Environmental advocates warn shrinking coastal forests are worsening flooding and threatening livelihoods
By Bunmi Yekini
Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria) has called on the federal and state governments to strengthen enforcement against activities driving the destruction of Nigeria’s mangrove forests, warning that continued degradation is increasing flooding and putting millions of livelihoods at risk.
The environmental organisation made the appeal in a statement issued on Monday to mark World Mangrove Day, saying stronger enforcement of environmental laws was needed to protect one of Africa’s largest mangrove ecosystems.
Nigeria’s mangroves cover about 504,800 hectares in the Niger Delta and another 95,000 hectares in Cross River State, making the country’s mangrove forest the third largest in the world, according to SRADeV.
The organisation said the ecosystems play a vital role in protecting coastlines from flooding, erosion and storm surges while absorbing carbon emissions, conserving biodiversity and supporting fisheries, tourism and local economies.
However, it said rapid urbanisation, industrial development, sand dredging and land reclamation were accelerating the loss of mangrove habitats, particularly around Lagos and Port Harcourt.
It added that pollution, fuelwood harvesting, the spread of invasive nipa palms and weak enforcement of environmental regulations had further degraded mangrove forests across the Niger Delta.
“Recurrent flooding has become a direct consequence of the continued destruction of mangrove ecosystems,” SRADeV Executive Director Leslie Adogame said.
He urged authorities to prioritise enforcement of laws protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems to curb further environmental degradation.
The organisation also called on the government to deploy technology-based monitoring systems, tighten approval processes for dredging and land reclamation projects, and strengthen collaboration among environmental agencies.
Victor Fabunmi, SRADeV’s Programmes Manager, urged the designation of Lagos wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty on wetland conservation, to provide stronger legal protection for vulnerable ecosystems.
The group also renewed calls for the Federal Government to finalise and implement the National Wetland Policy, which has remained in draft form since 2001, saying it should include measurable implementation targets and stronger enforcement mechanisms.
SRADeV said protecting mangrove forests was essential to improving flood resilience, safeguarding food security and supporting sustainable economic development in Nigeria’s coastal communities.