Is Lagos Really One of the Most Unliveable Cities in the World?

The survey measures amongst several things stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education and infrastructure all of which tie in together to determine just how liveable a city is...or not. Going by the reports, Lagos is the second most unstable place in the world after the highly volatile Karachi, Pakistan...translation all bets are off when it comes to safety and security in the city of Lagos. In a city where more than a few roads are unlit and pothole ridden, hospitals lack oxygen and every traffic jam could be a stickup waiting to happen, the statistics may not be far from the truth, but is it really a realistic representation of Lagos?

Without a doubt, Lagos is considered the commercial capital of Nigeria which means a great deal of the activities which have put Nigeria on the international map happens here. For starters, the highly influential entertainment industry which has increasingly garnered international attention is headquartered in Lagos, it is for this reason that most music artistes move here when they want to establish a career and presence. The city of Lagos also continues to witness a population boom with people from other parts of the country moving to the Centre of Excellence in search of 'greener pasture', a move that has led the state government in recent times to 'deport' non-indigenes back to their home states. As the second fastest growing city in Africa and seventh fastest growing city in the world, foreigners are not left out of the mix as foreign investors continue to troop in in search of the next big thing to invest in especially with the boom in the technological sector.

With the population, sheer hardwork and industriousness of the average Lagosian, Lagos is an undoubtedly commercially viable state. The booming lifestyle and entertainment scene also makes for an exciting and interesting city but do all these add up to the living conditions of the state which is still mostly below average? In a city where virtually every commercial venture and residence runs on generator sets and security challenges are a constant issue, its no wonder that Lagos makes the list of most unliveable cities, however is it really comparable to cities like Pakistan and Tripoli which are in the middle of severe unrest and violence and with whom Lagos shares the spot as the most unliveable spot? I think not.

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us, does Lagos deserve to be on the list of most unliveable cities in the world?