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LagosIt is hard to believe that Lagos, Nigeria's biggest, busiest city with a population of roughly 14 million and counting, had its origins as a small Yoruba settlement. Spread over several large islands on a vast lagoon (hence its name) and the mainland near the Gulf of Guinea, Lagos is Nigeria's principal port and its commercial and cultural center.
The former capital grew to prominence when it was 'discovered' by the Portuguese in the late 1400s and became a central trading post for the area, also serving as a major hub of the slave trade. When the British annexed the city
in 1861, they effectively put a stop to the slave trade, but took control of the trade and industry of the area. Once Nigeria gained independence in 1960, Lagos experienced a boom, which swelled the city's population and today, Lagos is one of the world's fastest growing cities with a full and complex tapestry of religious and ethnic groups.
The sprawling city is chaotic, crowded and lacks any major tourism infrastructure. Most visitors come here for business and there are few sights in the tourist sense. Streets are congested, drivers are maniacal and blackouts are common. However, the convoluted history of the city and Nigeria as a whole, contributes to its exotic flavor. Lagos has an interesting National Museum, National Theater, several markets and some decent beaches to explore.
AbujaAs a purpose-built city, there is something rather contrived about Abuja, the relatively new capital city of Nigeria. Laid out in a crescent shape, it is situated in the heart of the country in an area called the Federal Capital Territory; a location chosen for its neutrality in a country rife with ethnic and religious clashes.
Divided into four districts, with designated business and residential sectors, the city has leafy, wide roads, high office towers and large apartment blocks and is infinitely less congested and polluted than Lagos, the former capital. Much of the city is still being built and its population is small, making it a rather characterless place that lacks the color and bustle of other Nigerian cities.
The dominant feature on the landscape is Aso Rock, a 400-meter high outcrop on the city's outskirts caused by ancient water erosion, which looms behind the attractive Government buildings. There is, however, little else on offer in the way of tourist attractions in Abuja, apart from the National Mosque, the National Church, Parade Square and the Wuse Market, as well as some lovely views of the savannah.
Abuja is often used as a jumping off point for exploring the rest of the country, and most visitors only take a day or two to take in its limited sights. Perhaps as it grows in stature and size, Abuja will become more of an attraction in its own right.
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