Why Lagos, Nigeria Is Safer Than New York City….And Just About Every Other Major City In America.
With the recent deployment of the National Guard to protect the New York City Subway Systems, the question has to be asked. “How can one live in a major city in America, but still be afraid to travel to Nigeria?”
In the global environment, one could expect cities in developed countries to be safer than those in “underdeveloped” nations. However, the truth frequently contradicts such notions. This article investigates the odd circumstance in which the streets of New York City have higher levels of violence than that of Lagos, Nigeria, uncovering the underlying causes of this unexpected phenomena.
Despite its reputation as a symbol of development and prosperity, New York City has experienced a recent increase in violence. Concurrently, certain areas of Nigeria, notorious for their long history of war and instability, have seen a decrease in violent incidents. This remarkable contrast encourages a closer look at the complex mechanisms that drive violence in these varied places.
Socioeconomic gaps in New York City are a major contributor to the city’s high crime rate. Despite its reputation as a global financial powerhouse, large pockets of poverty and inequality remain, aggravating tensions and supporting criminal activity. While Lagos suffers its own socioeconomic issues, attempts to alleviate poverty and promote community development have resulted in modest advances in some areas, lessening the desperation that is typically linked with crime.
Effective policing and law enforcement significantly impact the prevalence of violence in a jurisdiction. In New York City, heated debates over police-community relations, racial profiling, and excessive use of force have damaged confidence between law enforcement agencies and underprivileged populations, potentially hindering crime prevention efforts. In contrast, focused measures and reforms in specific Nigerian regions have strengthened law enforcement capabilities, encouraging more cooperation between authorities and local citizens in battling criminal elements.
Community violence patterns are heavily influenced by cultural and societal norms. A culture of gun violence in New York City, which is fueled by gang activity and the abundance of illegal firearms, adds greatly to the city’s high crime rates. In contrast, despite ongoing problems posed by ethno-religious conflicts, tribalism and insurgency threats, communal norms and traditional conflict resolution procedures, while imperfect, function as mitigating variables in reducing interpersonal violence in Lagos.
The paradox of violence, where New York City outperforms Lagos in terms of crime rates, highlights the complex impact of sociocultural variables on public safety outcomes. While socioeconomic gaps, enforcement techniques, and cultural influences all play important roles, the interaction of these elements results in complex and often surprising manifestations of violence. Addressing this contradiction requires comprehensive policies that stress community engagement, equitable development, and constructive debate in order to foster safer, more resilient societies in New York City and abroad.
Here are some stats. There were over 386 homicides in New York City reported in 2023, compared to 163 in Lagos. There were 189 robbery cases reported in Lagos in 2023 compared to New York City’s 1572. With the recent murders that have been captured on camera on New York City’s Subway Systems which have led to the sending of the National Guard to protect them and the overall increase in crime due to unchecked illegal immigration, if you can reside or visit New York City, crime in Lagos should be the least of your worries.
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