Somolu: History
Somolu local government was formed on May 27, 1976, from the former Mushin District Council as a direct result of the traditional rulers and upper class of the Somolu region lobbying for autonomy. It was originally named Mushin East Local Government Area. Somolu has grown vastly in recent years, owing in large part to its printing business which continues to draw large numbers of residents and businesspeople which in turn has led to a significant increase in rent costs. Now, Somolu is almost exclusively a printing town, and is constantly filled with noise from various machines, like power generators used to run printers. As with greater Lagos, Somolu has both suffered and benefited from rapid industrialisation and urbanisation; its benefits include the increase in capital and industry in the area, the sufferings include an overly dense population, poor infrastructure, tenuous employment and unemployment, poverty and poor health.