Journal of Regional Economics and Development
Vol. 2 No. 4 (2025): August

Empowering Lekki–Ajah Communities: A Hybrid Blueprint for Flood Resilience

Olawale, Olaniran Saheed (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Jul 2025

Abstract

Lagos State's rapid urbanization and climate variability have exacerbated flood hazards, notably in the Lekki-Ajah corridor, where drainage deficits, governance failures, and informal settlement expansion combined to create this recurring crisis. Employing a secondary mixed-methods approach, this policy analysis combines descriptive statistical evaluation of rainfall and flood incidence records with a systematic content review of institutional policies and documented community responses to evaluate contemporary flood governance challenges in the corridor. Six alternative interventions, including structural drainage upgrades, community-based early warning, green infrastructure, regulatory enforcement, institutional coordination, and digital governance, were evaluated using a weighted multi-criteria framework and SWOT analysis. According to the findings, community-based and green infrastructure solutions perform best in terms of equity, feasibility, and sustainability, while digital governance tools enhance transparency and long-term compliance. A recommended hybrid resilience strategy combines targeted drainage upgrades, participatory micro-infrastructure and alert systems, ecosystem restoration, and digital monitoring to maximize each option's capabilities. A pilot implementation in Lekki-Ajah, Oworonshoki, Surulere, Ijora-Badia, and Ajegunle is proposed, with a strong implementation timeframe, financing model (₦20 billion), and monitoring and evaluation framework. This integrated roadmap, drawing on Bardach's Eightfold Path, prioritizes community empowerment, inter-agency collaboration, and adaptive policy-making to provide a scalable paradigm for flood resilience across Lagos' most susceptible corridors.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

jred

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

Journal of Regional Economics and Development (3031-3937) publishes original research that examines the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of regional development. The journal welcomes submissions from a wide range of disciplines, including economics, geography, planning, and public ...