Going Under
(Shortlisted for the Wellcome Photography Prize 2020)
A photographic project documenting the continuous adverse effects of flooding in Lagos, Nigeria brought about by climate changes, rising sea levels and a lack of proper infrastructure to cope with these phenomena.
Set on the bank of the Lagos lagoon, certain parts of this neighbourhood suffer from flooding annually - a crisis which is noted to be on the rise each year.
The proximity of the neighbourhood to the lagoon, higher tides and rising water levels across the state caused by climate changes combined with lack of proper drainage and other amenities necessary for tackling these problems and alleviating the challenges they present, have led to severe flooding in the area which affects the daily lives and activities of its residents, making it very challenging to live within the neighbourhood.
Floods in the area peak in the third quarter of the year when the tide is at its highest and the rainy season climaxes, forcing children to waddle through knee deep puddles of water in order to get to school. Traders face difficulties transporting their goods and operating from their shops, religious houses are left unable to hold functions as their structures are flooded or destroyed, and families find themselves having to vacate part of or even their entire homes which have been taken over by the flood with no aid or effort from governing bodies.