Storm surges imminent in Lagos –Mabogunje

October 17, 2012

The Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Otta, Prof. Akin Mabogunje, on Tuesdat said Lagos State has been projected as one of the mega cities likely to be hardest hit by storm surges.

He said this at the first Oye Williams biennial lecture held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island.

Mabogunje said, “Lagos is now projected as one of the global mega cities likely to be hardest hit by storm surges over the coming decades.

“Efforts made to prevent the frequency of ocean surges have remained ineffective and this is a major environmental challenge.”

He noted that lack of equilibrium of the western and eastern beaches led to the incidence of ocean surges.

“Before the construction of moles to stabilise the water channels, the bar at the entrance to the Lagos lagoon was in a state of equilibrium.

“The moles upsetting the equilibrium led to the erosion of the eastern beach which later resulted in 1950, in the first ocean surge into the lagoon.”

He explained that the changes in global climate have increased the temperature level in the arctic region and can lead to increase in the sea levels thereby causing flooding.

“The West Antarctic Ice sheet, largely below sea level, has long been of concern for fear that when it eventually collapses, it could rapidly add five meters to global sea levels.

“This will lead to the submerging of major coastal cities around the world,” Prof. Mabogunje said.

Mabogunje noted that due to the population density of the mega city, urban pollution also had become a major challenge.

He said, “It is easy to appreciate the enormous amount of wastes generated by such a large population.”

He added that the wastes had strained the capacity of the government for effective management.