Lagos, Nigeria’s economic hub, is struggling to cope with the challenges of rapid population growth as approximately 6,000 people enter the city daily, with only 3,000 leaving.
This influx has put immense pressure on the state’s annual budget of N2.2 trillion ($1.3 billion), which pales in comparison to New York State’s budget of $237 billion, despite having a smaller population of 19.5 million.
The city’s population, estimated at 27 million, is grappling with the consequences of this rapid growth, including increased strain on infrastructure, resources, and services. Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, emphasized that the state cannot stop people from seeking better opportunities, but the population explosion has severe consequences.
Hamzat attributed Nigeria’s challenges to the breakdown of family structures, citing 130,000 wives abandoned by their husbands.
He also highlighted the need for effective governance and infrastructure development to tackle policy inconsistencies, infrastructure deficits, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
