While Africa is home to some incredible cities, like the blue streets of Chefchaouen in Morocco and Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, there are some which a leave little to be desired. In fact, Africa’s largest city has been dubbed the second-worst place to live in the world, just behind Syria’s capital, Damascus, which was in the midst of a civil war.

Lagos, Nigeria, is home to an estimated 21 million people, making it both the largest city in the country and the most populous urban area on the African continent. It was the national capital until the Government decided in 1991 to move its capital to Abuja, in the country’s centre. However, despite being named by Time Out magazine as one of the top 20 cities to visit in the world, for those who live in Lagos year-round, life is not so sweet.

In 2022, Lagos was named the second-worst city to live in among 172 cities worldwide, according top the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) ranking. With a score of just 32.2%, Lagos was just a little above Syria’s war-torn capital, Damascus, and a place behind Libya’s Tripoli – both hotbeds of wars, conflicts and terrorism.

While it may have risen two places in 2024, above Libya’s Tripoli and Algiers in Algeria, it’s results are still less than desirable.

The assessment scores the cities on 30 indicators divided into five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure, to show how comfortable these cities are.

With an overall score of 42.2%, The assessment rated Lagos low in all categories, including just 25% for stability and 37.5% for healthcare.

For comparison, the EIU’s most liveable city was claimed by Vienna, Austria, which received 100% in the stability, healthcare, education and infrastructure categories.

Among some of the major concerns in Lagos are its recycling, sewage and water supply issues. Only 40% of waste is collected and only 13% is recycled. The city generates around 15,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, enough to fill over 500 20-foot shipping containers. Tap water in Lagos is not suitable for drinking, and reserves in the distribution network are often contaminated.

An efficient sewage system is lacking. Sewage is flushed into the open sewerage system by rainwater. This water then carries pollutants into rivers and the lagoon. Sewage also enters groundwater through leaking septic tanks and latrines.

Lagos also suffers from extreme overcrowding and widespread poverty. In 2023, the World Bank reported that 46% of Nigerians live in poverty, which equates to around 104 million people.

As one of Africa’s most densely populated cities, there is a severe housing shortage and strain on public services. A large portion of the population lives in slums, lacking basic amenities like clean water and proper sanitation. As a result of this, high crime rates, especially petty theft and street robbery, can also be a concern.

Inadequate public transportation, unreliable electricity supply, and poorly maintained roads also contribute to daily challenges.