Various sources refer to flooding in Lagos City as a regular, seasonal occurrence. For example, the World Bank has endorsed the Lagos Drainage and Sanitation Project, set up in 1993 and considered "vital to protecting Lagos from the effects of severe flooding which have battered the capital on a regular basis" (World Bank 6 Aug. 1997). One report indicates that in 1997 there were claims that Nigerian officials planned to evict more than one million slum dwellers and build real estate in its place as part of the project, which had been ostensibly "intended to prevent flooding after storms and improve sanitation in Nigeria's bustling commercial capital" (Mail & Guardian 13 July 1997). The World Bank response indicated that the relocation of a few hundred people to build stormwater drains was to "comfortable new homes...paid for by Lagos State under the terms of the project" while "a few people decided to move elsewhere and received state compensation," adding that the project "also financed studies to develop plans for urban renewal" (World Bank 6 Aug. 1997).

A World Bank inspection report on the above-mentioned project indicates that the main purpose of the project is "to improve health standards and living conditions in areas of Lagos subject to regular flooding," stating that "over 225,000 people...reside in the areas [of Lagos] that are subject to flooding" (ibid. 5 June 1998, 4, 8), The inspection report adds that:

In addition, more people are affected by disruption to travel and to commerce in the city during the rainy season. Furthermore, it is estimated that some 1.4 million peoples' movements are disrupted daily during the periods of flooding (ibid., 4).

Another June 1998 report refers to the continuing erosion of the "fragile coastline" of Lagos, and to efforts to protect and reclaim the "one-kilometre stretch of Bar Beach, near Lagos" (Mail & Guardian 8 June 1998). The report states that this particular beach is affected regularly by high tides, adding:

Between 1996 and 1997, the Ministry of Works and Housing, awarded more than one billion Naira (about 12.5 million U.S. Dollars) to three construction firms for the reclamation of Bar Beach.

Large boulders, littered along the beach, are reminders of the failed efforts to check the frequent ocean surge. Measures to combat erosion of the beach have included intermittent sand replenishment programmes, re-alignment of the three harbour entrance, the building of offshore breakwaters and construction of a sea wall (ibid.).

A 1999 article states that due to a housing shortage in Lagos, many "make-shift slums" have been built in inadequate areas and are in danger of being destroyed by flooding "whenever there are heavy rains," adding that "in such situations, the slums are cut off from the city by flood" (Post Express 14 Oct. 1999). The article adds that well-off areas in other parts of Lagos, including "Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Apapa GRA, Victoria garden City, Ikeja GRA" and others, lack adequate drainage and also suffer floods "whenever it rains" (ibid.).

A 2000 article criticizes the lack of readiness for the floods that rains cause in Lagos, stating that "it was only the Lagos State Government that embarked on measures to address the flood problem with the creation of the Drain Duck Unit that was meant to work on the drainage network of the metropolis," and adding "but, even with this, the flood menace in Lagos has persisted" (ibid. 18 Oct. 2000).

Although many sources refer to Oba Adeyinka Oyekan and Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II as the Oba of Lagos (for example, The Guardian 15 Nov. 2000; Vanguard 27 June 2000), no references to his involvement in ritual sacrifices related to floods could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. No references to a Chief Oluwu Apena in Lagos could be found; however, reports describing the Ogboni organizations of Nigeria refer to the Olori Oluwo as being the "supreme head" of such organizations and the Olori Apena as being second to the Olori Oluwo (The Guardian 31 Dec. 2000a; ibid. 31 Dec. 2000b; ibid. 31 Dec. 2000c).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

The Guardian Online [Lagos]. 31 December 2000a. "ROF Is Not a Secret Society." http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/ibru/br808007.html [Accessed 6 Feb. 2001]

_____. 31 December 2000a. "We Are Misunderstood, Says Oyenuga." http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/ibru/br808008.html [Accessed 6 Feb. 2001]

_____. 31 December 2000a. "What Has The Church Got To Do With Ogboni?" http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/ibru/br808005.html [Accessed 6 Feb. 2001]

Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg, S. Af]. 8 June 1998. "The Atlantic's Threat to Lagos." http://www.mg.co.za/mg/news/98june1/8june-nigeria.html [Accessed 9 Feb. 2001]

_____. 13 July 1997. Abid Aslam. "World Bank Accused of Lagos Slum Evictions." http://www.mg.co.za/mg/news/97jul1/13jul-nigeria.html. [Accessed 9 Feb. 2001]

The Post Express [Lagos]. 18 October 2000. "For Lagos, A Week of Flood and Fuel Crisis." http://www.postexpresswired.com/postexpress.nsf/1c1b13aa9ee9e2c28525691a0076c2c8/2ba854d4694f58758525697c0057c22e?OpenDocument [Accessed 9 Feb. 2001]

_____. 14 October 1999. Onuoha Ukeh. "Lagos City: Nigeria's Number One Megalopolis." http://www.postexpresswired.com/postexpress.nsf/1c1b13aa9ee9e2c28525691a0076c2c8/0483c0bd227ba12f8525680a0050d517?OpenDocument [Accessed 9 Feb. 2001]

The World Bank Group, Washington, DC. 5 June 1998. "The Inspection Panel Report and Recommendation on Request for Inspection3/4Nigeria: Lagos Drainage and Sanitation Project (Credit No. 2517-UNI)." http://http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/pn/ipnweb.nsf/(attachmentweb)/Lagos_Sanitiation_Report/$FILE/Lagos_Sanitiation_Report.pdf [Accessed 8 Feb. 2001]

_____. 6 August 1997. Press Release. "World Bank Expresses Support for Flood Protection Project in Nigeria." http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/extme/1435.htm [Accessed 8 Feb. 2001]

Africa Confidential [London]. 1997-1998.

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1997-1998.

Country Reports 1997.

IRB Databases.

West Africa [Lagos]. 1997.

Internet Websites and search engines, including:

Amnesty International

The Guardian [Lagos]. 1999-2000.

Encyclopaedia Britannica [Chicago].

Human Rights Watch

The Post Express [Lagos]. 1997-2000.

The Vanguard [Lagos]

Note:

This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific publications available at the Resource Centre are not included.