Integrated Coastal Management As A Suggestive Tool For Coastal Management In Lagos State,Nigeria

The coastal area is one with innumerable benefits and easily observed by the population density of most coastal states in the world.The coastal area of Lagos State,Nigeria is one that gives a clear insight into the dynamics that exists within the coastal area.Lagos State is a state located in the South-Western region of Nigerian and geographically characterized with a coastline that stretches over 180 kilometers with an elevation of 39m(129ft)along the Guinea Coast of the Bight of Benin on the Atlantic Ocean.Lagos state consists of 3,755 sq.km of land with 70%of it being wet-lands and water bodies.It is demographically important with a population size>12 million and growth rate of 4.19%which has seen a continuous increase for the past five years.This study looked at the sustainability of coastal management in Lagos,observing the gaps in the present management system and causes for these gaps.From the findings on coastal management in Lagos state,Integrated Coastal Management(ICM)as a management concept was proposed due to its integrating characteristic and wholistic approach to coastal management which contrasts a major gap observed in the coastal management of the area studied.This study used an extensive literature review,interviews,comprehensive analysis and a comparative analysis as research methodology.The effectiveness and suitability of ICM as a coastal management concept was assessed using the principles proposed by the European Union and the World Bank.Using the principles proposed by the European Union and the World Bank,a comprehensive analysis of the principles was carried out in relation to the coastal status of Lagos state,which aided our developing of indicators for successful ICM implementation.The relevance of ICM implementation in Lagos state was then evaluated through a comparative analysis using ICM principles,models and indicators developed in this study combined with an extensive study of Lagos state where ICM is to be implemented.From the findings in this study,the need to adopt and implement ICM in Lagos states was seen to be quite essential given the environmental vulnerability and economic and demographic importance of Lagos state in Nigeria.A suggestive application of ICM in Lagos state was proposed as a practical step to adopt and implement ICM as sustainable coastal management concept with a possible scaling up to national level given its benefits as highlighted in this study.This study aims to generate multi-sectoral awareness on the observed management gaps which are presently facing the Lagos state coastal area and develop a feasible and practicable management approach derived from the ICM concept for a more sustainable coastal management in Lagos state.There is also a need to provide additional background data for further research and discussions on sustainable coastal management in Lagos state,Nigeria.