I vividly remember the clanging of pots and pans as they floated while my sister and I (as toddlers) tried to play in the water, and my parents tried to keep us out of it. Ours was yet another house that had been built on reclaimed land in a swampy/wetland area. Every time it rained, my parents would worry about our safety. Because of this, I can imagine the experience of people who live in communities (including Ijora, Lagos, Nigeria) where ‘rainfall is a curse.’
Last July, Lagos was ravaged by yet another flood (perhaps the most serious yet), which left many people dissatisfied. But in particular, it was the focus on climate change as the major issue behind these floods in the media coverage that made it even more dissatisfying for me. While climate change may increase the flooding risk of an area, it is not climate change that pours concrete over absorbent soil, over and over again, and causes it to actually flood (because where do you expect all the water to go?) It is not climate change that strips away areas of natural vegetation, which take so many years to grow and perform important functions.
Nature has built-in systems, which would help mitigate climate change if they are properly managed. When we are not careful, in the name of development, we strip away the defences we already have against climate change. Wetlands, or marshy ground, containing mangroves (including, and especially those in urban areas) are one of such systems and are thought to store large amounts of carbon (which is one of the major drivers of climate change). And it would seem that the value of wetlands is obvious considering how the media gets flooded every World Wetlands Day, with wonderful messages.
Despite this, in December 2021, government officials expressed ‘satisfaction’ over the renovation progress of the National Arts Theatre, located in the Ijora area. I would also be satisfied with this renovation if it did not involve destroying an iconic urban wetland. Since this project started in December, several pleas have been made to those in charge to consider how this development (which is very welcome) can be done without destroying the wetlands. However, as I write, practically all the vegetation, especially the mangroves have been destroyed. And the marshy (absorbent) ground awaits its fatal destiny of sand filling.
I understand that to the untrained eye, the marshy ground at the National theatre may be seen as “waterlogged’ or stagnant, smelly water. But as a biologist who has carried out monthly field surveys at that place for a full year with a team documenting bird, plant, and some shellfish species, I can assure you that it is a vibrant wetland ecosystem, teeming with life (if you don’t believe me, ask the fishermen), and its value for fisheries is felt all the way to the sea.
The National Theatre contained one of the few remaining mangrove stands within the city. Mangroves and the wetlands they occupy are worth billions of dollars for the services they provide, including water storage and purification, flood prevention, food provision (being fish nurseries), and carbon storage, if we humans were to provide them ourselves. However, this important vegetation has been destroyed with no thought to the people who depend on them for their livelihoods and day-to-day survival, and with no concrete plan for restoring them and mitigating the impact of floods that may result.
What makes the destruction of this particular wetland even more poignant for me as a young person is its cultural value. Wetlands are culturally and historically important because they have formed the basis of many cultures and civilizations, including that of Lagos. Wetlands have also inspired many great artworks, which display the rich cultures of Nigerian people. And the National Theatre, which is perhaps one of the most important icons of Nigeria’s art and culture, contains a wetland. In what better way could we hope to promote a culture of sustainability in Nigeria than by preserving this wetland?
A large number of school children and other members of the public visit the National Theatre every year to get entertained and informed, and this number of visitors is bound to increase with its renovation. The National Theatre wetland is a landmark for people who regularly commute between Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland. Are we telling all these people with our actions that wetlands are wastelands even though we often say otherwise?
The vegetation at the National Theatre wetland has been destroyed, but it is not too late to retrace our steps. It would be expensive, but we can regrow the mangroves. And we can carefully consider the hydrology of the area before sand filling. It is awesome that the National Arts Theatre gets to be revamped. Still, it doesn’t have to involve pouring concrete over yet another area of absorbent wetland, and worsening the flooding situation in Ijora, and Lagos at large. It does not have to involve destroying the beautiful greenery and wildlife that would enhance the value of the creative/entertainment complex by providing a relaxing and inspiring ambience. I believe that the new National theatre facility will be more valuable with, not without the wetland in its most natural state. Imagine with me if you will, an entertainment complex with the rail, a world-class arts theatre, and a wetland with an education/tourism centre like this one. That would be the real masterpiece.
While “attracting foreign investors”, let us be sure that we are asking them to make a worthwhile investment, that will benefit everyone in the long run, and not destroy our heritage as Nigerians. Our natural environment, including wetlands, is part of our cultural heritage; it is our future and the future of our children. If want to leave a better Lagos, and Nigeria to our children, it must contain intact and healthy wetlands for nature and people.
Nosazeogie is a research officer with Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research.
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