By KEMI KASUMU and agencies
In 2023, the Economist Intelligence Unit said Lagos was the fourth worst city to live in the world.
A media report has revealed the ranking of cities in the world by Time Out and, within the ranks of 50, placing Lagos, Nigeria’s former capital now with its glories of the past overtaken by ugly activities of non-state actors, above even Dubai and Singapore to emerge 19th best city to visit iglobally.
Dubai, UAE.
‘Time Out’, publishers of guides and magazines, according to media reports, was referenced as the brain behind the reported ranking that places Lagos above Miami, USA; Glasgow, UK; Austin, USA; and Abu Dhabi, UAE.
This is happening upon all the open cases of failings that characterise the ‘ease of doing business’ in Lagos, the glaring disorganised public transportation sector and its much celebrated aquatic splendour of the past now eroded by self minded dredging and sand-filling for land reclamation reasons, by people who the indigenes consider to be alien and disconnected with state culture and tradition of administration, rationale of which continues to place a question mark on the current ranking.
Apart from Lagos, South Africa’s Cape Town (ranked second) and Ghana’s Accra (44th) were the only African cities that featured on the list.
Time Out, the report stated further, said it drew its conclusion from a survey of more than 20,000 city dwellers around the world, along with its network of editors.
The criteria used to rate the cities include food (quality and affordability), culture, nightlife, how the city makes people feel, strong community vibes, access to green space, historic sites, and much more.
The report encouraged global citizens to visit the city.
“Whether you’re a staunch mainlander or from Lekki, there’s something for everyone in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city.
“Both the city and its suburbs are expanding – just check out live-work-play concept Eko Atlantic City. Just out of town, Epe, on the north side of Lekki Lagoon, is experiencing a boom.
“When it comes to standard of living, Lagos has a lot going for it – 96 percent of locals are happy, 98 percent would call Lagos beautiful and the city got a 92 percent friendliness rating, too,” the report read.
The report also highlighted Victoria Island’s trifecta of swanky resorts, food haunts, and nightlife, Ikeja’s Kuti’s Bistro, owned by the legendary afrobeat family, for serving up “reliably delicious food”, and Oniru Beach as a relaxation spot.
In 2023, the Economist Intelligence Unit said Lagos was the fourth worst city to live in the world.
Even places like Osborne, Park View, Banana Island and main Ikoyi beautiful parts of the past have been encroached by unorganised people, making the deliberately planned choice areas now a course for worry in supposed Centre of Excellence.
Lagos was ranked above Algiers, the capital of Algeria; Tripoli, Libya’s capital; and Damascus, the capital of war-torn Syria.
The report surveyed 173 cities and used 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
See the full list:
1. New York City, United States
2. Cape Town, South Africa
3. Berlin, Germany
4. London, United Kingdom
5. Madrid, Spain
6. Mexico City, Mexico
7. Liverpool, UK.
8. Tokyo, Japan
9. Rome, Italy
10. Porto, Portugal
11. Paris, France
12. Mumbai, India
13. Lisbon, Portugal
14. Chicago, US
15. Manchester, UK
16. São Paulo, Brazil
17. Los Angeles, US
18. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
19. Lagos, Nigeria
20. Melbourne, Australia
21. Naples, Italy
22. Singapore
23. Miami, US
24. Bangkok, Thailand
25. Lima, Peru
26. Budapest, Hungary
27. Beijing, China
28. Dubai, United Arab Emirates
29. Montreal, Canada
30. Glasgow, UK
31. Sydney, Australia
32. Bueno Aires, Argentina
33. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
34. Manila, Philippines
35. Seoul, South Korea
36. Hanoi, Vietnam
37. San Francisco, US
38. Barcelona, Spain
39. Abu Dhabi, UAE
40. New Orleans, US
41. Philadelphia, US
42. Austin, US
43. Boston, US
44. Accra, Ghana
45. Marseille, France
46. Taipei, Taiwan
47. Istanbul, Turkey
48. Osaka, Japan
49. Hong Kong, China
50. Vancouver, Canada
