3. Lagos
Photo credit: 3invest
Lagos city along with its adjoining suburban conurbation is the largest city in Nigeria and one of the biggest in all of Africa, with a population of more than 6 million people. The city alone is reputed to have the third-highest GDP in West Africa and is one of the continent’s most important financial centers.
Lagos became the capital city of Nigeria, when the British amalgamated the southern and northern protectorates in 1914. It continued to serve as the capital until the seat of government was moved to Abuja in 1991. Yoruba and West African pidgin English are the local languages, with English also serving as the lingua franca.
Photo credit: Nairaland
Lagos is renowned for its vibrant night life, and its inhabitants aptly refer to it as the city that never sleeps. The city boasts an abundance of fun spots, and it is the hub of the Nigerian music and entertainment industry that has taken Africa — and indeed the world — by storm.
Places of interest include the extensive 100km Bar Beach shoreline, the National Museum, the MUSON Centre of Arts and Culture, and the iconic National Theater building that hosted the Festival of Black Arts and Culture in 1977. The city is also famous for its iconic Eyo masquerade (pictured above).
