The latest report released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has revealed that Lagos, the economic nerve center of Nigeria, has been ranked as the fourth worst city to live in the world.
The 2023 report highlights that Lagos surpassed Algiers (the capital of Algeria), Tripoli (Libya’s capital), and Damascus (the capital of war-torn Syria) in terms of liveability.
The EIU’s rankings indicate an improvement for Lagos compared to the previous year when it held the undesirable position of the second-worst liveable city, just behind the conflict-ridden Damascus.
The EIU report acknowledges the progress made by Lagos in healthcare and education, contributing to its upward movement in the rankings.
However, it also recognizes that corruption remains a pressing concern. The report states, “Even at the bottom of our rankings, cities such as Lagos (Nigeria) and Algiers (Algeria) have gained ground, with some improvements in their healthcare and education systems. Both are in countries that are energy exporters and have to some extent benefited from higher global oil and gas prices.”
While corruption continues to pose challenges, Lagos has seen additional public funding allocated to infrastructure and public services. These sectors have also benefitted from the decline in COVID-19 cases, as stated in the EIU report.
On a global scale, Vienna, the capital of Austria, and Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, maintain their positions as the most liveable cities in the world.
The EIU cites its exceptional blend of stability, robust infrastructure, high-quality education and healthcare services, and vibrant cultural and entertainment scenes as contributing factors to its continued success.
Melbourne and Sydney, cities in Australia, and Vancouver in Canada secured the third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively.
Lagos has experienced a fluctuating trajectory in the EIU’s liveability rankings over the years. In 2017, a survey involving 140 countries labeled Lagos as the worst city to live in, placing it just below Damascus.
The following year, Lagos displayed signs of improvement, surpassing cities in Bangladesh and India, as well as Damascus, to become the third least liveable city.
However, in 2019, Lagos garnered the unfortunate distinction of being the world’s most dangerous city to reside in, reflecting the challenges it faces in terms of safety and security.
As Lagos strives for progress, authorities and policymakers will need to address the various issues hindering the city’s liveability to improve the overall quality of life for its residents.
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