From above, Benin City in southern Nigeria tells a striking story as forests and farmland give way to sprawling neighborhoods, laterite roads and industrial zones.

In just four decades, the city has swelled, growing from about 350,000 residents in 1980 to more than 2 million today — making it one of Africa's fastest-growing secondary cities.

Satellite imagery captures the scale and speed of this urban boom, providing a rare window into how the continent's urban landscape is evolving and what life looks like on the ground in rapidly expanding cities .

Newsweek has contacted Nigeria's Foreign Ministry for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Nigeria — Africa's most populous nation, with almost 240 million residents — is experiencing urban growth that few countries can match. Whi

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