Lagos was named by the Portuguese explorers who arrived in the area in the 15th century. The name "Lagos" comes from the Portuguese word for lakes, which is "lagos". The explorers named the area this due to the numerous lagoons and marshes that they found there.

It's worth noting that the area now known as Lagos was already inhabited by the Awori people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people, long before the arrival of the Portuguese.

The Awori had a thriving culture and economy based on agriculture, fishing, and trade, and had developed their own language and customs.

When the Portuguese arrived, they established a trading post and began to interact with the Awori and other local people. Over time, the Portuguese influence grew, and they began to assert more control over the area. This led to conflicts with the local people, who resisted Portuguese attempts to dominate them.

Despite these conflicts, the Portuguese remained in Lagos and continued to develop it as a center for trade and commerce. They built fortifications and established a slave trade, which brought wealth and power to the city. However, this also brought suffering and exploitation to the many people who were enslaved and sold into bondage.

While the name "Lagos" may have been given by the Portuguese, the city's history and identity are shaped by the many peoples and cultures that have called it home over the centuries.

This is wrong.

The Portuguese, led by Rui de Sequeira (who was a Moorish Portuguese and one of the descendants of the Moors that ruled Iberian Peninsula) were the first to arrive on the shores of what’s known today as Lagos in 1472. When they got to the shores - they met Ijebu people selling clothes and other miscellaneous things.

After liaising with Ijebu king - they were given a post on the coast and they named it, “Lago De Curamo”. Lago De Curamo was subsequently shortened and corrupted to “Lagos” when British explorers and slave traders came later.

Also, “Lagos” was only applicable to the Lagos Island until Lagos state was created in 1967. And Lagos state has since expanded since then to include a big chunk of Ogun state.