We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.
The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ...
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.
20 Jan 2025
Lagos State is a pivotal economic hub in Nigeria, contributing a remarkable ~30% to the nation’s GDP. It is also one of the most densely populated cities on the African continent, occupying just 0.4% of Nigeria’s landmass while being home to over 27 million people.² Moreover, like most of Africa, Lagos is highly susceptible to climate change impacts but is not equipped to handle its repercussions.
Lagos is vulnerable to three Climate Impact Drivers (CIDs): sea level rise, extreme rainfall, and extreme heat. The effects of these drivers are heightened by its dense population and rapid urbanization. These hazards pose substantial threats to the livelihoods, assets, and infrastructure of its urban populace, particularly affecting the less affluent and most vulnerable segments of the population.
Leveraging advanced climate analytics, it has been identified that Lagos faces a projected increase in sea levels of up to 3 meters by 2050, temperature rises of +1°C, and up to 4 meters of flooding due to extreme rainfall. Combined, the cost of inaction for these three climate risks is approximately just under $40 billion by 2050, impacting physical, social, and economic systems.³ Specifically, over 1.4 million people in the city face direct risk from flooding.
These floods also threaten critical social infrastructures, including transportation, healthcare, and education. For instance, over 500 educational centers are at risk, and potential disruptions could impact 42,000 patients. Economically, the city could suffer significant infrastructure damage estimated at $5 billion, with an additional $6 billion required to relocate vulnerable populations. Furthermore, a projected GDP loss of $17 billion annually could result from disruptions caused by inundation.
The natural environment is also at significant risk. Projections indicate that 165 km² across 14 Local Government Areas could be inundated, threatening 82% of wetlands and leading to substantial biodiversity losses.
Given these findings, there is an urgent environmental, social, and economic need to take action against the impacts of climate change
