FLOODING IN LAGOS STATE IN 2024: EVALUATING ITS EFFECT ON THE RESIDENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURES IN APAPA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The rapid process of urbanization and the expansion of large cities, particularly in developing nations such as Nigeria, have resulted in the formation of extremely susceptible urban areas. This vulnerability is mostly due to the prevalence of informal settlements and insufficient land management practices. As urban populations continue to expand and climate change induced disasters become more frequent, there is a rising concentration of people in cities. This has resulted to the escalating occurrence of extreme weather events that have a substantial impact on metropolitan areas in the developing regions of the world (Adelekan et al., 2022). Climate change consequences on cities, include heightened storm surges, rising sea levels, increased flooding, and intensified heat extremes.

Flooding, as an environmental issue, is a long-standing occurrence. It is referred to a substantial increase in the water level of a stream, lake, reservoir, or coastal system, resulting in the overflow of the surrounding banks. Flooding, as described by the National Erosion and Flood Control Action Plan Committee (2023), is the situation that occurs when the flow of a river or stream exceeds the capacity of its usual pathways, causing water to overflow onto nearby land. Additionally, according to Macmillan (2019), fflooding is when water from a river or rainfall inundates extensive land regions. 

Succinctly, urban flooding is a significant challenge due to its occurrence in densely populated regions. According to Williams (2018) the severity of flooding has been assessed based on the extent of the resulting damage. While flooding just one of several risks in the human environment, has substantial impacts in terms of discomfort, damage of lives and properties, and pollution.  According to Didi and Dorcas (2023) flooding not only causes destruction to property and poses a threat to the lives of both humans and animals, but it also has additional consequences. Extended periods of excessive floods impede mobility and disrupt economic activities on land. Bridge failures, structural damage within areas of flooding, and compromised navigation and hydroelectric power are common consequences. However, oobtaining precise figures about the effects of floods at the urban level in Nigeria is difficult because of the challenges relating to the collection and availability of data (Lucas, 2021). Yet, the regular occurrence of floods in Lagos leads to significant harm and devastation to vital infrastructure, residences, small enterprises, educational institutions, markets, roadways, water facilities, communication networks, healthcare centers, electric power poles, and other public infrastructure (Lucas, 2021; Adegun, 2022), amounting to an approximate annual cost of $22.2 million (InsuResilience Solutions Fund, 2021).

Statement of the Problem

Flooding poses significant risks to human life, property, and infrastructure on a global scale. While affluent countries see frequent occurrences of flooding, it is the developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to its impact. Similar to numerous cities in the developing world, Lagos is confronted with the challenge of extreme weather conditions, including heightened storm surges, rising sea levels, and frequent flooding, which are projected to persist.   In July 2024, major floods hit the centre of Lagos, Nigeria, one of Africa’s biggest cities, submerging cars and houses and bringing many parts of the metropolis to a standstill. According to several reports, the rain was said to last for approximately 10 hours. Furthermore, the combination of low elevation, sinking ground, and extensive drainage issues caused by waste-clogged drainage systems results in the rapid accumulation of water following significant rainfall or storms (Adeloye and Rustum, 2024). 

According to Osanyintuyi (2022), the erosion is primarily caused by the rapid expansion of urbanization and the lucrative sand mining industry that supports it. These factors collectively place coastal ecosystems and the communities reliant on them in progressively precarious situations. If the current pattern of increasing sea levels, inundation, and deterioration of the coastline persists, there is a possibility that the livability of the city itself may be jeopardized by the conclusion of this century. Although other researchers including Odermerho (2018), Sada and Odermerho (2023), Efe (2019), Aderogba (2022), and others, have written about the destructive impact of flooding, but specifically in the area of Apapa. There has not been a thorough investigation on the effects of floods on the residential infrastructure of the people in Lagos state, despite the frequent and severe occurrences of flooding. Against this backdrop, the study seeks to evaluatee the effect of flooding on the residential infrastructures in Apapa.

 1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of flooding on the residential infrastructures in Apapa. Specifically, the study will;

Find out the extent to which flooding has damage residential buildings in Apapa.

Find out the impact of flooding on infrastructural development in Apapa.

Find out the effectiveness of flood mitigation strategies implemented in Apapa.

1.4  Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

To what extent has flooding damaged residential buildings in Apapa?

What is the impact of flooding on infrastructural development in Apapa?

How effective are the flood mitigation strategies implemented in Apapa?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: Flooding has no significant effect of flooding on the residential infrastructures in Apapa.

Ha: Flooding has significant effects of flooding on the residential infrastructures in Apapa.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will point out the necessity for more rigorous implementation of building rules and land-use regulations that address the flood hazards in Apapa. This might result in the development of new regulations designed to promote the building of housing that is resistant to flooding and the renovation of current buildings. The research will also enhance emergency planning and response plans, guaranteeing efficient allocation of resources to safeguard residents and their houses in the case of floods. In addition, people will receive practical advice on how to protect their properties, including the adoption of flood-resistant materials and the development of emergency plans to reduce damage and ensure safety in the event of a flood. Moreover, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to the effect of flooding on the residential infrastructures in Apapa.

1.6 Scope of the study   

The scope of this study is boarded on the effect of flooding on the residential infrastructures in Apapa. Empirically, this study will1 ffind out the extent to which flooding has damage residential buildings, the impact of flooding on infrastructural development and the effectiveness of flood mitigation strategies implemented.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to residents of Apapa.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Flood: an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry. Floods can occur due to various reasons including heavy rain, rivers overflowing, dam breakages

Infrastructures: housing structures and associated facilities, including buildings, roads, utilities (water, electricity, sewage systems), and public amenities (parks, community centers).