Choices! What will it be? #60

Hello friends in the Steem for ladies community! I am happy to participate again in this contest "Choices what will it be? #60. Today my choice is city.

What is a city?

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I will define a city as a large, significant urban area, typically characterized by a high population density, extensive infrastructure, and a wide range of services and cultural amenities. Cities have a high concentration of people living and working in a relatively small geographic area. They have large infrastructure that supports the needs of the population, such as roads, public transportation systems, utilities such as pipe borne water, electricity, sewage, and communication networks. Cities are always economic hubs, housing a variety of businesses, industries, and financial institutions. They provide employment opportunities and attract both domestic and international investors. Cities have local governments responsible for managing public services, urban planning, law enforcement, and community welfare. They offer a wide range of cultural amenities, such as museums, theaters, galleries, restaurants, and entertainment centers. They are also centers for education, healthcare, and social services. Cities are typically diverse, attracting people from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnic groups, contributing to a vibrant social lifestyle.

Urban planning is a very important part of city planning to ensure sustainable development, manage resources efficiently, and improve the quality of life for residents. Examples include zoning laws, building regulations, and environmental conservation efforts.

Major Challenges in a Cities

Despite all the good things cities offer, they also have their challenges, such as traffic congestion, pollution, housing shortages, and social inequalities. Effective governance and innovative solutions are necessary to address these issues.

The major challenge in the city I want to talk about is environmental pollution. Environmental pollution damages our ecosystem and endangers human life. It leads to environmental degradation. 60% of diseases in Nigeria are waste related. Poor waste management practices have contributed to the spread of diseases like cholera, malaria, and typhoid fever which is very common in Nigeria. Nigeria generates 32 million tons of waste annually, of which only 20–30% - 30% properly collected and disposed of and 20% of waste in Nigeria is recycled. Improper waste management has led to severe pollution in major cities in Nigeria. These cities suffers from extensive pollution of water bodies and soil, affecting both urban and rural communities. Inefficient waste management costs Nigerian municipalities millions of dollars annually in lost economic opportunities and environmental degradation. For instance, Lagos generates 0.17 million metric tons of global marine plastic wastes. Inefficient waste management in Nigeria poses a significant threat to public health, the environment, and the economy. There is an urgent need for innovative solutions to improve waste collection, recycling, and overall management practices in the city.

Examples of cities in Nigeria are Lagos, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Abuja, Warri, Enugu, Kanu, Kaduna, Aba, Calabar etc.

I will like to talk about a few cities mentioned. I currently live in Uyo and the environment is serene and less crowded with people with good infrastructure such as a good road network, Ibom Le Meridian Hotel, the International Air port, Ibom Tropicana, Ibom e-Library, museums and so much more. Uyo is a developing city unlike Lagos, Calabar and Port Harcourt which are long standing cities. Lagos and Port Harcourt are the major cities I have visited, and they are overcrowded with people. Lagos and Port Harcourt are very busy cities with much economic activity and development. I will prefer to live in Abuja because the population is not as crowded as in Lagos and Port Harcourt. It is serene, and the road network is very beautiful, with great and beautiful malls. Abuja is the center of authority, and I believe that it has many opportunities for young people.

Cities play major role in the development and progress of a society. They drive economic growth, foster innovation and creativity, and serve as centers of learning and cultural exchange. The concentration of resources and talents in cities makes them pivotal in addressing global challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and sustainable development.

In conclusion, a city is a complex and dynamic entity that serves as a focal point for human activity, encompassing economic, cultural, social, and administrative functions.

I invite my friends @bela90, @goodybest and @ogechukwu-martha to write about their choices