Case Study: Sahara Desert

2.3.4 Desertification

2.3.5 Case Study: Thar Desert

2.3.6 End of Topic Test - Hot Deserts

2.3.7 Exam-Style Questions - Hot Deserts

2.4 Tundra & Polar Environments

2.4.1 Overview of Cold Environments

2.4.2 Adaptations in Cold Environments

2.4.3 Biodiversity in Cold Environments

2.4.4 Case Study: Alaska

2.4.5 Sustainable Management

2.4.6 Case Study: Svalbard

2.4.7 End of Topic Test - Tundra & Polar Environments

2.4.8 Exam-Style Questions - Cold Environments

3 Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1 The UK Physical Landscape

3.1.1 The UK Physical Landscape

3.2 Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.2.1 Types of Wave

3.2.2 Weathering & Mass Movement

3.2.3 Processes of Erosion & Wave-Cut Platforms

3.2.4 Headlands, Bays, Caves, Arches & Stacks

3.2.5 Transportation

3.2.6 Deposition

3.2.7 Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes

3.2.8 Case Study: Landforms on the Dorset Coast

3.2.9 Types of Coastal Management 1

3.2.10 Types of Coastal Management 2

3.2.11 Coastal Management Case Study - Holderness

3.2.12 Coastal Management Case Study: Swanage

3.2.13 Coastal Management Case Study - Lyme Regis

3.2.14 End of Topic Test - Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.2.15 Exam-Style Questions - Coasts

3.3 River Landscapes in the UK

3.3.1 The River Valley

3.3.2 River Valley Case Study - River Tees

3.3.3 Erosion

3.3.4 Transportation & Deposition

3.3.5 Waterfalls, Gorges & Interlocking Spurs

3.3.6 Meanders & Oxbow Lakes

3.3.7 Floodplains & Levees

3.3.8 Estuaries

3.3.9 Case Study: The River Clyde

3.3.10 River Management

3.3.11 Hard & Soft Flood Defences

3.3.12 River Management Case Study - Boscastle

3.3.13 River Management Case Study - Banbury

3.3.14 End of Topic Test - River Landscapes in the UK

3.3.15 Exam-Style Questions - Rivers

3.4 Glacial Landscapes in the UK

3.4.1 Erosion

3.4.2 Landforms Caused by Erosion

3.4.3 Landforms Caused by Transportation & Deposition

3.4.4 Snowdonia

3.4.5 Land Use in Glaciated Areas

3.4.6 Tourism in Glacial Landscapes

3.4.7 Case Study - Lake District

3.4.8 End of Topic Test - Glacial Landscapes in the UK

3.4.9 Exam-Style Questions - Glacial Landscapes

4 Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1 Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.1 Urbanisation

4.1.2 Urbanisation Case Study: Lagos

4.1.3 Urbanisation Case Study: Rio de Janeiro

4.1.4 UK Cities

4.1.5 Case Study: Urban Regen Projects - Manchester

4.1.6 Case Study: Urban Change in Liverpool

4.1.7 Case Study: Urban Change in Bristol

4.1.8 Sustainable Urban Life

4.1.9 End of Topic Test - Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.10 Exam-Style Questions - Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.11 Urban Issues -Statistical Skills

5 The Changing Economic World

5.1 The Changing Economic World

5.1.1 Measuring Development

5.1.2 Classifying Countries Based on Wealth

5.1.3 The Demographic Transition Model

5.1.4 Physical & Historical Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.5 Economic Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.6 How Can We Reduce the Global Development Gap?

5.1.7 Case Study: Tourism in Kenya

5.1.8 Case Study: Tourism in Jamaica

5.1.9 Case Study: Economic Development in India

5.1.10 Case Study: Aid & Development in India

5.1.11 Case Study: Economic Development in Nigeria

5.1.12 Case Study: Aid & Development in Nigeria

5.1.13 Economic Development in the UK

5.1.14 Economic Development UK: Industry & Rural

5.1.15 Economic Development UK: Transport & North-South

5.1.16 Economic Development UK: Regional & Global

5.1.17 End of Topic Test - The Changing Economic World

5.1.18 Exam-Style Questions - The Changing Economic World

5.1.19 Changing Economic World - Statistical Skills

6 The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1 Resource Management

6.1.1 Global Distribution of Resources

6.1.2 Food in the UK

6.1.3 Water in the UK 1

6.1.4 Water in the UK 2

6.1.5 Energy in the UK

6.1.6 Resource Management - Statistical Skills

6.2.1 Areas of Food Surplus & Food Deficit

6.2.2 Food Supply & Food Insecurity

6.2.3 Increasing Food Supply

6.2.4 Case Study: Thanet Earth

6.2.5 Creating a Sustainable Food Supply

6.2.6 Case Study: Agroforestry in Mali

6.2.7 End of Topic Test - Food

6.2.8 Exam-Style Questions - Food

6.2.9 Food - Statistical Skills

6.3.1 The Global Demand for Water

6.3.2 What Affects the Availability of Water?

6.3.3 Increasing Water Supplies

6.3.4 Case Study: Water Transfer in China

6.3.5 Sustainable Water Supply

6.3.6 Case Study: Kenya's Sand Dams

6.3.7 Case Study: Lesotho Highland Water Project

6.3.8 Case Study: Wakel River Basin Project

6.3.9 Exam-Style Questions - Water

6.3.10 Water - Statistical Skills

6.4.1 Global Demand for Energy

6.4.2 Factors Affecting Energy Supply

6.4.3 Increasing Energy Supply: Renewables

6.4.4 Increasing Energy Supply: Non-Renewables

6.4.5 Carbon Footprints & Energy Conservation

6.4.6 Case Study: Rice Husks in Bihar

6.4.7 Exam-Style Questions - Energy

6.4.8 Energy - Statistical Skills

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Urbanisation

Urbanisation Case Study: Rio de Janeiro

UIC - Lagos Challenges

• Inequalities - Differences between poverty and wealth, as well as in peoples' wellbeing and access to things like jobs, housing and education. Inequalities may occur in housing provision, access to services, access to open land, safety and security.
• Pollution - The presence of chemicals, noise, dirt or other substances which have harmful or poisonous effects on an environment.
• Sanitation - Measures designed to protect public health, including the provision of clean water and the disposal of sewage and waste.
• Traffic congestion - Occurs when there is too great a volume of traffic for roads to cope with, so traffic jams form and traffic slows to a crawl.
• Squatter settlement - An area of poor-quality housing, lacking in amenities such as water supply, sewerage and electricity, which often develops spontaneously and illegally in a city in an LIC.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES Lagos, like many cities in LICs and NEEs, is a city that faces many challenges and those challenges are large because of its immense size and rapid growth.  Physical Geography also plays a role, as Lagos has been limited in where it can grow because it originally grew next to a lagoon with rivers and lake which limits its growth to the East.

Squatter settlements or slums The major problem in Lagos is the growth of squatter settlements also known as SLUMS. These slums come with many issues for people including the lack of planned access to clean water and sanitation systems, poor health, lack of education, unemployment and the prospect of crime. According to borgenproject.org • 65 percent of the people living in Lagos are urban poor who live in slums • 8.5 percent of the near 21 million people living in Lagos, Nigeria live in poverty — about 1.7 million people.

Makoko Slum “ We are a community with a great and bright future. Yes, people living on water, people that are great fishermen. ” Noah Shemede, Community figure

Makoko is a slum neighbourhood located in Eastern Lagos. The neighbourhood is located between the 3rd Mainland Bridge and the coast of mainland Lagos. Around a third of the community is built on stilts along the lagoon and the rest is on the land. The settlement was originally founded by fishermen but has grown massively alongside Lagos.  Its population is thought to be around 85,000 but could be much higher as it was not counted in the last official census. In July 2012 dozens of homes were destroyed by Nigerian government officials after residents were given just 72 hours’ notice of eviction. The reason for the destruction of this community was to redevelop what is now seen as prime waterfront. Nearly 3,000 people had been rendered homeless by the action. Makoko is also home to the Makoko Floating School. The school has received global recognition and on 20 April 2015, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development announced that the school may be incorporated into a regeneration plan for the entire Makoko community. Makoko is sometimes referred to as the "Venice of Africa". Makoko has a lot of residents who value the community in which they live and are protective of their homes and community.  There is local governance and is run more efficiently each year, as it becomes more established.

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES: Lagos has challenges to deal with protecting the natural environment and providing people with a clean environment to live in.  1. Water pollution is a major problem in Lagos. Uncontrolled disposal of raw sewage, sediment carrying runoff and effluents into the Lagoon system has created serious health concerns. Deadly waterborne diseases like cholera & diarrhoea are affecting people as a result. Access to formal clean water is abysmally low, with a majority of Lagos residents relying on the informal sector comprised of wells, boreholes, rivers and rainwater. This costs them a lot of money.

Lagos is a city surrounded by water, a wet, tropical climate with over 2,000 millimetres of annual rainfall but a lot of the water is not safe to drink. Access to formal clean water is extremely low, with the majority of Lagos residents relying on the informal sector comprised of wells, boreholes, rivers and rainwater. In 2016 daily demand in the state stood at 724 Million gallons while production was 317 million gallons, leaving a gap of 407 million gallons. Worse still, some of the water never reaches households due to constant fracturing of run-down pipes.

Problems of Water Pollution and Supply

• Only 10% of the population in Lagos have water from the Lagos Water Corporation
• Rapid population growth means demands for water will increase
• Climate change and rising sea levels will increase the problems of water contamination and pollution
• Water leakages and theft are common There is not adequate wastewater treatment
• Lack of sanitation means water in the lagoon becomes polluted by sewage leading to waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery
• Some water pipes are laid with sewage so become contaminated
• Water from vendors can be contaminated because they also obtain water from the same sources.

Sea level rise will pose an issue too Most of Lagos lies less than two metres above sea level. The predicted rise in sea level, of up to one metre in the twenty- first century due to global warming, is a severe threat to the city. Flooding could increase and groundwater could become contaminated by salt. Already this century, there have been a number of serious floods in Lagos, caused by intense tropical rain. Roads quickly turn into rivers and drains overflow, flooding streets and homes with sewage.

2. Air pollution – Lagos has some very dirty air including dangerous levels of Nitrous Oxides, high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and small dust particles called particulate matter.  These are both hazardous to human health and can cause things like asthma. The causes of this pollution are industry, ever increasing numbers of cars and construction dust.

3. Waste – Lagos is the largest producer of solid waste in Nigeria. There is no comprehensive city based system of collection and this waste poses a hazard to human health.  It has been estimated that Lagos produces 13million kg of waste per day using infrastructure developed in the 1970’s when the city had only 3 million residents.  That leaves a lot of uncollected waste.

4. Traffic congestion - rising car ownership and wealth have meant that more people own cars in Lagos (there are over 5 million!). These contribute to both noise and air pollution, as well as lots of lost hours as people sit in traffic jams. There is a plan to solve this with Lagos State Traffic Management Authority in charge, with a rapid transit rail system planned and a rapid transit bus system already in place.

LAGOS CONGESTION. The average commuter in Lagos spends over 3 hours in traffic every day. It makes Lagos one of the most congested cities in the world. 40% of new cars in Nigeria are registered in Lagos, which occupies just one per cent of the country’s total area!

What efforts have been made to reduce traffic congestion?

In 2003, the Lagos state government set up Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to improve transport in the city. One of its first achievements was to introduce a bus rapid transit (BRT) system on a north-south route from the suburbs to the CBD on Lagos Island. It provides a separate lane for buses to travel times. 200,000 people use the service every day- a quarter of all commuters in Lagos. However, a single BRT route is inadequate in a city the size of Lagos. The public transport system has to be supplemented by a large fleet of minibus taxis, known as ‘danfos’. They are designed to carry ten to fifteen passengers, but demand is so high that they often carry twenty to thirty.

5. Electricity supply – the sheer size of Lagos has overwhelmed the grid, resulting in periods where the power cuts out. This makes it difficult for people to perform everyday chores and for businesses to run properly.  Many people have to rely on expensive diesel generators when the electricity goes off.

NEXT TOPIC - UIC - Lagos Urban planning

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AQA GCSE: The Urban World & Lagos Case Study All Lessons

Last updated

3 June 2020

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Resources included (10)

• Megacities: The Emergence of Megacities

Lagos: AQA GCSE Differentiated Revision Map Activity

Lagos: Urban Planning in Lagos

Lagos: Squatter Settlements in Lagos

Lagos: Improving Lagos' Environment

Lagos: Economic Challenges In Lagos

Lagos: Social Challenges in Lagos

Lagos: Growing Lagos

Lagos: Introducing Lagos

• Urbanisation: An Increasingly Urban World

Complete bundle for the AQA GCSE Geography 2016 specification Unit 2a The Urban World using Lagos, Nigeria, as a case study.

All lessons have a variety of differentiated activities, skills tasks, video clips. exam-style questions with guidance and photocopying/printing ready worksheets and handouts.

The order of the lessons is

• Introducing Lagos
• Growing Lagos
• Social Challenges in Lagos
• Economic Challenges In Lagos
• Improving Lagos’ Environment
• Squatter Settlements in Lagos
• Urban Planning in Lagos

I hope this saves you valuable planning time!

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Economic opportunities and challenges in Lagos

There are a range of opportunities and challenges for the residents of Lagos.

Economic Opportunities for Growth

Economic growth in Lagos has led to enhancements in infrastructure, including roads, transportation, and services, and has drawn major corporations from different regions of Nigeria, Africa, and abroad. As a result, various new economic prospects in the formal sector have emerged.

How have industrial areas stimulated economic growth in Lagos?

A range of industrial areas in Lagos have stimulated economic growth. The map below shows examples of industrial areas in Lagos.

The Port of Lagos

Lagos’ coastal location has been the foundation of its development as a megacity. Since the settlement was established as a fishing village, its geography has enabled it to become a thriving seaport. Lagos Lagoon provides a sheltered harbour for ships, making it very accessible.

The Port of Lagos—one of Africa’s largest and busiest ports, specialises in maritime and logistics, oil and gas, and manufacturing. This industrial zone is critical for Nigeria’s import and export activities, enhancing trade and attracting substantial investments that fuel economic growth across the city.

Ikeja Industrial Estate

Ikeja Industrial Estate is a central manufacturing hub, home to a broad spectrum of industries from food and beverages to textiles and pharmaceuticals. Its strategic location as the capital of Lagos State has made it a magnet for both skilled and unskilled labour, significantly boosting local employment and contributing to the city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Agbara Industrial Estate

Agbara Industrial Estate is renowned for its modern infrastructure and hosts many multinational and local companies across fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceuticals, and electronics sectors. Positioned on the outskirts of Lagos, Agbara is instrumental in drawing foreign direct investment and advancing technological growth within the region.

Lekki Free Zone

Lekki Free Zone is designed to further economic diversification and international trade, offering enticing incentives such as tax reliefs and customs duty exemptions. This zone attracts a mix of international and local investors in sectors like high-tech, oil and gas, and manufacturing, promising to significantly elevate Lagos’s economic status through job creation and technological innovation upon its full development.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport

Originally known as Lagos Airport, Murtala Muhammed International Airport has also increased Lagos’s accessibility. It is now the main arrival point for 80% of flights to West Africa and the main base for Nigeria’s largest airline, Arik Air. In 2015, over 7 million passengers passed through the airport.

What has been the impact of industrial growth in Lagos?

Lagos has developed into a major industrial powerhouse due to its excellent transport links. The development of manufacturing and other industries has created hundreds of thousands of jobs. Additionally, the growing population provides a workforce for goods and services and a market for them. Lagos has one of the country’s highest income levels per head, creating a high demand for services and retail. Many people are employed in the service (tertiary) and public sectors. Also, the workforce is becoming better skilled and educated with more schools and universities. All of these factors combine to encourage industry to locate in Lagos.

As a country develops, more of the workforce is employed in the tertiary industry, and fewer people work in the primary industry. The graph below shows rapid development in Nigeria between 2000 and 2016.

Nigeria’s Employment Structure

The economic growth of Lagos is an excellent example of the multiplier effect .

The multiplier effect

What contribution does Lagos make to the Nigerian economy?

Lagos contributes significantly to the Nigerian economy—30% of its GDP. This is remarkable, considering Lagos is home to only 10% of the country’s population. Most of Nigeria’s manufacturing and service industries , such as finance, are based in Lagos.

Lagos is constructing a new city on the coast called Eco Atlantic. Eko Atlantic is an entirely new coastal city built on Victoria Island adjacent to Lagos, Nigeria. The project is privately funded by South Energy Nigeria Limited – the developers and city planners, a subsidiary of the Nigeria-based Chagoury Group of companies – working in strategic partnership with the Lagos State Government and supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria. It will be home to a quarter of a million people and employ 150,000 more.

The informal economy – benefits and problems

The unemployment rate in Lagos is lower than in the rest of Nigeria, at 9.9% in 2015. However, for those without a job, no government benefits are available. Most people who are not formally employed work in the informal economy to get by. This includes jobs such as shoe shining, waste recycling, or street vending.

The Olusosun landfill is a 100-acre dump in Lagos. It is the largest in Africa and one of the largest in the world. The site receives up to 10,000 tons of rubbish each day. Waste from around 500 container ships is also delivered to the site, adding a substantial portion of electronic waste. Some of this material is treated with chemicals to extract reusable products, releasing toxic fumes.

Olusosun – the largest dump in the world

Around 1,000 homes exist at the site in temporary settlements, occupied by residents who work at the dump scavenging for scrap to sell.

Olusosun landfill was once located on the outskirts of the populated area. However, in recent years, Lagos has undergone such a massive expansion that commercial and residential areas surround the site. The dump has shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, and a mosque.

Daily, the residents sort 3,000 tonnes of waste by hand, picking out valuable items to sell. Without the dump, many reusable items would go to waste.

When it is dry, natural gases build up under the waste. This often leads to fires which are hard to put out. Natural gases such as methane can be harnessed for energy. A new project by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority is planned to produce 25MW of electricity. This is enough to power a town, though not a city the size of Lagos. Olusosun is an example of how people in Lagos find solutions to problems – seeing an opportunity where others might see junk.

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