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3 IJOCLLEP 146 (2021)
Quest for Housing and Preservation of Wetlands in Nigeria: A Case Study of Lagos State

handle is hein.journals/inljlocv3 and id is 585 raw text is: OTUBU: Quest for Housing and Preservation of Wetlands in Nigeria: A Case Study of Lagos State QUEST FOR HOUSING AND PRESERVATION OF WETLANDS IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF LAGOS STATE* Abstract Global housing shortage is phenomena, manifesting particularly in metropolitan cities and its fringes, all around the world. In a developing country like Nigeria, the problem is humongous and Lagos State seems to be the hardest hit by the scourge. The Lagos scenario is worsened by the non availability of land for housing development given the State land-mass ratio to its water bodies and the ever-growing population. The quest to surmount the problem of land shortages for housing in Lagos State has resulted in the encroachment on the State water bodies including Wetlands, Swamps and Mangroves by property developers through sand-filling and reclamation. The long-time consequences of this encroachment are detrimental to sustainable development of the environment and wellbeing of man in the society. The immediate consequence of the encroachment is exemplified in the recurrent flooding and building collapse syndrome in the State. Using the doctrinal research methodology, the paper examines the relationship between housing needs, land shortages, Wetlands encroachment and environmental degradation in Lagos State. It highlights the sacred needs for Wetlands within the Ecosystem and discusses the nexus between lands, housing and environmental protection. The paper found that encroachment on the water bodies is detrimental to the ecosystem, human health and sustainable development. Such encroachment exposes the aquatic plants and animals to the danger of loss of habitat and extinction. The problem also engenders incessant flooding and the resultant loss of life and properties in the State. Houses built on these Morasses are not only expensive to construct but are also susceptible to foundation rupture and collapse. The paper calls for the protection of the State water bodies through public advocacy, policy direction and legislative intervention. It reiterates the need for urban renewal strategies, satellite cities development and public-private partnership funding of housing development. Keywords: Land, Housing, Wetlands, Environment, Sustainable development. 1. Introduction From time immemorial man has always lived communally and within safe neighborhoods. Shelter is at the core of the conviviality of man. Shelter (housing) is innate to the nature of man and has been ranked second in the hierarchy of needs of mankind.1 The importance of housing to the overall wellbeing of society is immeasurable and fathomless. Apart from the protection it offers against all vicissitudes of life; housing contributes to environmental protection and management,2 human health,3 human security, economic development,4 social security and aesthetics amongst others.5 It is also trite that human settlements, for diverse reasons, are founded around natural landmarks, especially where there are natural springs, seas and oceans.6 These natural pull of human settlements, amongst others contributed to the population density of coastal cities the world over.7Lagos state is naturally blessed with abundance of water bodies, including the Atlantic, Lagoons and several Rivers and Streams flowing from the hinterland into the Ocean. The human settlement pull of these water bodies and the economic reality of Lagos State assented to the population density of the State and its classification as one of the fastest growing Megacity in the world.9 The large population of the State exerts a lot of pressure on the State's resources including land and other infrastructure; particularly the provision of housing to the teeming population. The pressure is exacerbated by the fact that available land for housing is in short supply in view of the water *By A. K. OTUBU, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Private and Property Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. Email: aotubu@unilag.edu.ng, fikunmzy@gmail.com. Tel: 08023253416, 08068807256 Maslow, A. H. A theory of human motivation. (1943) Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-96. 2 Adamkiewicz, G., etal: Environmental conditions in low-income urban housing: clustering and associations with self- reported health. (2014) American journal of public health, 104(9), 1650-6. 3 Housing impacts health: New WHO Guidelines on Housing and Health: Recommendations to promote healthy housing for a sustainable and equitable future. Available at:https://www.who.int/phe/news/note-media-housing-health-guidelines/en/ accessed 08/01/2020; see also: Cohen, R. Insights from Housing Policy Research: The Impacts of Affordable Housing on Health: A Research Summary. Washington, DC: Center for Housing Policy 2011. 4 Kolawole Y: Housing as a Tool for Economic Development https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/housing-as-tool-for- economic-development/ accessed 08/01/2020 ' Barker, David, & Miller: Homeownership and Child Welfare. (2009) Journal of Urban Economics 47 (2): 356-369. 6 Nicholls S, Crompton JL. The Effect of Rivers, Streams, and Canals on Property Values. River Res Applic. (2017) 33:1377- 1386. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.3197 accessed 08/01/2020 7 Haughey F. M: People and Water: A study of the relationship between humans and rivers in the Mesolithic and Neolithic with particular reference to that within the Thames Basin Vol. 1 University College London 2009 available at: http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1460514/1/FionaHaughey-volI.pdf accessed 08/01/2020 8 National Population Commission Nigeria puts the population of Lagos State at over 21 million in 201 available at: https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/lagos-population. accessed 08/01/2020 9Kotkin J: The World's Fastest-Growing Megacities. 2013 Forbes Magazine online, available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2013/04/08/the-worlds-fastest-growing-megacities/#elc4abO7519 accessed 08/01/2020 Page 1 146

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