Flood-related challenges and impacts within coastal informal settlements: a case from LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study considers climate impacts and environmental challenges (flooding and sea-level rise) in one of the coastal informal settlements in Lagos, Nigeria. A mix of methods was used to generate data. First, 14 residents, selected through purposive sampling, were interviewed. A survey (sample size = 300) of residents was conducted as a follow-up to the interviews. To elicit information on spatio-temporal dimensions, GIS-based mapping showed change in land use/cover from 1990 to 2020 and simulates impacts with 0.5 m, 1 m, 1.5 m and 2 m sea level rise scenarios. The results illuminate negative corollaries at the intersection of informal urbanisation and climate change in coastal settings. Flood-related impacts on the built and natural environment were significant. Climate adaption and resilience will need to involve restoring the decimated natural ecosystem and integration of indigenous systems in the study area and similar low-income coastal urban communities.

Keywords

• coastal flooding
• stormwater management
• slum upgrading
• flood risk management
• flood-proof built environment