By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Lagos has been ranked as one of the world’s top cities for nightlife, coming in 14th globally and second in Africa, just behind Cape Town.
According to Time Out Magazine report, the city has seen a shift in its nightlife scene, with underground rave spots like SweatItOutLagos and Our Group Therapy contributing to its vibrant atmosphere.
79% of Lagos residents gave the city’s nightlife a positive rating. Lagos outperformed other major African cities like Cairo (15th) and Marrakech (19th). Also, the city’s nightlife has evolved, with a growing focus on inclusive underground scenes.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, attributed the ranking to the state’s effective security infrastructure under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration. He said, “It shows that the security architecture put in place by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is working. It speaks to the number of tourists who pour into Lagos daily and the success of the last Detty December.”
The Sanwo-Olu administration plans to formalize tourism events into a calendar, particularly those in the last quarter of the year. Lagos will host the EI (water race) Championship, marking the first time an African city has hosted the event. Gbenga Omotoso also said,“The end-of-the-year events, popularly described as Detty December, always have huge positive effects on the socio-economic landscape of the state.”
Time Out’s report states, “Nightlife takes on lots of different forms, and cities all over the world have adapted to our changing habits when it comes to going out.”
This recognition follows Lagos’ previous appearance in Time Out’s September 2024 list, where it ranked 6th globally for nightlife.
