Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change-Induced Flood and Erosion Hazards in Lagos Barrier Island, Nigeria

Abstract

- Climate change-induced flooding and coastal erosion present significant environmental challenges for the Lagos Barrier Islands, Nigeria, threatening livelihoods, infrastructure, and ecosystems. This study examines adaptation strategies adopted by households, communities, and relevant institutions to address these hazards. This study used a mixed-methods approach, combining household surveys, key informant interviews, and document review. The study collected data from households within a 1 km coastal buffer across the Apapa, Eti-Osa, Epe, and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Areas (LGAs), and interviewed selected government agencies and community representatives. Quantitative data were zanalyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were subjected to the Content Analysis Technique (CAT). The findings indicate that household adaptation to flooding is dominated by tree planting and building reinforcement, whereas sandbagging, drainage construction, and reliance on government or NGO assistance are the most common responses to coastal erosion. Awareness of hazard management plans remains relatively low among residents, and significant gaps exist between institutional claims and community experiences, indicating weak implementation and limited local engagement. The study recommends strengthening participatory planning and promoting hybrid adaptation approaches to enhance coastal resilience.