Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, has warned that the state could face severe risks from climate change, particularly the threat of submersion due to rising sea levels.

During a strategic meeting with state officials, he stressed that Lagos, with its 180-kilometre shoreline and dense population, is especially vulnerable.

Dr. Hamzat cited similar issues faced by New York City, stressing the need for immediate climate action to protect future generations and mitigate the effects of global warming on the state.

He noted that the most sig­nificant challenge in the coun­try is that “we don’t know how to manage land” and that “our physical plan is lost”.

He added: “In Lagos State, because of our geogra­phy, because of our popula­tion, because of our size, we are 22 million, we occupy only 0.4% or less than 0.38% of the land mass of Nigeria, and we are responsible for 10% of the people.

“In the UK, 14% is London City. The rest is the federal government. New York Un­derground, the same thing. So how do we manage our lands? So if our Ministry of Justice, our lawyers, and our judges don’t have this proper understanding that the future of our children is threatened when these cases come to court, then we are missing the point.”

He said that in New York, they’ve stopped approval for high-rises for the next few years because the city is sinking due to the number of high-rises.