Abuja vs Lagos Lagos is undoubtedly
Nigeria’s economic backbone and for many years Lagos was Nigeria’s capital city.
However, Nigeria decided to move its capital from Lagos to another city slightly north of Lagos.
They moved it to the city of Abuja, Nigeria’s current capital. The decision to move the
Nigerian capital from Lagos to Abuja was made in 19 76. However, after many years of planning,
development, and construction, Abuja finally replaced Lagos as the political capital in 19 91.
What precisely was the motive for this move? Abuja was chosen as Nigeria's new capital because
of its central location, easy accessibility, salubrious climate, low population density,
and availability of land for future expansion. It was the first planned city to be built in Nigeria.
This had us thinking, was Lagos not a good enough capital for Nigeria? And they just had to go off
and build a brand new city from the ground up? Or was it something entirely different?
But for now, we are just going to have to take the government’s word for it and say the capital
was changed for demographic reasons, and not any other ulterior motive was at play here. Let us
know your thoughts in the comments down below. But guys the main purpose of our video today
is to settle this score once and for all. Which city is better Lagos or Abuja?
So let's get into it… only Nigerians can fully appreciate the scope of this comparison
and how relevant it is. It’s like the age-long Messi and Ronaldo or Pele and Maradona debate.
There are stats to prove which one is better and there is also individual bias based on preference.
Lagos has had the reputation of being the land of dreams to many Nigerians in all geopolitical
zones of the country. People relocate to Lagos daily with the hopes of better opportunities
and the city doesn’t disappoint. Since Abuja became the federal capital territory in 19 91,
the city has seen tremendous growth to date. The city is now home to federal ministries,
head offices of conglomerates, 5-star hotels, and luxurious real estates.
We are going to be handling this comparison based on certain criteria that reveal the
living conditions in both cities, and clearly put forward the facts for you to decide.
Both cities compare in some ways given that Lagos was the former capital territory of Nigeria.
They are both diverse with people of all tribes and religions settled in both cities. They are
both land of opportunities for Nigerians, transportation can cost almost the same
depending on location and feeding can also cost you almost the same in both cities in
other words there’s food for everyone’s level. However, to know which is better between Lagos
and Abuja a lot of factors have to be put into consideration. Lagos is an emerging megacity,
and like all megacities around the world, Lagos is highly populated. This high population comes with
a lot of advantages and disadvantages. The high population can have a good impact on the economy
while having a negative impact on security, infrastructure, and maintenance of law and order.
Abuja can be referred to as the city of beauty and serenity when compared to Lagos.
The population is low, which also has its many advantages and disadvantages for the economy,
security, and maintenance of law and order. A young entrepreneur looking to start a business
will find Lagos as the place to be, compared to Abuja. The Lagos dream, tech hubs, and affordable
housing in certain areas of the city make it the top choice for young entrepreneurs in the country.
Abuja on the other end provides a serene environment and “rich customer base”
for business. Although Abuja has a number of privately-owned companies, it is mostly regarded
as a “government city” The reputation of Abuja being a government city where all “businesses
are owned by the government” makes young Job seekers flock to Lagos for Job opportunities.
Economy.
Lagos has the biggest economy in West Africa and can also stand side by side
with most countries in Africa. This has made small, medium,
and large-scale enterprises set up based in Lagos. Lagos is now a land filled with Job
and investment opportunities. Cost of living
when you compare the cost of living in Lagos to Abuja, You’ll find out that Lagos is
relatively cheap compared to living in Abuja.
There’s a saying that you’ll always find your level in Lagos and this is true. From feeding to
transportation and even accommodation, you’ll find something that fits your
budget. Abuja, when compared to Lagos is very expensive. The
cost of accommodation alone is enough to discourage anyone from moving to Abuja.
Security
Abuja is the seat of government, so it’ll come as no surprise that Abuja is safer
when compared to living in Lagos. The presence of security personnel all around the city with
regular patrol activities makes the city a safe haven for commercial and residential purposes.
In Lagos, even the “estates” are not left out of the menace of kidnappings,
fights, and activities of cult groups like awawa boys and the one million boys.
Hospitality. the people of
Abuja tend to be more laid back and “well packaged” when compared to the city of Lagos.
This can be attributed to the fact that Abuja has people from different ethnic backgrounds living
in the city. You might say “ekaaro” to your neighbor and get “ina kwana” as your reply.
In Lagos, people are more social and open and this behavior is very contagious.
Infrastructure. Unlike Lagos,
Abuja is a well-planned city. It was deliberately built to serve as the federal capital territory.
Under the administration of El Rufai. most buildings that weren’t built according to
the city’s standards were demolished. Abuja has better road networks, drainages, safer roads,
and more roads linking various parts of the city. The activities of Omo onile,
corrupt town planning officials have seen Lagos constantly plagued with building collapse,
poor drainage systems, and bad roads. Serenity
with a population of over 15 million people and more people trooping in daily, the word serenity
and Lagos do not mix. Lagos is the city that doesn’t sleep and there’s a reason for that.
The daily hustle and rush to beat traffic makes Lagos the stress capital of Nigeria.
Abuja is relatively quiet, beautiful, and serene when compared to Lagos and its high population.
Quality of life The level of pollution
and infrastructural decay makes living in Lagos stressful. A journey of less than 30
minutes can take up to three hours in Lagos traffic. Streets are highly congested and
an apartment meant to accommodate a maximum of 6 people can have as high as 10 to 15 inhabitants.
This in turn has a negative effect on the environment and affects the quality of life.
In Abuja, the city is orderly as buildings are built in strict adherence to town planning laws.
Also, the roads are large enough to accommodate residents in the city which makes driving stress
free all through the city. Entertainment
Lagos is no doubt the center of entertainment in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The biggest film,
music, and television studios are located in Lagos. This is why the biggest stars in
the Nigerian music and television scene reside in Lagos. The nightlife is also second to none. Club
Quliox which is known as the best night club is located in Lagos. Other clubs owned by celebrities
like Jay Okocha, D’banj, and Tuface among others are all located on Lagos Island and the mainland.
Conclusion Abuja is serene,
well laid out with good roads and fewer people while Lagos is a bustling city with more people,
a robust economy, and great nightlife. The decision to live in either of these cities
will depend on your personality, line of work, or business. Someone with a reserved or introverted
personality will enjoy the quietness and serenity of Abuja. Lagos on the other end is referred to
as the city that never sleeps. there are people moving out and moving in constantly at any time
of day. It is the land of hustle and bustle with unending traffic Jams. But is it all worth it?
Please let us know in the comments down below. Undoubtedly there are quite a few advantages
and disadvantages to both cities and something that seems to work for one doesn’t for the other.
The demographics of both cities are quite different and a fair comparison would be
out of place however certain factors stand out and bring out a scale of preference
so in all essence one is certainly better than the other, what do you think?
Let us know in the comments. Thanks for watching and please subscribe if you haven’t already.
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