Increasing population, urbanization and climatic factors in Lagos State, Nigeria: The nexus and implications on water demand and supply

Amidu Owolabi Ayeni Dr., University of LagosFollow

Publication Date

April 2017

Abstract

This study examines the impact of population, urbanization, and climate on water supply in Lagos State. Population baseline data used for this research were based on provisional census data of 1963, 1973, 1991 and 2006. Information on water production, demand and supply for this study were cleaned from the Nigerian Bureau of statistics (NBS), Lagos State Water Corporation reports of different years and relevant literature on Lagos water supply and demand. Urbanization assessment were based on multi-temporal imageries from Landsat MSS, TM, NigeriaSat-1 and Landsat ETM+ for 1975, 1995, 2007, and 2015 respectively. The Census data revealed that the population of Lagos State increased by about 525.9% between 1963 and 2006 and rose to about 754% based on 3.4% growth rate. On the other hand, water demand increased from 172,088m³/d in 1963 to about 2,392,792m³/d in 2015 while water supply rose from about 97,377m³/d in 1963 to about 930,531m³/d in 2015. Urban land use /build up area increased from 230.8km² in 1976 to 805.4km² in 2015 while climatic records revealed that temperature and rainfall relatively increased by about 0.0508^oC and 0.0159mm respectively for 55years. The finding revealed the rapid urbanization and population growth have greatly impacted water supply patterns and therefore, there will be more pressure on water as a result of population growth and will impact the changing functionality in terms of socio-economics and infrastructural development of Lagos State in the nearest future.

Author Bio(s)

My research focus is on “Water resources and Climate Change adaptation”. I have performed extremely well in actualizing the application of these scientific leading domains. I did my Post-doctoral research at CSIR, Pretoria – South Africa between 2011 and 2012. I have attended various courses, workshops and training in water resourse in various world recognized institution including ITC Enschede Netherland (Environmental Hydrology for water Seurity, 2015), ICTP, Trieste Italy (Water Resources in Developing Countries: Planning and Management in a Climate Change Scenarios, 2009). In addition, I have worked on various Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) projects across Nigeria as a Socio-economic and Environmental Hydrology Consultant.