Hello Nairalanders,

This article is tilted towards addressing the issue of urban development in Nigeria. Africa, as a continent, is generally perceived as the apotheosis of underdevelopment in the world. No wonder we are termed as the "third world"! This underdevelopment is caused by various reasons which cannot all be enunciated within the scope of this write-up. However, some of the reasons behind Africa's massive underdevelopment include corruption, unemployment and youth restiveness, lack of maintenance culture, lack of proper planning, amongst others. However, in all these, corruption stands out as the most potent reason behind our problems. Corruption, in this sense, goes beyond our leaders who fail to award contracts most times even with excess funds. Corruption is endemic to the contractors, the construction companies, the citizenry and all facets of the society. However, we are not here to dwell on corruption. That is an issue that has been over flogged!

Alot of countries in Africa have already escaped the stronghold of underdevelopment in one way or another and South Africa stands as an archetypal modern country that sets the standards most African countries strive to follow. In Nigeria, however, the case is different! Our progress has been too slow and stale. We have made only a wormly progress in our urban developmental plans. The lack of leaders who can make sustainable infrastructural development has caused us a whole lot. Our nation seems to be a scene drawn from the Victorian suburbs. Even with Abuja, one of the most well planned cities in Africa, we still have a whole lot to learn. Abuja will not be captured here because it is presumed as the most developed city in Nigeria and it is not a state but a capitol. However, it is apt to state that Abuja has one of the best connection of roads in Nigeria, nay, West Africa. Abuja is a scenic beauty with all the major indices of development and urbanisation. However, in the absence of a functional capitol administration, much has not been achieved in propelling Abuja as an archetypal city. Abuja has had it easy unlike cities that will be discussed below but there is still much to go in reaching its full potentials.

However, without dwelling too much on our inabilities, the aim of this article is to examine some of the states, their capitals and how their governments have made some relative progress in urban development and infrastructural growth. These states are by no means utopic! However, with comparison to most African states, these states and their government have done a whole lot and their strides must be consolidated, appraised and brought to the fore. This is to encourage new leaders and the citizenry in general to embrace positive change and development. I'll now proceed to examine some of the states and capitals which I deem to be archetypal based on the developmental strides taken by their respective governments. My judgement on this is based mainly upon the presence of durable infrastructure, maintenance culture, projects in progress and other indices of development and urbanisation.

1. Akwa Ibom State/Uyo:
This state is known to virtually all Nigerians for its potent "transformation agenda" set in motion by the erstwhile governor, Godswill Obot Akpabio. Akwa-Ibom ranks as the topmost oil producing state in Nigeria and as a virtue of it, it is given the largest percentage of allocation by the Federal Government. However, before 2007, Akwa-Ibom was virtually a "big village". The place of Akwa-Ibom in this write-up cannot be over flogged. It is a state that started its developmental renaissance from the scratch! The state was in shambles. The state capital was decrepit. Infrastructure was nil and the education was nothing to write home about. However, something dramatic happened with the arrival of Akpabio. He singlehandedly made Uyo, the state capital, supercede even Calabar, in neighbouring Cross-River state, as the hub of beauty, serenity and development in Nigeria. Granted, Uyo may not have the economic potentials of states like Lagos and Kano, it is nonetheless a force to reckon with in tourism and aesthetics. Some of the indices of development in Uyo include the league of well constructed and interlinked road networks which are properly marked and asphalted to last for at least 30 years; the presence of about 4 flyovers to ease traffic and add aesthetic value to the city; the presence of fountains for beautification; properly constructed roundabouts and traffic cues to install sanity; tourist attractions such as museums, cinema, entertainment centers, stadium, hotels, golf resort, etc; remodelling and aestheticization of roads through the use of boulevards, trees and other aesthetic designs and elements; modern and functional streetlights to color night life; construction of highrise buildings such as the Sheraton Hotels and others; attraction of businesses and economic activities; active construction of underground drainages and sewage pipes and a host of other numerous pointers of modern development.
The State is not a Dubai yet but as this rate, it shall soon be a force to reckon with in African tourism! Uyo is truly remarkable in its pace of development, its tempo and its maintenance culture. It is a state all other states should look up to for insight and inspiration. With a bit more touch and sustenance, Uyo shall soon be on the lips on all Nigerians in terms of urbanisation and civilisation. What Uyo needs now is more economic activities and population influx and it is set to become a megacity. However, the inclusion of Uyo in this article as the first place is solely because of its developmental pace. If this pace and tempo is used across Nigeria, we'll soon be at our El Dorado.


2. Lagos City/State:
Lagos is another overlooked city in Nigeria! Lagos as a state covers a large area of places which are not all part of the Lagos City and hence, the line must be drawn. Lagos City has historically, and currently, the area covering the Isles and parts of the mainland. Major areas that make up the "heart of Lagos City" include Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikeja, Ikorodu and their surrounding suburbs. The greater Lagos City covers a much more larger area such as Festac Town, Ojo, Agege, Ajegunle, Bariga, Ebute-Meta, etc. Areas in Lagos State that are not in the City include Badagry and its adjoining towns. The erstwhile governor of Lagos State, Raji Tunde Fashola, did a lot in his "Eko O ni Baje" mantra of development. Lagos had always been a commercial city and was even the capital of Nigeria. However, the influence of Fashola in the urban renewal of Lagos can be seen in the beautification of major parts of the city and the drive towards making it a New York of sorts for Nigerians! The heart of Ikeja, Lekki and Victoria Island are architectural masterpieces. With a beautiful network of roads, traffic signals, street lights, boulevards, modern bridges and flyovers, aesthetic trees and residential areas filled with ambience, Lagos stands out as an archetypal modern city in Nigeria! The city boasts of skyscrapers, well planned housing estates, a commercial avenue in Ikoyi comparable to Wall Street in New York, giant edifices and landmark attractions and a large population of people that survive in all condition on a daily basis. Lagos is a more than a city, it is THE CITY to reckon with in Nigeria.
However, Lagos is not without its flaws, as expected in a congested city. Traffic jams are commonplace in Lagos and slums are virtually at every street end. The former governor did all he could to reduce the slums and even ended up with the deportation of homeless people. The drive towards urbanisation has informed the current land reclamation which peaks at the construction of the Eko Atlantic City and Lekki Business District. These will turn the tide in making Lagos overtake Pretoria, Johannesburg and Cairo! However, the road is fraught with many difficulties and the first is with controlling the teeming population of lagos and instilling discipline and maintenance culture in the masses. Lagos is a city to reckon with. The place of Lagos as second in this list cannot be over-emphasized. Lagos has had a rich history unlike Uyo. However, unlike Uyo, Lagos is the economic and commercial capital city of Nigeria!


3. Rivers State/Port-Harcourt:
Rivers State is one of the largest oil producing states in Nigeria. Together with Delta, Bayelsa, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Abia and Cross-River States, it forms the Niger-Delta and Oil Rich region of Nigeria! Rivers State also receives one of the highest allocations from the Federal Government of Nigeria and coupled with its Internally Generated Revenue, it marks itself out as one of the richest states in the country. However, the state is fraught with many vicissitudes! One of these is that it is a one-city state. Although this is changing in recent times.
Port Harcourt is the capital and commercial city of the state. However, the inclusion of Port Harcourt in this list may come as a surprise to most people who are of the mentality that this city may not have the potentials of sustainable development, I beg to differ and state my claims. Firstly, the place known as Port-Harcourt, like Lagos, is made up of a sole city and its adjoining cosmopolitan areas. Port-Harcourt itself is a local government area close to the coast whereas its adjoining regions such as Choba, Rumuokoro, Rumuasi, Eleme, etc are in other local government areas and are just lucky to have been invaded by the massive population that the initial city of Port-Harcourt could no longer handle. However, it must be stated that this list is majorly veered towards the main city of Port-Harcourt. This city has all the indices of development that marks off a modern city. It is dubbed as the Garden City. It is an oil city that is inhabited by a host of people. It houses major landmarks and edifices such as a befitting stadium that rivals that of Uyo, cinema, entertainment centers, a good network of well-tarred roads, a number of skyscrapers, boulevards, aesthetically pleasing trees, pedestrian bridges, flyovers and a host of other indices of development. Port-Harcourt is a planned city and its beauty is rivalled only by its development. It is a beacon to behold. The streets of Port-Harcourt are lightened, interconnected, neat and well maintained.
However, Port-Harcourt has one of the largest number of slums in Nigeria. These slums and suburbs are mainly found at the outskirts of the city and it has relegated Port-Harcourt's place as a wonder to behold in architectural aesthetics. If the government can reduce the number of slums through urban renewal, free up unwarranted traffic jams and invest more in outlying towns around the city, Port-Harcourt will wholly be a beauty that even the most bitter tourist can appreciate.


4. Cross-River State/Calabar:
Cross River State is currently zoned in Nigeria's South-South. With its capital at Calabar, this state and its government, especially the previous ones, have proven to be a force to reckon with in terms of sustainable development and infrastructure. Even a blind man knows that Calabar is unarguable one of the most neatest and beautiful cities in Nigeria! This city is known for its serenity and good roads. It is rumoured that one can actually count the number of untarred roads in Calabar municipal. Calabar has good maintenance policies in place to keep its position as the best city in Nigeria in terms of aesthetic value. No wonder it is appellated as "The People's Paradise"! However, it's position is currently rivalled by Uyo. Calabar is home to a series of edifices, structures and landmarks that make it outstanding. These include; good roads, streetlights, scenic beauty, boulevards with neatly planted trees that serve as pavements, beautiful residential estates, working traffic lights, entertainment centers and cinema, gold resort and state owned exquisite hotels and ranches. Calabar is also home to Nigeria's largest carnival which attracts millions of people across the world and fetches internal revenue to the state. Calabar also plays host to a myriad of seminars, conferences, workshops and gatherings, both social and official.
However, Calabar still has a long way to go. The city lacks flyovers, bridges, and skyscrapers, amongst other indices of modern development. The city has been ill-maintained of late and is in need of some touches. The city also lack sustainable economic potentials and this has to be addressed by the current government if Calabar is to make subsequent listings as a treasure base in Nigeria!


5. Enugu State/Enugu:
Enugu State is in South-Eastern Nigeria. It houses an eponymous city. Enugu city is popularly termed as the Coal City. Unlike the aforementioned cities, Enugu's development into a modern city has been somewhat slow. Enugu's place on this list may be negated by some people. However, it must be stated that it is a state with high prospects! Enugu has a good network of roads, a serene landscape, good streetlights, a relatively good economic potential and scenic beauty. Enugu is a city to visit for pleasure and relaxation. It may not have the skyscrapers present in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt, but like Uyo, it is aesthetically enamoured and a tourist with an eye for beauty will not fall short of expectations.
However, much is to be learnt by the Enugu State Government. The City needs flyovers, skyscrapers, economic hubs and districts, good boulevards and trees, as well as other indices of development. With the presence of the aforementioned, Enugu will transform itself into the major hub in South Eastern Nigeria, unrivalled even by the budding city of Owerri!


Beyond these five archetypal cities, there are other cities to watch out for currently. These cities all have potentials to make subsequent top five lists. However, for one reason or another which is usually tied to its government, it has lacked in one of more pointers to sustainable development. These potential modern cities include:
1. Owerri
2. Jos
3. Asaba

Since I cannot claim to have visited every single city in Nigeria, I do not claim that my article is authoritative. However, I have been able to examine and commend some developmental progresses in outstanding Nigerian State and Cities. Some Nigerians already know all these. However, commendation cannot be overemphasized. The forebearers of our urbanisation must be acclaimed and emulated by incumbent governments. I have also been able to capture areas that were focused on as well as grey areas that need urgent attention. It is hoped that one day, our Nigerian cities will compete favorably and rival the likes of Johannesburg, Cairo, New York, Atlanta, Charleston, Boston, London, Aberdeen, Tokyo and other modern cities. We still have a long way to go but some of our leaders have made significant efforts and must be commended. Comments are welcomed but should be in tandem with the aim of this article. Let us eschew tribalism and embrace positive CHANGE and DEVELOPMENT! That is what we need in the country now.

Article written in whole, with exception to pictorial illustrations, by Mathias Orhero (literarymathy@gmail.com)

Please feel free to add more pictures and if you believe your city has the potentials of a modern urban city, do well to state your claims with proof. Please avoid quoting the whole post so as to avoid flooding the thread with unnecessary graphics.

Nice work man...

Owerri....







Yenagoa

FREEEMANAN:
Nice work man...

Owerri....







Yenagoa

Yenagoa join for the matter?

You think Gabriel Okara Cultural Center and Government House Banquet Hall is enough.?

Anyway, if you say Yenagoa should be among, who am I to say otherwise. #TheBossHasSpoken! The gods are wise...

Uyo is the fastest growing city in africa

Why do you guys always forget abiut the north eg gombe jigawa kano kaduna sokoto etc

Fratermathy welcome back.. Nice article.. But it will Be better if u delist asaba from Your post.. Asaba ain't improving wen it comes to Development all thanks to P**.. yea owerri is fast Developing with time it will make that list.

Thumbs up to The Government of Lag , Ph and Uyo.. They tried

aminho:
Why do you guys always forget abiut the north eg gombe jigawa kano kaduna sokoto etc

North Ke .. North Ni

nigerianvenom:
Uyo is the fastest growing city in africa

Be deceiving yourself. Uyo is not even among top ten fastest growing city

wow

nice one...

owerri should substitute uyo
WHERE IS AWKA?

Govt does chherish Urban and regional planning. It bad how can a country plan for its citizens

asaba is developing. good to hear that.

⭕1. Kamasutra says : If you suck one nipple, the woman herself offers the other one. And that was the origin of "buy one get one free"!

⭕2. Did you ever notice: everything on a woman's upper body starts with a "B". Blouse, Bra, Bikini, Boobs & lower body with a "P" Peticoat, panties, pussy... That's origin of "BP"!

⭕3. Before sex, you help each other get naked. After sex, you dress only yourself. Moral: In life no one helps you once you're bleeped.

⭕4. Success is like pregnancy. Everybody congratulates you but nobody knows how many times you got bleeped to achieve it.
⭕5. Life is like a dick, sometimes it becomes hard for no reason.

⭕6. Practical thought: A husband is supposed to make his wife's panties wet, not her eyes. A wife is supposed to make her husband's dick hard, not his life..!

⭕When a lady is pregnant,
all her friends touch her stomach ad say "Congrats!".
But none of them come and touch the man's Penis and say "Well done!".
Moral: Hard work is never appreciated: Only results matter.

nice

Good list.

What indices did you use to arrive at this ranking? Roads and beauty alone?

How about Ibadan

Kingsley1000:
owerri should substitute uyo

WHERE IS AWKA?

Like I said earlier, I have my opinion and yours may be different but please do tell us why you feel Owerri and Awka deserve higher rankings. If I am convinced by your argument, I'll stand corrected.

Good job op

I hope yorubas wouldn't be annoyed because of the near absence of any yoruba state

That list is incomplete without benin city.. Op arrange urself well

fados4sure:

Be deceiving yourself. Uyo is not even among top ten fastest growing city

Which cities fit into the fastest growing cities in Nigeria according to your standards and which criteria have you used to adjudge such?

PLANETMARS:
⭕1. Kamasutra says : If you suck one nipple, the woman herself offers the other one. And that was the origin of "buy one get one free"!

⭕2. Did you ever notice: everything on a woman's upper body starts with a "B". Blouse, Bra, Bikini, Boobs & lower body with a "P" Peticoat, panties, pussy... That's origin of "BP"!

⭕3. Before sex, you help each other get naked. After sex, you dress only yourself. Moral: In life no one helps you once you're bleeped.

⭕4. Success is like pregnancy. Everybody congratulates you but nobody knows how many times you got bleeped to achieve it.
⭕5. Life is like a dick, sometimes it becomes hard for no reason.

⭕6. Practical thought: A husband is supposed to make his wife's panties wet, not her eyes. A wife is supposed to make her husband's dick hard, not his life..!

⭕When a lady is pregnant,
all her friends touch her stomach ad say "Congrats!".
But none of them come and touch the man's Penis and say "Well done!".
Moral: Hard work is never appreciated: Only results matter.

Hilarious

Fact yet

okay.

Ehitunez:
That list is incomplete without benin city.. Op arrange urself well

Let us avoid getting sentimental. Even my city, Warri, isn't mentioned.

You and I know that Benin does not fit into the theme of this discourse. If it were something else, I'd agree but not this issue. Meanwhile, this is not a list but an article.

Ehitunez:
That list is incomplete without benin city.. Op arrange urself well

Remove city from benin


And people might wanna console you

fratermathy:


Which cities fit into the fastest growing cities in Nigeria according to your standards and which criteria have you used to adjudge such?

You are making a mistake because he said Africa

fratermathy:


Let us avoid getting sentimental. Even my city, Warri, isn't mentioned.

You and I know that Benin does not fit into the theme of this discourse. If it were something else, I'd agree but not this issue. Meanwhile, this is not a list but an article.

See lecture
Lol

fados4sure:

You are making a mistake because he said Africa

Oh! In that case, I agree with you.