Environmentalists Call For Stronger Wetland Protection to Tackle Flooding in Lagos

Environmental experts and conservation advocates have called for stricter protection of wetlands and stronger enforcement of environmental regulations to address persistent flooding in Lagos State.

The experts made the call in Lagos on Sunday.

They attributed worsening flooding in parts of the state to unchecked wetland encroachment and poor urban planning.

A wetland is a transitional ecosystem where the land is covered or saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. This unique environment features distinct soils and supports plants adapted to waterlogged conditions.

Wetlands are dynamic habitats that provide critical functions, including filtering pollutants, absorbing floodwaters, and supporting diverse wildlife.

The Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative, Philip Jakpor, described the construction of buildings on wetlands as a major contributor to flooding.

According to him, wetlands serve as natural buffers that absorb excess rainwater and reduce the impacts of floods.

“The wetlands are supposed to serve as buffers that absorb excess water from the rains. When structures obstruct water from their path, it naturally causes havoc elsewhere.

“This is exactly what we see in many parts of Lagos, where estates and other illegal structures are overlooked or permitted by unscrupulous government officials. Ultimately, water will find its level, and it may not be very pleasant,” Mr Jakpor said.

Also speaking, an environmentalist, Michael Simire, called for stronger collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other stakeholders involved in wetland management.

Mr Simire said wetlands in Lagos had experienced significant spatial changes due to rapid urbanisation over the past three decades.

He noted that increasing demand for land had resulted in unplanned wetland reclamation, sand-filling of lagoon shores, excessive dredging, encroachment on natural drainage channels and widespread deforestation.

“This uncontrolled urban expansion has had serious repercussions on the environmental quality of many parts of the metropolis,” he said.

Mr Simire urged the government and stakeholders to intensify public awareness on the ecological and economic value of wetlands through educational programmes and public campaigns.

He also advocated integrating wetlands into urban planning, landscape development, and water management systems.

“There should be sensitive urban planning policy development, including development frameworks and spatial zonation to protect ecosystem services, especially those of wetlands.

“Wetlands should also be explicitly included as natural infrastructure in urban planning, landscape planning and all aspects of water management, including stormwater management, water resources and water treatment,” he said.

Mr Simire further recommended mandatory environmental assessments for developments affecting wetlands, as well as periodic inventory and mapping to support conservation efforts.

Similarly, the Biodiversity Pillar Lead at the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Dr Stella Egbe, said environmental conservation and sustainable development could coexist through proper planning.

Ms Egbe acknowledged the role of the real estate sector in addressing housing deficits but stressed that development should not undermine natural ecosystems.

“The real estate industry is an essential one as we tackle housing deficits, which is an essential need in Lagos.

“However, developmental needs do not have to be in discordance with nature, and incorporating sustainability is important. Real estate planning should incorporate nature into designs.

“This has been successfully done in Nigeria and other parts of the world,” she said.

She noted that Lagos State had already identified key wetlands requiring protection and urged authorities to prioritise enforcement.

Ms Egbe also called on corporate organisations to recognise the value of ecosystem services and incorporate wetland preservation into their operations and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

According to her, increased awareness of ecosystem services would encourage broader support for wetland conservation.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Adekunle Adeshina, said the ministry had intensified monitoring and compliance activities to curb illegal encroachment on wetlands.

Mr Adeshina said developers involved in unauthorised reclamation and construction on wetlands were issued statutory notices and given 48 hours to desist from such activities.

“Where compliance is not achieved, enforcement actions are carried out,” he said.

He disclosed that the state government had sealed nine facilities involved in illegal wetland encroachment in Ogombo, Lekki Phase II, the Itoikin-Epe axis and Majidun in Ikorodu.

According to him, the action aims to prevent further degradation of environmentally sensitive wetland ecosystems and preserve their ecological functions.

The stakeholders agreed that stronger enforcement, public awareness, sustainable urban planning and stakeholder collaboration remained critical to protecting wetlands and mitigating flooding in Lagos.

(NAN)