Ikeja, Nigeria

Capital City

With a population of 861,300, Ikeja may look like a bustling economic hub on paper, but the reality is far messier. Traffic congestion and overburdened infrastructure plague this commercial center, where over 10,000 vendors cram into the chaotic Computer Village market. And while Ikeja boasts some of Nigeria's top television studios and pharmaceutical producers, the city's electrical grid struggles to keep up, leaving residents to contend with frequent blackouts.

The climate is tropical and rainy, with heavy downpours throughout most of the year. Ikeja's summer temperatures routinely exceed 90°F, making the muggy conditions a persistent nuisance. Pollution is also a major concern, as evidenced by the hazardous water contamination affecting some neighborhoods.

Ikeja may appeal to those seeking economic opportunity, but the daily headaches of traffic, power outages, and environmental issues make it a better fit for the hardened urbanite than the average expat.