Lagos Uncovered: 10 Fascinating Historical Facts You Didn’t Know

Lagos isn't just Nigeria's economic capital it’s a city built on layers of history, culture, and resistance. From its early days as a fishing settlement to its role in shaping Nigeria’s destiny, Lagos has always been at the heart of national transformation. If you think you know Lagos, think again. Here are some captivating historical facts that will make you see the city with new eyes.

1. Lagos Was Once a Fishing Village Called "Eko"

Before colonial maps renamed it, Lagos was known as Eko, a name given by the Bini people when they took control of the settlement in the 15th century. It was a humble fishing and farming community inhabited by the Awori people, a Yoruba subgroup.

2. Portuguese Traders Arrived in the 15th Century

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in Lagos around 1472, naming it after a coastal city in Portugal. Their primary interest? The slave trade. Lagos soon became a crucial hub in the trans-Atlantic slave route.

3. Lagos Was Annexed by the British in 1861

The British formally annexed Lagos on August 6, 1861, turning it into a crown colony. Oba Dosunmu was pressured into signing the Treaty of Cession, ceding Lagos to the British Empire. This move laid the foundation for wider colonial expansion in Nigeria.

4. It Was the Capital of Nigeria Until 1991

Lagos became Nigeria’s capital in 1914, after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates. Though the capital officially moved to Abuja in 1991, Lagos has remained the country’s unofficial power centre in business, media, and entertainment.

5. Lagos Was a Centre for Anti-Colonial Activism

During the early 20th century, Lagos became the intellectual and political heartbeat of Nigeria’s independence struggle. Figures like Herbert Macaulay, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and Nnamdi Azikiwe used the city as their base to agitate for self-rule through protests, writing, and grassroots mobilization.

6. Broad Street Was Once Nigeria’s Wall Street

In colonial and early post-independence Lagos, Broad Street was the beating heart of commerce and finance. Major British trading firms, shipping lines, and early Nigerian banks like First Bank (then Bank of British West Africa) had their headquarters here. It was the closest thing Nigeria had to Wall Street, a symbol of economic ambition and colonial influence.

7. Lagos Island Was the Colonial Administrative Hub

Much of British colonial power was centred on Lagos Island, especially around Marina, Tinubu Square, and Campos Square. You’ll still find relics of colonial-era architecture, including churches, courts, and government buildings.

8. Carter Bridge Was the First Bridge Connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland

Built in 1901, the Carter Bridge was the first to link Lagos Island with the mainland. It revolutionized mobility and trade within the growing city. It was later followed by Eko Bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge, which today is one of Africa’s longest bridges.

9. The First Public Secondary School in Nigeria Was Founded in Lagos

CMS Grammar School, established in 1859 by the Church Missionary Society, holds the title of Nigeria’s first secondary school. Located in Bariga today, the school played a major role in educating early Nigerian elites who would later lead the charge for independence.

10. Lagos Was the Cradle of Afrobeat

Legendary musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti birthed Afrobeat in Lagos in the 1970s, using music to challenge military regimes and social injustice. His Kalakuta Republic and Afrika Shrine became symbols of resistance, culture, and creativity that still define Lagos’s cultural spirit today.

Lagos is not just a city; it's a living, breathing archive of Nigerian history. From colonial resistance to cultural revolutions, every corner tells a story. The more you know about Lagos, the more you appreciate its role in shaping Nigeria's past and its future.