Nigeria
Capital: Abuja
Total Population: 202 million
Coastal Population:140.4 million persons- according to the national census of 2006 which is about 19% of national population
Coastline: 853 km
Coastal Zone of Nigeria
The Nigeria coastline stretches to a total of eight states, which are estimated to account for 25% of the national population. Based on the morphological, vegetational and beach type characteristics, the coastal zone is classified into four broad regions namely, from west to east, the barrier lagoon coast, the transgressive mud coast, the Niger Delta, and the strand coast. The coastline comprises inshore waters, coastal lagoons, estuaries and mangroves, especially in the Niger Delta area. The major economic activities in the coastal zone are oil and gas and exploitation, fishing, shipping, agriculture, sand-mining and tourism. The coastal area is dotted by ports and large metropolitan and urban centers including Lagos. However, coastal zones in Nigeria face a range of challenges, such as coastal erosion, flooding, overexploitation of natural resources, marine and coastal pollution, and mangrove depletion and Nypa palm invasion. All these are negatively impacting the people’s livelihood and climate change and sea level rise are exacerbating them.
Action Planning
Within the framework of the WACA program, the development of the multi-sectoral investment plans (MSIP), an action plan for the coastal zone development and adaptation to climate change is underway. The plan aim for addressing coastal flooding, erosion, and pollution at selected intervention sites.
WACA Interventions
Flooding, Pollution ( Plastic waste & oil spill); Coastal Erosion. Following the development of MSIP, it is expected that investment projects will be commenced.
Key agencies
1) International Economic Relations Department, Federal Ministry of Finance: 2) Erosion Control, Flood and Coastal Zone Management, Federal Ministry of Environment; 3) Climate Change Department, Federal Ministry of Environment; 4) Environmental Assessment Department, Federal Ministry of Environment; 5) National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Federal Ministry of Environment; 6) National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA); 7) Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Federal Ministry of Transport; 8) Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Ministry of Transport: 9) Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Federal Ministry of Water Resources; 10) National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Federal Ministry of Transport; 11) Niger Delta Development Commission, Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs; and 11) Ecological Funds Office; Office of the Secretary to the Federation.
Contact
Engr Boniface Ugwuche, Acting Director, Erosion Control, Flooding and Coastal Zone Management (EFCZ) Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment