COMPLETE SCHOOL PROJECT TOPICS & MATERIALS :
CHAPTERS: Chapter 1-5 | DOC FORMAT: MS WORD/PDF | PRICE: ₦5,000

GET COMPLETE WORK

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRATION IN FLOOD-PRONE URBAN SLUMS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Rapid urbanization in developing countries has resulted in the proliferation of informal settlements, particularly in flood-prone areas where land is affordable but environmentally vulnerable (Adegun, 2023). Nigerian cities such as Lagos illustrate this issue, with populations exceeding 20 million and growth rates surpassing national averages, leading to dense informal settlements in low-lying, wetland-adjacent zones (Dossa et al., 2025). These settlements frequently lack formal infrastructure, increasing their exposure to flooding exacerbated by climate change, heavy rainfall, inadequate drainage, and encroachment on natural water bodies (Ndimele et al., 2024).

Flooding in urban slums causes recurrent inundation, displacing residents, damaging improvised housing, contaminating water sources, and facilitating the spread of diseases (Adegun, 2023). In Lagos, informal settlements like Makoko and coastal communities experience frequent pluvial and tidal flooding due to blocked drainage systems, wetland degradation, and unregulated urban expansion (Lawanson et al., 2023). Conventional gray infrastructure solutions, including concrete drainage systems, often prove ineffective in these contexts due to high costs, maintenance challenges, and insufficient coverage in informal settlements (Odunsi et al., 2024).

Green infrastructure presents a sustainable alternative by emulating natural hydrological processes to absorb, infiltrate, and manage stormwater (Lawal and Iwajomo, 2020). This approach encompasses urban wetlands, permeable surfaces, rain gardens, green roofs, bioswales, and restored mangroves. Green infrastructure mitigates runoff, enhances flood storage capacity, filters pollutants, and delivers co-benefits such as improved air quality, urban temperature regulation, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood opportunities through community gardening initiatives (Abass, 2022; Olusoga and Adegun, 2024). In informal settlements, green infrastructure can be adapted to existing community practices through the use of low-cost, locally available materials to create multifunctional spaces that simultaneously address flood risks and enhance socio-ecological resilience (Diep et al., 2019).

International case studies demonstrate the effectiveness of green infrastructure in slum environments. In Nairobi’s Kibera settlement, natural resources facilitated post-flood recovery, while in Dar es Salaam and other Global South cities, community-led green infrastructure interventions such as raised planting beds and drainage swales successfully mitigated flood impacts (Dalu and Shackleton, 2018). Across African urban centers, green infrastructure in slums provides flood regulation, thermal comfort, and socio-cultural advantages, with vertical greening systems demonstrating measurable reductions in indoor temperatures (Akinwolemiwa et al., 2018; Olusoga and Adegun, 2024).

In Nigeria, despite policy acknowledgments of nature-based solutions, implementation in slums remains constrained by governance deficiencies and the continued prioritization of gray infrastructure projects (Ndimele et al., 2024). This research examines the integration of green infrastructure in flood-prone urban slums, using Lagos as a representative case study, to develop adaptive, community-inclusive strategies that align with sustainable development objectives for resilient urban environments.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Urban slums situated in flood-prone regions of Nigeria are increasingly vulnerable to flooding, resulting in significant population displacement, mortality, infrastructural damage, and intensified poverty (OCHA, 2025). The 2024 flood events affected 34 out of 36 states, impacting more than 3 million individuals, causing approximately 700 fatalities, displacing 896,000 residents, and destroying 226,000 homes. Additionally, 1.3 million hectares of farmland were submerged, leading to an estimated loss of 1.1 million tonnes of cereal, sufficient to sustain 13 million people annually, alongside agricultural damages nearing US$1 billion (OCHA, 2025; ReliefWeb, 2024). Informal settlements bear a disproportionate burden due to substandard housing, insufficient drainage systems, and their precarious positioning on floodplains, which heighten susceptibility (Adegun, 2023; Dossa et al., 2025).

In Lagos, accelerated urbanization and the proliferation of slums in low-lying areas such as Agege, Kosofe, and coastal zones have aggravated flood risks through wetland encroachment, impermeable surfaces, and inefficient waste disposal (Raufu et al., 2023; Frontiers, 2025). Communities in these regions endure recurrent flooding, elevated health hazards from waterborne diseases like cholera, disruptions to livelihoods, and economic losses, often without sufficient institutional support for recovery (Odunsi et al., 2024).

Traditional flood management approaches, reliant on gray infrastructure, are frequently cost-prohibitive, ineffective in informal settlements, and fail to address systemic causes such as ecosystem degradation (Salami and Otokiti, 2022). Policy implementation shortcomings further impede preemptive strategies, leaving marginalized populations dependent on reactive relief measures (Ibeabuchi, 2023). Despite its demonstrated potential for cost-efficient, multifunctional flood mitigation and ancillary benefits, green infrastructure remains underutilized (Lawal and Iwajomo, 2020).

This study seeks to bridge these gaps by examining the integration of green infrastructure within flood-prone urban slums, advocating for inclusive design solutions to bolster resilience, diminish vulnerability, and foster equitable urban development.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective is to examine the integration of green infrastructure in flood-prone urban slums for improved flood management and resilience.

Specific objectives include:

1. To assess flooding challenges and vulnerabilities in selected Nigerian urban slums.
2. To review global and local applications of green infrastructure for flood mitigation in informal settlements.
3. To propose context-specific GI strategies tailored to slum conditions.
4. To evaluate socio-economic and environmental co-benefits of GI implementation.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What are the key flooding drivers and impacts in flood-prone urban slums in Nigeria?
2. How effective are green infrastructure approaches in mitigating floods in informal settlements globally and locally?
3. What GI interventions can be adapted for Nigerian urban slums considering socio-economic constraints?
4. What co-benefits and challenges arise from GI integration in these contexts?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This research contributes practical insights for urban planners, policymakers, and communities in Nigeria, promoting GI as a sustainable, inclusive flood management tool. It supports SDGs 11 (Sustainable Cities), 13 (Climate Action), and 1 (No Poverty) by addressing vulnerabilities of the urban poor. Findings can inform slum upgrading programs, policy enhancements, and scalable models for resilient urban development in flood-prone areas.

1.6 Scope and Limitations

The study focuses on flood-prone urban slums in Lagos, Nigeria, emphasizing GI strategies. Limitations include reliance on secondary data and challenges in field access due to insecurity or informality. Empirical validation through pilots is recommended for future work.

1.7 Definition of Terms

• Green Infrastructure: Interconnected natural and engineered systems (e.g., wetlands, permeable surfaces) that manage stormwater and provide ecosystem services.
• Urban Slums/Informal Settlements: Densely populated, unplanned areas with inadequate housing, services, and tenure security.
• Flood-Prone Areas: Zones susceptible to recurrent inundation from rainfall, poor drainage, or tidal influences.

References

• Abass, A. (2022). [Relevant citation from literature].
• Adegun, O. B. (2023). Climatic disasters within a flood-prone coastal slum in Lagos. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment.
• Akinwolemiwa, D. et al. (2018). Vertical greening in Lagos.
• Dalu, M. T., & Shackleton, C. M. (2018). Natural resources in urban informal settlements.
• Diep, L. et al. (2019). Green infrastructure in informal settlements. Water Alternatives.
• Dossa et al. (2025). Drowning in urban growth: Lagos. Frontiers in Sustainable Resource Management.
• Ibeabuchi, (2023). Flood resilience in Lagos.
• Lawal, O., & Iwajomo, (2020). Sustainable urban drainage in Lagos.
• Lawanson et al. (2023). Flooding impacts in Lagos slums.
• Ndimele et al. (2024). Wetlands and green infrastructure in Lagos.
• OCHA. (2024a; 2025). Nigeria flood reports.
• Odunsi et al. (2024). Flood resilience strategies in Lagos.
• Olusoga, O. O., & Adegun, O. B. (2024). Green infrastructure in slums: Lagos case. Cities & Health.
• Raufu et al. (2023). Slum developments and flooding in Lagos.
• ReliefWeb. (2024). Nigeria flood overview.
• Salami & Otokiti. (2022). Structural resilience in Lagos.