Lagos metropolis, southwestern Nigeria, is faced with environmental problems ranging from slums and informal
settlements, to crime and delinquency. The aim of the study was to explore the demographic characteristics, migration
history and living conditions of 2,434 residents of Ajegunle, Ijora Oloye and Makoko in Lagos metropolis. A
cross-sectional survey was conducted between June 2010 and October 2012 using a semi-structured questionnaire.
Units of analysis used were households. Many of the respondents are low-income earners working in the informal
service sectors, and living in unhygienic conditions. The communities are densely populated, with more than five
people living in a room. Residents make use of poor and overstressed facilities and inadequate water and electricity
supplies. They also lack appropriate garbage disposal facilities and good drainage. Personal hygiene habits are very
poor; open defecation in ditches and the lagoon is widely practiced. Respondents are faced with perennial flooding
due to blocked drainage systems resulting in a number of diseases, such as malaria, diarrhea, cold and cough. Migration
has led to uncontrolled and unplanned developments of slums in metropolitan Lagos. This in turn has led to
poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, polluted environment, uncontrolled population growth and health problems in the
slums as are observed in this study. There is an urgent need for comprehensive interventions from the government
and other organizations to strengthen existing programs to improve the health and quality of life of this vulnerable
population