BEVERLY HILLS, August 19, (THEWILL) – Lagos State has maintained its position at the lowest rungs of the Global Liveability Index as a report released on Thursday by The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the state, which is Nigeria’s economic capital, as the third worst city to inhabit.
There have been other global reports that Lagos, with a population of over 22 million, would in the next few years, become the 4th mega city in the world, with its population estimated to increase to over 30 million. Ranked in the latest liveability survey, just above war-ravaged Tripoli and Damascus, the city placed 138th out of the 140 cities.
According to the report, “Of the poorer-scoring cities, 13 continue to occupy the very bottom tier of liveability, where ratings fall below 50 percent and most aspects of living are severely restricted.
“Continued threats from groups like Boko Haram acts as a constraint to improving stability in Lagos,” it added.
Escalations in hostilities in Libya prompted a sharp decline in liveability in Tripoli, according to the report, while Damascus, although seeing a stabilisation in its decline, remained rooted to the bottom.
The report has it that top five best countries to live in remain unchanged from last year and they include Melbourne, Australian; Vienna, Austria; Vancouver, Canada; Toronto, Canada; and Calgary, Canada.
The liveability survey assesses which locations around the world provide the best or the worst living conditions across five broad categories, including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Lagos however scored highest in culture and environment, followed by infrastructure. It scored lowest in stability.
Three other African cities joined Lagos in bringing up the rear of the liveable cities, and they include: Douala, Cameroon; Harare, Zimbabwe; and Algiers, Algeria; ranking 132nd, 133rd, and 134th respectively.
While no city in the Africa continent made it to the top 10 most liveable cities, five were in the 10 least liveable cities.
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