Lagos
Lagos is Nigeria’s largest city, a major Atlantic port, and a commercial center spread across the mainland and islands around Lagos Lagoon.
Lagos Lagoon: A lagoon in southwestern Nigeria, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a barrier island and connected to it by channels. The lagoon shapes Lagos’s islands, harbor, and transport routes.
Eko: A traditional name for Lagos, also used for the settlement that preceded the city’s modern name. Eko preserves the city’s indigenous name and historical identity.
Port of Lagos: Nigeria’s principal seaport complex, comprising facilities including Apapa and Tin Can Island ports. The port connects Lagos’s businesses to international shipping and cargo flows.
Nollywood: Nigeria’s film industry, known for producing large numbers of films in English and Nigerian languages. Lagos is a major production, distribution, and commercial hub for Nigerian film.
Urbanization in Nigeria: The long-term shift of Nigeria’s population toward towns and cities. Lagos is a major destination and symbol of Nigeria’s urban growth.
Atlantic Ocean: The ocean separating the Americas from Europe and Africa. Lagos faces the Atlantic and developed as a coastal port.
Kingdom of Benin: A West African kingdom centered in present-day southern Nigeria, influential from the thirteenth century until its conquest by Britain. Benin’s political influence extended to the settlement that became Lagos.
Apapa: A Lagos district containing major seaport facilities and industrial areas. Port operations in Apapa generate freight traffic and shape nearby land use.
Lagos Island markets: A group of historic commercial markets on Lagos Island, including Balogun Market. These markets concentrate trade in the city’s old commercial center.
Makoko: A densely populated waterfront community in Lagos, partly built over Lagos Lagoon. Makoko makes visible the city’s uneven access to secure housing and services.