In this deck, we'll explore Lagos, a major city in Nigeria. As a case study for your GCSE Geography exam, Lagos is a perfect example of rapid urban growth in a Lower Income Country, or LIC. We will look at why it has grown so quickly, the opportunities this creates, and the huge challenges the city faces, from managing squatter settlements to traffic congestion. Understanding Lagos will help you answer questions about urban issues in the developing world.

First, where is Lagos? It's located in Nigeria, on the coast of West Africa, right on the Atlantic Ocean. Its location is key to its importance. Nationally, it's Nigeria's largest city and its main financial centre. Although it's not the capital anymore, it remains the economic powerhouse of the country. Internationally, its large port makes it a major hub for trade across West Africa and beyond. For your exam, being able to describe its location and importance is often the first step in a case study question.

Lagos is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. This incredible growth is driven by two main factors. The first is natural increase, which is when the birth rate is higher than the death rate, causing the population to grow from within. The second, and more significant factor, is rural-to-urban migration. Millions of people have moved from the Nigerian countryside to Lagos in search of a better life. They are pushed from rural areas by factors like poverty and lack of jobs, and pulled to Lagos by the prospect of work, better education, and healthcare.