Lagos State could face devastating environmental consequences from climate change, including the risk of submersion due to rising sea levels, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has warned. Speaking at a Strategic Stakeholders’ Meeting organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in Ikeja, Hamzat stressed the immediate need for collective action to address the looming threats.
Highlighting Lagos’ geographical vulnerabilities, Hamzat pointed to other global cities facing similar challenges. “Today, both Lagos and New York City are sinking,” he stated, drawing attention to the common threats coastal cities face due to their location, population density, and rising water levels. He further noted that many residents in high-risk cities like New York and parts of the United Kingdom have already started relocating to escape the effects of climate change.
Lagos, with a 180-kilometer coastline and a population exceeding 22 million, faces multiple climate-related dangers. These include rising sea levels, extreme heat, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. The city’s coastal geography, compounded by rapid urbanization and poor land management practices, makes it particularly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. “Lagos is under threat, and without decisive action, the future could be catastrophic,” Hamzat cautioned.
In his address, the deputy governor emphasized the urgent need for better urban planning and improved land management. He criticized the existing regulations, which he said are exacerbating Lagos’ vulnerability. Hamzat explained that lax planning laws have allowed risky developments to continue unchecked, leaving the city ill-prepared to deal with escalating climate threats. “The biggest challenge now is how to manage our laws,” he said.
Hamzat highlighted the financial burden of addressing these challenges, particularly when it comes to relocating residents. He referenced the state’s experience with the ongoing red rail line project, where N9 billion was paid in compensation costs before any construction began. “That’s why most states cannot do it. Lagos is the only state in the world that has undertaken such a massive project on its balance sheet,” he explained, stressing the need for federal collaboration to ease such burdens.
To mitigate these risks, Hamzat called for a comprehensive overhaul of land ownership laws and planning regulations. He urged lawyers, judges, and policymakers to work together in crafting legislation that would protect Lagos from future environmental threats. “In the next 20 to 25 years, our priorities must change,” Hamzat declared, suggesting that some areas might need to be vacated entirely to ensure the city’s long-term survival.
Drawing lessons from other cities, Hamzat cited New York’s recent decision to halt new high-rise developments as a critical step in reducing pressure on its sinking land. He stressed that Lagos must adopt similarly bold measures to safeguard its future. “We need to come together as a people and take this existential threat seriously,” he urged, calling on all stakeholders to align their efforts in combating climate change.
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Hamzat concluded by emphasizing that the survival of Lagos depends on proactive, unified action. “Our lawyers, judges, and policymakers must understand the gravity of the situation and work together to protect our state. If we don’t act now, the consequences will be dire,” he warned.
