Important criteria in this survey are safety/crime, international
connectivity, environment and cleanliness, quality of buildings,
transportation, ethnic and religious tolerance, access to nature,
business conditions, business activity, urban planning and execution,
general modernity, medical care, life style options, employment, and
cost of living.
Lagos
As a winner it’s a no-brainer for half of the people reading this, and a
complete shock to the other half. This is because Lagos is the land of
everything imaginable; the good the bad and the ugly colliding headfirst
to create an explosive and energetic modern megacity! From our
criteria, Lagos scored almost perfect marks in business conditions,
business activity, general modernity, life style options, employment
(second lowest in Nigeria), cost of living (compared to other west
african capitals and in context to it’s size and what it has to offer,
Lagos is cheap!), ethnic religious tolerance, quality of buildings,
transportation….you get the point by now. If you’re looking for climb to
the heights of the world, Lagos is the ultimate place to be. It is a
true reflection of how great a united Nigeria can be and the collective
fruit of our troubled and triumphant history together. Lagos is modern,
it’s fast, it’s energetic, it’s teaming with culture, and most
importantly it offers something for everyone!
With all of these assets. Lagos score poorly on crime/safety,
environment and cleanliness, transportation, access to nature and
planning which are key areas the current government is striving to catch
up on.
Enugu
Enugu comes in at a surpising number 2. Enugu’s serene environment and ease of life have made the cities gradual climb to modernity one of Nigeria’s best kept secrets. Least surprising is the general happiness and enjoyment of life that is emphasized in Enugu today. Enugu scored well on safety/crime, being recently rated the safest city in Nigeria, environment and cleanliness, ethnic and religious tolerance, access to nature, urban design, planning, medical care, lifestyle options, general modernity and cost of living. It has mediocre scores on international connectivity as it’s international airport only has one somewhat limited carrier. Quality of buildings was ranked mediocre as well while employment, business activity and business condition fared poorly. Still with it’s steady and restful pace, the coal city ranks as what is probably Nigeria’s most well rounded city, in sharp distinction from our #1 city, Lagos, who’s strength is found in it’s stark contrasts
Enugu comes in at a surpising number 2. Enugu’s serene environment and ease of life have made the cities gradual climb to modernity one of Nigeria’s best kept secrets. Least surprising is the general happiness and enjoyment of life that is emphasized in Enugu today. Enugu scored well on safety/crime, being recently rated the safest city in Nigeria, environment and cleanliness, ethnic and religious tolerance, access to nature, urban design, planning, medical care, lifestyle options, general modernity and cost of living. It has mediocre scores on international connectivity as it’s international airport only has one somewhat limited carrier. Quality of buildings was ranked mediocre as well while employment, business activity and business condition fared poorly. Still with it’s steady and restful pace, the coal city ranks as what is probably Nigeria’s most well rounded city, in sharp distinction from our #1 city, Lagos, who’s strength is found in it’s stark contrasts
Calabar
An all-around exceptional place to live, Calabar, Nigeria’s First
capital remains first in many categories. Calabar’s infamy as a city of
life and culture make it a top contender in the federation for places
one must be and see. Everything from the culture, the food, and
environment cream home for nearly all who visit and from they’re we’re
entranced by it’s captivating allure. Calabar scored well on safety,
environment and cleanliness, tolerance, exceptional access to nature,
general modernity, medical care, life style options and cost of living.
Though it has an international airport, most if not all flights are to
Lagos and Abuja. The employment situation is on the better half as far
as Nigerian state but there’s a lot of room for improvement as it’s just
teetering at the cusp of the national average. Still with these set
backs it’s only the lack of business activity and an accommodating pace
for business that holds Calabar back.
Abuja
Abuja coming in third is a shock to everyone; except it’s residents. This fully modern capital city has been dubbed a palace for politicians as it aims to build a modern planned African city without the set backs that have plagued the others on the continent. Unfortunately, these ‘set backs’ include the poor and anything that may facilitate their stay. While Abuja offers an exceptional quality of life for it’s residents, something as common as losing ones job can and will render you homeless or leave you packing your bags in this incredibly expensive elite city. Abuja scored well on safety/crime, international connectivity, environment and cleanliness, quality of buildings, transportation, general modernity, medical care. Unfortunately it lacked severally in the rest of our categories, and with recent boko haram tensions, seems a little too far north for comfort for some. The cost of living and elite nature of the city also make lifestyle options limited. As many business ventures typically taken on by the lower class are outlawed or restricted, one who doesn’t fit the political, or multinational elite mold will not find Abuja a suitable home.
Port Harcourt
The oil city comes in strong at number four. Blessed with the gift of
oil and a great population, Port Harcourt has always been a great
contender in the Nigerian urban sphere. Hailed as the garden city, the
PH of old left little to be desired and was the immigrant hub on
Nigeria. Today oil politics and urban sprawl have reduced the city’s
stature, but Port still remains one of Nigeria’s most modern,
cosmopolitan and livable cities by a long shot. Port Harcourt scored
well in safety, international connectivity with both an international
airport and a port, transportation, business conditions, business
activity, medical care, life style options, employment and cost of
living. It was the effects of oil and sprawl that brought PH’s weakness
to the forefront. The cleanliness of the city leaves a lot to be desired
and environmental degradation has made PH as well as the entire Niger
Delta and international focal point of the destruction of mother earth.
For a city of it’s stature, PH also hosts moderately attractive at best
and internationally sub-par buildings as most of the oil industry has
relocated to Abuja and Lagos. PH is also home to historic ethnic flare
ups between the ethnic groups natives to Rivers State as the city
remains politically tense due to it’s often conflicting diversity.
Access to nature is not an option either as oil has destroyed the
flowers in the garden city, though a certain greenness remains. Urban
planning has also scored lowly because despite PH being a planned city,
the plan has only resurfaced in importance in recent years. With these
setbacks PH seems to be roaring back to life on the back of a successful
resource control battle and new outlook for the city in it’s drive to
redeem its lost glory.
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