A new report about housing in Lagos shows that more than 84% of the city’s coastline has been lost in the last 50 years. This is because of coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and human activities.
The report says Lagos is facing serious problems caused by climate change. These include coastal erosion, rising sea levels, heavier rainfall, and frequent flooding.
It explains that Lagos is especially at risk because it is a flat coastal city with many buildings and poor drainage systems.
On average, the coastline is shrinking by 2.64 meters each year. Experts also predict sea levels could rise by 0.3 meters by 2030, making things worse.
Local experts warn that sea levels might rise by up to 3 meters. This would be dangerous for the city’s buildings, farms, and businesses because Lagos is only about 5 meters above sea level.
The report also says the amount of rain is becoming harder to predict and more intense.
Key areas like Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe could face severe flooding, with sudden floods becoming more common.
Lagos does not have enough drainage systems to handle heavy rainfall, which increases the chances of major flooding.
Flooding has already affected many people. Between 2022 and 2023, more than 175,000 people were impacted, and property worth over \$262,500 was damaged.
In 2024, heavy rain lasting 10 hours caused severe flooding, forcing people to leave their homes and damaging properties in places like Lekki, Ikoyi, and Ajah.
The report warns that climate change could hurt the economy badly. By 2050, Lagos’s GDP could drop by 6% to 30%.
Many of the city’s buildings and facilities are at risk. Nearly 7,000 of them are exposed to climate threats, and 6,500 are very vulnerable. These are worth around \$17.4 billion.
The city’s tourism and entertainment sectors, which make up about 5-6% of its economy, are also in danger because of coastal damage and rising sea levels.
Lagos’s fast-growing population, now over 24 million, has led to uncontrolled building expansion. This has destroyed forests, wetlands, and grasslands, increasing flooding.
Wetlands help reduce flooding, but many have been damaged or built over, making them less effective.
The report says that this ongoing urban expansion has destroyed these important natural areas, reducing their ability to control floods.
Finally, the report points out that pollution, especially from solid waste, also adds to the flooding problem. Waste makes up 25.3% of the state’s total emissions.
