| Lagos Èkó | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Nigeria | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Southwestern Nigeria | |
| Surface | 999.6 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 21.000.000 (2013) | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
| ||
| Institutional website | ||
Lagos is the largest city in the Nigeria andAfrica.
To know
The city is a very chaotic city, with a lot of traffic, has huge crowded markets and strong economic differences. It is a difficult place to appreciate, but it can satisfy many travelers.
When to go
The city is very rainy and the average temperatures are close to 27 °.
Background
Lagos was originally inhabited by the Awori tribe of the Yoruba ethnic group. In the 15th century the area was conquered by the Empire of Benin and theLagos Island it became a war camp called "Eko" under the rule of Oba Orhogba, at that time Oba of Benin. From that moment another Oba was installed in Lagos, which was to take care of the interests of the kingdom of Benin, but which still possessed a fair amount of autonomy from the central power. Eko's first Oba was Ashipa.
The explorer Portuguese Rui de Sequeira explored the area in 1472, giving it the name of Lago de Curamo, and the Portuguese established a commercial landing base there. Until the nineteenth century it was an important center in the spice and ivory trade, and above all it based a large part of its economy on the slave trade. To manage the trade in the area were, while always referring to the Portuguese merchants or Europeans, the Yoruba, led by the Oba of Lagos, the traditional ruler of the city.
In 1841 the ascent to the throne of the Oba Akitoye marked an important turning point in the balance of power and economic that linked the city to the big trade and to the West: he in fact banned the slave trade, obtaining the opposition of local traders, between all of which Madam Tinubu stood out. They deposed the king and installed his brother, Kosoko, on the throne. During the exile Akitoye forged relations with the British, who had banned the slave trade as early as 1807, and obtained their support to regain power, which he regained in 1851, the year in which he became Oba of Lagos again.
Lagos was formally annexed to the British Empire in 1861, the same year that in Italy Unity was proclaimed, but this event did not affect the throne of the Oba which, while losing all its effective powers, remained, and still remains, the reference figure of the city. This event, however, had the effect of giving the final push to the slave trade and established British control over the trade in palms and other goods. In 1887 it became part of the nascent Royal Niger Company, and when Nigeria officially became a colony of the British Empire in 1914, with the creation of the Protectorate of Nigeria, Lagos became its capital. It maintained this status even after the decolonization, until 12 December 1992, when the capital was transferred to Abuja.
How to orient yourself
Lagos: full screen map.
Neighborhoods
The city is divided into two parts. Lagos Island (Lagos Island) is the rich area of the city, it is an island where all the luxury hotels and western restaurants are located, this is the most touristic part of Lagos, and the other part coincides with the outskirts of Lagos which is made up of both the suburbs and the industrial area.
How to get
By plane
The airport is connected with many European and African cities.
By car
The roads linking Lagos to other Nigerian cities are very busy and poorly paved.
The port is the largest on the continent and one of the largest in the world.
How to get around
At the airport there are hundreds of locals who will propose to take you suitcases and accompany you wherever you want, they are very reliable and if you don't know how to orient yourself it is advisable to rely on them.
By public transport
Public transport is overcrowded, uncomfortable and not recommended.
By taxi
Taxis often prove to be the best way to get around Lagos, as they are cheap and taxi drivers know the less crowded streets and will save you a lot of time.
By car
Traffic in the city is inconceivable, car travel is not recommended.
What see
- Oshodi Market. The largest and most famous market in the city, very crowded you can find various souvenirs.
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
In theLagos Island there are many supermarkets in the western world where you can find everything, while in the markets and retail stores the quality and quantity of the goods is much lower.
How to have fun
Where to eat
The restaurants are almost all located in theLagos Island where there are both many Westerners and many locals.
Where stay
In theLagos Island there are 4 or 5 star hotels, while for hotels with moderate prices you have to go to the outskirts.
Safety
Petty crime and gangsterism is widespread in the most crowded and peripheral places.
