Recovery Pathways from Extreme Flood Events: Lessons and Experiences of Flooding in Lagos, Nigeria

The recent increase in the frequency of flood episodes in cities of sub-Saharan Africa reveals the extent to which these cities are ill-equipped and prepared to reduce, adapt, learn and transform from future risks. One of such cities is Lagos, the foremost manufacturing and port city in West Africa. In recent years, the city has experienced frequent unprecedented flood events with devastating direct and indirect impacts on health, social, economic, and financial systems, notably for the vulnerable. Previous efforts by the state government to manage flood impacts have been towards distributing relief materials and relocating flood victims to temporary shelters. The repercussions of frequent extreme flood events necessitate the city to refocus efforts on climate-resilient recovery and not just response. Climate-resilient recovery entails taking a step back, and systemically reviewing all hazards and impacts to be expected, drivers of vulnerability and how to recover in an inclusive, equitable and resilient manner. This study therefore aim to understand the recovery process after previous flood events to build resilient equitable futures in this low-lying city. A multi-methods approach, which includes in-depth interviews, grey materials, and policy document analysis, was adopted to assess the impacts of flood risks, recovery experiences, as well as conceptualize and identify recovery indicators and governance strategies in the study area. Of particular interest is the exploration of the extent to which the current existing institutions and policy frameworks have been a barrier or enabler for climate-resilient recovery and what we can learn from this about how institutions and policy frameworks can build resilience after extreme events. We argue that institutions and the associated policy frameworks and political will play an essential role in building holistic and comprehensive climate-resilient recovery to extreme weather events. These themes have been explored within the broader scope of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 - 2030.