Lagos Island, once celebrated as a bustling metropolis, is now labeled one of the world’s fastest-sinking cities, with alarming projections for the future.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has identified about ten cities in Nigeria facing similar threats, with Lagos at the forefront.
An independent report from Climate Central, a U.S.-based scientific research organization, paints a dire picture: by 2050, millions living in flood-prone areas could be submerged by high tide.
The underlying causes of Lagos’s vulnerability to flooding are multifaceted, primarily driven by climate change and urban planning shortcomings.
The city, characterized by its low land-to-sea ratio, is especially susceptible as global sea levels continue to rise.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has warned that coastal cities less than one meter above sea level, such as Lagos, could find themselves underwater within the next two decades due to persistent ocean surges.
This warning aligns with projections from United Nations scientists, who predict that global sea levels could rise by one meter between 2030 and 2050.
Poor drainage systems exacerbate the city’s plight. Many areas in Lagos are plagued by clogged gutters and inadequate drainage infrastructure, creating a recipe for disaster during heavy rains.
These issues are most pronounced in urban centers like Victoria Island, where the combination of heavy rainfall and inadequate drainage often results in significant flooding.
Certain neighborhoods within Lagos State, particularly Lagos Island, experience consistent flooding during rainstorms. Much of this land was created through sand-filling, a practice that, while allowing for urban expansion, poses severe risks to the ecology.
Recent developments, including the construction of megacities like Banana Island and Eko Atlantic City, further disrupt the delicate balance of the coastal environment.
Sand-filled areas are particularly vulnerable to flooding, especially those located near water bodies with already compromised drainage systems.
The composition of sand itself poses additional challenges. While sand has high permeability, allowing it to absorb water quickly, it struggles to cope with the sheer volume of rainfall and rising water levels during extreme weather events.
The situation is further aggravated in low-income communities like Makoko, where homes are built on reclaimed wetlands. These neighborhoods are at an even greater risk of being submerged, given their inherent susceptibility to flooding.
Lagos’s eroding coastline, combined with poor drainage and ongoing climate challenges, paints a bleak future for the city.
The cumulative effects of these factors underscore the urgent need for comprehensive flood management strategies.
Experts emphasize that without immediate and effective action, Lagos may not only be at risk of flooding but could ultimately face the grim reality of becoming uninhabitable.
As global awareness of climate change increases, the stakes for Lagos are high. The city must confront these challenges head-on, investing in sustainable urban planning, improved drainage systems, and community resilience initiatives.
Failure to act now could lead to a catastrophic scenario where a vibrant city is swallowed by the very waters that surround it, leaving millions displaced and without a home.
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