At independence in 1960, Lagos had an estimated population of 763,000; today it is about 13 million. Together with Lagos state, the population reaches 21 million. While Lagos is by far the largest city in Nigeria, security concerns, rural poverty, and hopes for greater economic opportunity are driving people to cities all over the country.

I was recently featured on a panel with Katie Simmons and Ken Wollack, moderated by Bruce Stokes, that discussed global public opinion toward democracy amid the rise of populists and autocrats, and t…