Lagos
Lagos (; LAY-goss; Yoruba: Èkó [èkó]), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan port city in southwestern Nigeria. As of November 2025, the size of the city's population has been estimated to be between 17 and 21 million residents, making Lagos the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world.
The lands are separated by creeks, fringing the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon, while being protected from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier islands and long sand spits such as Bar Beach, which stretch up to 100 km (62 mi) east and west of the mouth.
With its international airport, three ports (Apapa, Tin Can Island and Lekki deep-sea port) and the standard-gauge rail link to the hinterland (a rarity in Africa), the city is well connected in terms of transport and handles 88% of Nigeria’s exports. The urban rail transit system (the "Blue Line" and the "Red Line") is regarded as one of the most modern of its kind in Africa.
Lagos is best known as the leading financial centre of West and Central Africa, with Access Bank, the First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank arguably being the city’s largest financial institutions. – There are three shipyards: Nigerdock, Naval Dockyard Ltd. and Samsung Heavy Industries Mega Construction Yard. Other major employers include two breweries: Nigerian Breweries and Guinness. Major African airlines have their headquarters and maintenance here: for example Air Peace, Arik Air, and Aero Contractors. Lagos is also West Africa´s centre for pharmaceuticals (e.g., Emzor, Fidson, May & Baker) and increasingly emerging as the digital heart of West Africa. With more than 20 data centres currently in operation, Lagos is attracting global giants such as Equinix and Google. Five out of seven African high tech start-ups with a value above US$ 1 billion ("unicorns") are located in Lagos. The employer with the most staff is the Dangote Refinery (the only refinery currently in operation in Nigeria), which, once expanded, will be the world’s largest oil refinery.
Lagos houses two universities, LASU and UNILAG. Lagos is also a cultural hub with a reputation well beyond its region. The National Arts Theatre in Surulere, the National Gallery of Modern Art (in the same building), the Center For Black And African Arts, the National Museum and the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture in Onikan and privately run galleries like Nike Art Gallery display Nigerias culture. The conservatoire MUSON Centre, many local orchestras and choirs (like the Lagos City Chorale or the Cathedral Church of Christ Choir) as well as writers like Sefi Atta, Oyinkan Braithwaite and Ayòbámi Adébáyò and artists like Dotun Popoola, Peju Alatise, Idowu Sonaya and Collins Abinoro Akporode represent Lagos´ creative scene. Furthermore, Lagos is the centre of media outlets and of Nigerian cinema, "Nollywood", which recently was awarded in Cannes and by BAFTA ("My Father´s Shadow"). The lagoon city also is a hot spot for West African music ("Afrobeats"); in its recording studios Nigerian stars like Tems, Davido, Wizkid and Asake have started their careers. International stars like Paul McCartney, James Brown, Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé have recorded albums here.
แผนที่เมือง
More in Nigeria
Explore neighboring districts and regions for more experiences.