Lagos is one of the thirty six states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was the former capital of the country before it was moved to Abuja. It is a mega city with a population of over twenty one million people according to the National Population Commission. It was majorly centred around the islands and then began spreading inland due to increasing population. The islands make up the sophisticated Lagos which is shown on televisions and magazines. But then, everything is not always what it seems. Today, I'll be focusing on a part of Lagos that is never shown; a Lagos kept from global view in order to maintain appearances. Do keep in mind that this is written not to scorn government's efforts but rather to bring to our consciousness that there is an ugliness to the perceived beauty of Lagos and to bring about improvement in these areas.

I'll be focusing on the slums in Lagos in this article and the challenges the inhabitants cope with on a daily basis. A slum according to Merriam Webster dictionary can be defined as a densely populated usually urban area marked by crowding, dirty run-down housing, poverty, and social disorganization. In Lagos state, sixty-six percent of the population take up residence in the slums and struggle with the problems inherent there. Some of the pronounced slums in Lagos state are Makoko, Bariga, Agege, Ajegunle, Ilaje, Amukoko amongst others.

A major challenge that residents here face is that of security. The slums are characterised by a high crime rate, cult activities, tribal clashes and a general lack of security. The slum being home to the dregs of society, criminal activities like armed robbery, fraudulent activities, killings and the like are prevalent there as there are no government measures put in place to checkmate their activities or that the measures put in place are not enough considering the population under consideration.

The lack of health facilities is another challenge to slum dwellers. The high population rate as well as the poor living conditions culminates to disease outbreaks in the communities. There are either no health facilities or the ones available are decrepit. This has led to an increase in death rate in such places.

In addition to this, the lack of potable water is a concern as well. Ajegunle, for instance, is located around water bodies; but, they have become polluted and unfit for consumption. Inspite of the poor state of the water available, the residents have to make do with it because there is no other alternative. This has further contributed to the failing health of the residents.

There is a high rate of unemployment as the jobs available are few and are underpaying. The majority of the population are unemployed and in the quest to ensure their survival are engaged in dubious activities which increases the crime rate of the communities. The lack of employment has also led to an increase in poverty level. The people are unable to afford their basic amenities and are living in questionable conditions which has accelerated their susceptibility to diseases and the increased the death rates.

Finally, there are no educational facilities or inadequate educational facilities in the slums. The students have to make do with the available facilities which are quite poor. The buildings available are decrepit and some are on the verge of collapse which is a mortal risk to the students in such situations.

These are a few of the challenges the inhabitants of slums deal with on a daily basis. There is a need for the government and related organisations to note the distress of these people and proffer long lasting solutions to these problems. This will go a long way in improving the living conditions of the people and portray a better Lagos.