Lagos moves to ease population pressure amid climate change threats

….As State Hosts Policy Dialogue on Climate Adaptation in the Gulf of Guinea

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to work with other South-West states on a regional development strategy aimed at reducing population pressure on Lagos as part of efforts to address climate change, environmental degradation and rapid urbanisation.

The government also reaffirmed its commitment to building a climate-resilient future through deliberate policies, strategic partnerships and sustainable urban planning that protects the environment while accommodating the state’s growing population.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, spoke on Friday at the Lagos Policy Dialogue on Climate Adaptation in the Gulf of Guinea: Building Preferred Futures, held at the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.

At the symposium, climate experts warned that without urgent interventions, including improved planning, nature-based solutions and stronger community participation, Lagos could face severe environmental challenges by 2050.

Speaking on the theme, Wahab said Lagos had moved beyond policy discussions and was implementing practical climate adaptation measures.

He recalled that the state unveiled its Lagos Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai and has since aligned its environmental and development programmes with the plan.

“As a state, we have gone beyond talks. Everything we do is now centred on protecting our ecosystem, strengthening climate resilience and driving adaptation initiatives that will safeguard the future of Lagos,” he said.

Wahab noted that Lagos’ selection as a pilot location for the policy dialogue reflects its leadership role in climate governance and commitment to developing practical solutions to environmental challenges.

“The future of Lagos and the Gulf of Guinea depends on the choices we make today. Climate adaptation is no longer a future aspiration; it is an urgent necessity that requires bold action, collaboration and a shared commitment to protecting our environment for generations to come,” he added.

The commissioner said the state’s rapid population growth and urbanisation have placed enormous pressure on infrastructure and the environment, making sustainable development imperative.

“We must ensure that we do not sacrifice climate resilience and the environment on the altar of urbanisation. Development must be designed around our ecosystem because many of the environmental challenges we face are naturally linked to our coastal geography,” he said.

Wahab warned that Lagos remains highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and other climate-related impacts, stressing that indiscriminate land reclamation, destruction of wetlands and encroachment on mangrove ecosystems only worsen the state’s environmental risks.

He said the government had taken difficult but necessary decisions, including removing illegal structures built on wetlands and drainage channels, to preserve natural infrastructure and reduce flood risks.

The commissioner also emphasised the need for strict enforcement of physical planning regulations and the protection of approved master plans to ensure orderly and sustainable development.

On international cooperation, Wahab acknowledged the contributions of development partners, research institutions and the private sector in advancing climate adaptation efforts across the Gulf of Guinea.

“Our foreign and private sector partners are helping to deepen the knowledge base, enrich conversations around climate adaptation and support the development of practical and implementable solutions. This conversation goes beyond Lagos; it concerns all the countries that share the Gulf of Guinea and the environmental realities that bind us together,” he said.

He also called for greater public awareness and community participation, urging residents to play active roles in protecting wetlands, mangroves and other critical ecosystems.

Regional planning to ease population pressure

Speaking on population growth, Olumide disclosed that Lagos had begun discussions with neighbouring South-West states to promote regional planning that would distribute development more evenly and reduce pressure on the state.

According to him, the establishment of the South-West Development Commission provides an opportunity to coordinate growth across the region.

“A couple of months ago, I convened a meeting of commissioners for physical planning across the South-West. Fortunately, the South-West Development Commission was established last year to coordinate regional development.

“We are now looking at the South-West as a single development region. This means development can be spread across the region, thereby reducing pressure on Lagos State,” he said.

Olumide said the government had accepted that it could not fight nature but must learn to live with it.

He noted that planning authorities continued to face resistance from residents seeking to develop environmentally sensitive areas, despite existing regulations.

According to him, urban regeneration and vertical development could help reduce pressure on land while preserving the environment.

“Areas designated as wetlands are increasingly being targeted for development. Through urban regeneration, we may encourage vertical development in upland areas to reduce land pressure. We must appreciate that we need to live with nature; we cannot eradicate it,” he said.

The commissioner warned residents against embarking on construction projects without obtaining government approvals, stressing that planning permits take environmental and public safety considerations into account.

Also speaking, the Team Lead of the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University, Professor Emmanuel Akyeampong, warned that Lagos faces an urgent climate challenge requiring science-based policy responses.

“Lagos has long been subjected to land subsidence. Scientists worry that if appropriate interventions are not implemented, Lagos as we know it could cease to exist by 2050.

“There is an urgent need for proper planning, better management of population pressure on the coast and hybrid adaptation systems that combine nature-based solutions with engineering. Scientific evidence must guide policy,” he said.

Akyeampong also stressed the importance of collaboration among all levels of government and local communities in addressing climate risks.

“Local governments have responsibilities, the federal government has responsibilities, but communities must not feel disempowered. They should be consulted, their knowledge respected and they should be actively involved in initiatives such as mangrove restoration,” he said.

The symposium brought together policymakers, environmental experts, academics, development partners and representatives of countries within the Gulf of Guinea to explore strategies for building climate-resilient cities and communities.

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