01 · The problem
What is happening
Lagos is built around a lagoon system on a low, sandy coastline. Heavy rainfall during the wet season regularly floods streets, particularly where drains are blocked by waste or wetlands have been filled. The Atlantic shoreline has experienced significant erosion, and large coastal projects, including the Eko Atlantic development built on reclaimed land with a protective sea wall, have become part of the debate about how to manage the coast. The IPCC identifies West African coastal cities as highly exposed to sea level rise.
High severity. Serious, widespread effects requiring sustained action. Severity is descriptive editorial metadata summarising documented effects. It is not a measured index or a score.
02 · Causes
Why it is happening
- 01
Heavy rainfall
Intense tropical downpours overwhelm drainage.
- 02
Blocked drains
Solid waste reduces drainage capacity.
- 03
Loss of wetlands
Reclamation of wetlands and lagoon margins removes natural storage.
- 04
Coastal erosion and sea level rise
Wave action, altered sediment supply and rising seas threaten the shoreline.
03 · Impacts
Who and what it affects
- 01
Damage to homes and roads
Flooding damages property and paralyses traffic.
- 02
Health risks
Floodwater spreads waterborne disease.
- 03
Loss of coastal land
Erosion threatens coastal communities and infrastructure.
04 · Solutions
Documented approaches
Drainage clearing and upgrades
Regular clearing of drains and canals ahead of the rainy season.
Expected effectReduces local flooding.
Wetland protection
Protecting remaining wetlands and lagoon margins from reclamation.
Expected effectPreserves natural flood storage.
Coastal protection
Groynes, sea walls and beach nourishment along vulnerable shoreline.
Expected effectReduces erosion locally; may shift erosion elsewhere.
05 · Key indicators
What can be measured
No reliable quantitative indicator is included for this issue. TerraLens shows figures only where a credible source supports them — consult the sources below for current data.
06 · Sources
Where this comes from
- [1]Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and VulnerabilityIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change · Feb 2022ipcc.ch(opens in a new tab)
- [2]Lagos State GovernmentLagos State Governmentlagosstate.gov.ng(opens in a new tab)
- [3]World Bank in NigeriaWorld Bankworldbank.org(opens in a new tab)
Links open the publishing organisation's site. Some point to the publisher's main page, where the named report or dataset can be found.