Nigeria has thousands of thousands of settlement that ranges from below hundred to over 19 million. However, like the quote in Animal Farm “Some animals are more equal than others”, so are some settlements in Nigeria.
This piece would consider available data and statistics and show some of the best cities cum metropolitan areas to live in Nigeria.
10. Yola
Originally a Fulbe settlement, this town has grown to become one of the best cities to live in the troubled northeast of Nigeria.
Divided into two distinct but homologous part, this city boast of infrastructures and has one of the highest concentration of educational institutions in this city. The city has an airport, river port and fairly good road network.
Unlike other cities in the Northeast that are hotbeds of crisis, Yola has a harmonic relationship between the diverse religious and ethnic group that inhabits the city.
The city has a good economy as it’s the commercial centre of Adamawa state and has many factors that can make an entrepreneur feel at home – good electricity, cheap raw materials and good security.
In Yola, you can enjoy nature as there are lots of natural wonders close to this great city.

9. Kaduna
The capital of Kaduna State, this city is one of the biggest and important cities in the Northern part of the country. Kaduna strength does not lie in only its nerve centre of Nigeria’s major institute but also as a commercial and industrial centre.
Kaduna has a petrochemical refinery, albeit functioning under capacity, and a host of other industries that creates employment opportunities for others. It also has the infrastructures to back this claim.
If not for the religious crisis that keeps popping in the city like a wine shaken vigorously, this city would have occupied one of the leading cities in Nigeria.

8. Ibadan
Rising from the crisis that beguiled the Old Oyo Empire, Ibadan grew under the tutelage of republican chiefs who positioned it to become the capital of the Western Region of newly created Nigeria.
Home to the first university in Nigeria and a major beneficiary of the first Nigerian republic, Ibadan is a great place to stay. Ibadan is a hospitable city as the people are friendly and colourful.
With things cheap in the city, you can afford a decent lifestyle in Ibadan.
If you are an entrepreneur, you will find the city receptive to your business activities as there are lots of factors that make a business great there.

7. Calabar
Calabar lies along the Cross River and is one of the most peaceful areas in the Niger Delta area. Since the 16th century, Calabar has been a port city and was one of the ports through which slaves left the shores of ancient Nigeria.
Calabar was one of the first cities to encounter the British and became the first capital of Southern Nigeria.
Calabar is a tourist centre, aptly called the tourism capital of Nigeria due to the colourful nature of its people and their hospitality. The Calabar Carnival attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the city every December.
Calabar is a metropolitan city. It has an international airport and seaport. At the north of the city is the Tinapa Resort and the Calabar Free Zone.

6. Enugu
Central to the Igbo civilization is Enugu which is one of the top cities in Nigeria. It was the capital of the Eastern Region and the Short-lived Biafra Republic.
Enugu comes from Enu Ugwu which means “hilltop” but because the British could not pronounce it, they settled for the more pronounceable Enugu.
Enugu has decent economic activities as it boasts of a bottling industry and is the location of choice for movie producers after Lagos although Asaba is giving it a run for its money.
There is an international airport in the city and it is home to top Nigeria’s professional football club, Rangers.
There are lots of activities to do in Enugu and it’s comfortable to live in the city as it has some decent opportunities.

5. Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt is one of the biggest cities located in Southern Nigeria. It is the economic and political capital of the Niger-delta region of Nigeria.
Port Harcourt is an oil-rich city and has a port, hence the name. The city has good commerce and is ranked among the top cities in Nigeria.
Also known as the Garden City due to its green nature, the city has a place for everyone regardless of their class.
Its Achilles heel which prevents it from attaining a higher place despite available indices is the high crime rate in the city. Residents complain of extrajudicial killings in the city on a regular basis.

4. Kano
One of the most important cities in Nigeria and the economic nerve of northern Nigeria, Kano has been an important city known for its commerce and industry. As early as the 15th century famed explorer Leo Africanus visited Kano and described the city as mighty. Since the creation of Nigeria, Kano has maintained that level of civilisation.
Kano is a metropolitan city albeit the boiling religious stance. The city has welcomed a large number of people from different sections of the country.
Kano boasts of infrastructures and has an international airport that hosts different airlines that transverse international cities on a daily basis.
Kano is an influential city in Nigeria and it will remain so for a long time to come.

3. Lagos
Lagos is the economic heartbeat of Nigeria. In fact, 60% of business activities in Nigeria daily happens in Lagos.
Due to its economic prowess, the city population has been disputed. From 8 million of the Nigerian government to the 22 million of the Lagos state government, one would wonder what the real figure is. But it leaves no one to wonder as it’s a city that has hundreds of thousands pouring into the city daily and other hundreds of thousands leaving.
Lagos is a city of great contrasts as it has the richest and the poorest living in the same city. It’s hard to imagine that the same city has Ikoyi and Alimosho.
Life in Lagos is not as great as it’s said to be one of the worst cities to live in the world. Although the rich do not have it bad the way the poor have it.
If you care about economic activities and you have the ability to overcome Lagos stress, you are welcomed to Lagos. But first of all, shine your eye.

2. Uyo
Ten years ago, Uyo would not make a list of the top 20 cities in Nigeria but the city has seen a profound transformation over the years that it is one of Nigeria’s fastest growing cities.
Uyo has one of the best if not the best infrastructure you will find in any Nigeria city and what is important is that they were built recently.
With the present administration embracing industrialisation and agriculture development, the city would set to benefit from the economic boom.
It might be unfair for Uyo to make this spot in this list but the truth is Uyo is a city for the future. The cities infrastructures would make a lot of difference as congested Lagos might be meeting a match. It’s no surprise that the organisers of #DevFest snubbed Port Harcourt and held the event in Uyo.
One more thing to note is that with new millionaires emerging from the city, forward-thinking entrepreneurs could dive right in and provide services and products that would serve the city.

1. Abuja
It’s no surprise that Abuja takes the top spot in this list. In fact, the list would be unfair without Abuja occupying this place.
Although not as influential as Lagos in commerce and industry, Abuja’s importance is in its command of the nation’s political power. Besides one of the problems with Lagos is the haphazard nature of Lagos without an eye for planning. Most part of Abuja is planned.
The city is growing in terms of commerce and its purchasing powers. With Nigeria economy based on services more than industry, Abuja is growing although it would take long to match Lagos. But serenity and good infrastructures? You will find in Abuja.
Abuja’s real estate is one of the most expensive and developed in Nigeria with government influences increasing the perceived worth of properties.
On a head to head comparison with any city in Nigeria, Abuja would give everyone a run for their money. For now, Abuja remains Nigeria top destination of choice.

make I quickly buy land too

Following. I will comment when the list is complete.

You're putting lagos among the best cities in nigeria? In lagos if you stay in lekki na flood wahala. Ok stay in other less developed parts shipping container will fall on your car the newest one now is tanker explosion. Refuse upandan. Abeg comot lagos from there oh

Capital letters TRASH

Silentser:
Capital letters TRASH

What's trash?

if any city can boast of Good roads, less traffic, No floodings. low cost of housing. neat environment. then I could say its Worth living in

Ttipsy:
if any city can boast of Good roads, less traffic, No floodings. low cost of housing. neat environment. then I could say its Worth living in

That's true though. But the issue is in Nigeria, we barely pay attention to city planning. Even if there's a masterplan, some tend not to follow it.

liohan:

That's true though. But the issue is in Nigeria, we barely pay attention to city planning. Even if there's a masterplan, some tend not to follow it.

no 9ja city. can measure to that.. its a pity

Ttipsy:
no 9ja city. can measure to that.. its a pity

It's a sad thing.