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Municipal solid waste (MSW) has contributed significantly to flooding in the Lagos metropolis. This study examined the volume of MSW generated using per capita waste generation, projected population, quantity of MSW collected and deposited at six landfills sites from 2007 to 2013. One thousand and twenty-five copies of a structured questionnaire were administered to obtain data. The points where MSW blocked drainage channels in the metropolis were mapped. Multiple regression was used to establish the association between flooding and MSW at p<0.05. A total of 77,757,749.8 tons of MSW was generated, while 27.7% of it was collected and deposited at six landfill sites from 2007 to 2013. 11% of the municipal solid waste was collected by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, 9.9% by private sector service providers, 29.2% by cart pushers and 49.7% dumped in canals/lagoons. Weekly collection of MSW was 58.5%. The sampled buildings were flooded at an average of nine times. Two hundred and twenty-two points where MSW blocked drainage channels were identified. The municipal solid waste indicators were statistically significant at F 2, 1022 = 1034.2, R 2 = 0.669. The study recommends measures to enhance the strengths and address the weaknesses of the current approaches towards the attainment of global best practices in the management of MSW and flooding in the Lagos metropolis.

Urban development in flood-prone areas has created many environmental challenges in many cities in Nigeria. This survey-based study examined the drivers and spatial extent of development in floodplains in metropolitan Lagos. A total of 1,031 (7.2%) buildings out of 14,273 were systematically selected along 211 streets out of 1,403 prone to flood, and a structured questionnaire was administered to heads of households to determine the factors influencing development in floodplains. A Thematic Mapper of 1990, Enhanced Thematic Mapper of 2000 and the Google Earth Landsat of 2014 were also analysed in ILWIS 3.3 Academic and Arc-GIs 10.2 to determine the extent of development in floodplains. The study revealed, in order of significance, closeness to place of work, nearness to market, closeness to children’s schools, low rent, low income, and family affinity as factors that influenced the development in floodplains in the Lagos metropolis. Ineffective control of development and inadequate compliance with planning and building regulations were additional factors. Urban development in flood-prone areas in Lagos increased from 9.3 km2 in 1990 to 10.50 km2 in 2000 and 17.80 km2 in 2014. The study recommends that floodplains should be acquired and effectively protected to prevent any form of physical development; they should serve as natural sink for storm water and urban green for passive recreation. Urban development regulations should be strictly enforced by the relevant government agencies, such as the Lagos State Building Control Agency in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

There is inadequate flood preparedness in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria; because when the flood struck on 08 July 2017, several properties were destroyed without any extant means to salvage them. This article investigated the relationship between spatial knowledge and flood preparedness in Victoria Island. The variables employed to measure spatial knowledge include knowledge of: elevation of land, distance between Lagos lagoon and Atlantic Ocean, characteristics of surrounding water bodies and building–plot ratio. Major roads were used to subdivide Victoria Island into four zones. Zone A had 799 buildings, zone B had 813 buildings, zone C had 749 buildings and zone D had 887 buildings. Of the total 3248 buildings, 344 buildings were selected, and one household head per building was selected and systematically sampled. A multinomial logit regression model was used in data analysis at p ≤ 0.05. The findings revealed that spatial knowledge accounted for only 25.8% of the explanation of inadequate flood preparedness. Only 6.1% of the respondents could distinguish height from elevation; those who explained density and setbacks correctly were 7.85% and 12.2%, respectively. Respondents who stated the distance between Lagos lagoon and Atlantic Ocean correctly and exhibited means of preparedness were 13.7%, respectively. However, 74.4% described the primary and secondary water bodies and their flow pattern correctly. Although inadequate spatial knowledge did not statistically account for poor flood preparedness, yet majority of the respondents neither prepared adequately for the annual flood event, nor exhibited adequate spatial knowledge. Therefore, other factors require investigation, whilst residents should acquire spatial flood-related education to influence their sense of flood preparedness.

The housing characteristics in Ajah Lagos State peri-urban settlements is characterised by high level of informal development, poor quality and confronted with multi-dimensional challenges. Policy response to the pattern of growth does not match the pace of rapid housing development in Lagos peri-urban settlements.  This research examined the characteristics of housing in the peri-urban settlements of Lagos State, Nigeria and specifically investigated the drivers of housing characteristics, socio-economic attributes of the residents, the quality of housing and the challenges of the management of the emerging peri-urban housing developments.  Using a case study approach, housing characteristics in peri-urban settlements in Ajah Eti osa Local Government  Areas  were  selected  to  represent  the  rapidly  urbanizing  metropolitan  peripheral  areas in  Lagos  State.    Data were collected through primary and secondary sources.  Findings revealed  that  major drivers  of  housing  development  in  the  study  area  are  principally  land  affordability,  low  cost  of living,  easy  linkage  and  proximity  to  urban  centres,  and  provision  of  better  quality  housing  through exclusive  gated  housing  development.  The findings  also  demonstrate  that  different  housing initiatives  in  the  peri-urban  settlements  performed  differently  in  typology  and  resident’s perception.  Socio-economic attributes  revealed  a  multi-cultural  households  composition, reasonable  literacy  level  and  mostly  male  headed  households.  Findings also  showed  factors  that influence  dwelling  quality  in  the  study  area  are  choice  of  building  materials,  neighbourhood  and locational  quality.  Challenges to governance are location-specific and mostly poor infrastructural development.   It is recommended that improved  quality  and  user  performance  peri-urban housing development  can  be  achieved  through  residents’  participation  in  housing  policy  design  and  also by  timely  regional  policy  response  to  the  pace  of  housing  characteristics in  Lagos  peri-urban settlements. Population sprawl