An insight into unique  lifestyle of Lagos Lagoonaires 

Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic hub, is home to over 20 million people, yet nestling amidst its urban chaos, are tens of thousands of them who live in a world of their own as they are sheltered on the sprawling waters of the Lagoon. These lagoon dwellers, who can aptly be referred to as Lagoonaires, are primarily from fishing communities such as Makoko, that have carved out a unique existence on floating structures and stilted homes, but their way of life faces mounting challenges as rapid urbanisation encroaches on their ancestral territory.

Government calls Makoko an illegal shanty town and has been trying to tear it down as part of their plan to make Lagos more appealing to businesses and tourists, but residents are not budging.

On top of this lagoon exists whatever has the semblance of a school, health centre, recreational/sanitation facility. Here, the lifestyle as found in every modern city is non-existent. How the residents cope is better imagined than experienced by a non-dweller, but they are happy and contented. Their only concern is the threat of urbanisation and human activity fast eroding their natural habitat. Taking them out of their environment is tantamount to taking fish out water!

While their stilted homes and floating schools paint a picture of resourcefulness and imagination, these also symbolise the challenges these communities face daily.

Amidst threats of eviction, environmental degradation, and inadequate infrastructure, these Lagoonaires who are mostly fishermen recount their experiences of resilience, struggles and hope.

Speaking about their experiences, 54-year-old Sunday Obafemi said, “Fishing used to provide enough for us. Now, we have to travel farther into the lagoon to catch fish and even then, there’s no guarantee that we can catch enough fish because of urbanisation encroaching on the lagoon.”

In spite of these challenges, the water still remains central to their identity as many of them now in their late 60s were born right there on top of water.

Maria Okonkwo, a mother of three said, “The lagoon is our life. We’ve adapted to its ways, but we need support to make living a bit better.”

Despite the hardships, the Makoko residents remain resilient. Their community leaders have stepped up to address some of the challenges by creating cooperatives to support the fishermen and traders. Women, on their parts, play a crucial role in maintaining the community’s social fabric. For instance, Amina Yusuf who sells smoked fish on the lagoon said, “We have to stick together in order to face the challenges of living on water. If we do not help one another, then who will?”

Their daily struggles to survive

For the Lagoonaires, living on the water is, no doubt, a cultural legacy despite the daily challenges. Fishing remains their primary source of livelihood, but investigation has shown that dwindling fish stocks due to pollution and overfishing and urbanisation have left many families struggling to make ends meet.

Therefore, the daily life of these water folks is a manifestation of resilience in the faces of adversities. Most homes are made of woods resting on stilts, just a metre or so above the water. Despite living on top of water, access to clean, drinking water is a far cry and healthcare facilities are virtually non-existent. Aisha Bello, a mother of four said, “Our homes are humble though, but they are ours. What we need is support to improve our lives, not to be driven away and made homeless by government.”

To that extent, lack of basic amenities such as clean water, healthcare and formal education has further exacerbated their plights with the growing population on the lagoon.

A 47-year-old Samuel Ade, a life-long Makoko resident, said, “I’ve been fishing here since I was a child. But now, it’s harder to catch enough to feed my family. The water is no longer as clean as it used to be because of pollution.”

Consequences on the environment

Environmental experts have warned that the degradation of the lagoon could have far-reaching consequences on both the environment and residences.

“The lagoon is not just a home; it’s an ecosystem,” says Dr. Adekunle Oladipo, an environmental scientist at the University of Lagos. “Protecting it is critical for the city’s ecological balance since it is sandwiched by the city.”

Another expert, Dr. Funmi Adebayo, a marine biologist at the University of Lagos, highlighted the dire environmental issues plaguing the lagoon as according to her, “Pollution from industrial wastes and urban run-off has significantly reduced the biodiversity of the lagoon. This directly impacts the livelihoods of these communities and with time, may spill over to those on the land,” she explained.

Living conditions and community spirit

Despite these hardships, the lagoonaires have fostered a strong sense of community, friendship and comradeship. For instance, children are seen excitedly paddling hand-made canoes to their informal schools. In many instances, most families rely on one another for support as women play an integral role, often balancing household duties with fish mongering and other goods at nearby markets to support themselves and their families.

A female community leader, Aisha Yusuf said, “We are proud of our culture. Our ancestors lived this way and we have tried to preserve it. However, we also want our children to have opportunities for a better future.”

Urbanisation dilemma

Every indication has revealed that rapid urbanisation in Lagos is posing a serious threat to lagoon communities. This is largely because as the city expands, land reclamation projects and luxury developments tend to displace many residents on the lagoon. As a result of this, advocacy groups argue that those projects often disregard the rights of the lagoonaires, leaving them with little or no chances for their survival.

However, a recent report by the Lagos-based Urban Justice Coalition emphasizes the need for inclusive urban planning by considering the state of lagoon dwellers. Part of that report indicated that, “These communities are not obstacles to development; they are part of Lagos’ rich cultural fabric,” says the report’s lead author, Emeka Nwosu.

Nightlife on the lagoon and fading tradition

The nightlife of Lagos Lagoon is a vibrant energy of activities that bring the communities together despite the lack of city perks. By moonlight, fishermen set out in canoes with their nets. In the same way, women gather to share stories and children’s laughter echoes as they play in makeshift floating yards.

For 36-year-old Tayo Okonkwo, a fisherman, “This is usually when the lagoon comes alive because that is when we fishermen, like hunters, ply their trades and to anyone with the largest catch. It is a thing of pride, but it’s not the same anymore. There are fewer marine animals and the waters are no longer as calm as they used to be for them.”

Investigation shows that noise pollution from nearby urban development has disrupted the evening and night serenity of the lagoon, while light pollution dims the starlit skies that once guided fishermen. Because of these, nightlife has been grossly affected.

Despite these challenges, community members continue to find solace in their shared traditional values.

Grassroots education in peril

In the absence of any formal educational institution, many lagoon communities have created informal education systems. In many of the sprawling communities, floating schools and stilt-based classrooms serve as the primary hubs for learning, with local teachers stepping in to fill the gap.

Mojisola Adeyemi, a volunteer teacher at one of the Makoko Floating School explains that, “We teach the children basic reading, writing and arithmetic. But it’s hard to keep them motivated when they see little opportunity beyond the lagoon.”

On her part, Grace Adebayo, a local teacher says, “My children attend a school here, but it’s difficult as the classrooms often get flooded during the rainy season. Besides, there aren’t enough teachers here and not all subjects are being taught.”

Similarly, access to healthcare and clean water is a constant struggle with many residents relying on untreated lagoon water for their daily domestic use, leading to health issues. Theirs is an instance of the Ancient Marina where there is water everywhere but none to drink. Interestingly, Lagos has a Marina (Street) but it is far removed from and nothing compared to where the lagoonaires reside!

That is why 32-year-old Ibrahim Bello lamented that, “We know the water is not safe, but we have no choice, other than to drink from it and use it for cooking.”

Another resident Mojisola begged thus, “The government needs to do more to help us because education is the only way to secure our future and that of our children. Asking us to leave here is punishment because we cannot pay for rent in Ikoyi or Epe and we cannot go too far from this place as well.”

Solutions

While the challenges are immense, solutions exist. Experts, therefore, advocate for government policies that would balance development with environmental conservation and community welfare. That is why initiatives such as eco-tourism and sustainable fishing programmes could provide alternative income streams for these lagoonaires while preserving their unique ways of life.

To that extent, local NGOs are stepping in to fill the gaps by offering educational programmes and healthcare services. However, more supports are needed. One of the resource persons from an NGO, Dr. Adebayo Salami said, “The government must engage with these communities directly. Their voices need to be heard in planning the future of Lagos because they are part of the system already.”

Their unique experiences

On a general note, the experiences of Nigerians living on the lagoons either in the South-west or South-south are shaped by the unique challenges presented by their aquatic environment, for instance, they are prone to flooding, especially during heavy rainfall or high tides leading to damage to their abode, displacement and health risks. They are oftentimes victims of water pollution like plastic, human waste and industrial effluents which can harm their health and the environment.

A common characteristic of these dwellers is that they engage in fishing and aquaculture for their source of livelihood. To that extent, they are home to various traditional practices like the Osun Osogbo festival, which celebrates the goddess of fertility and prosperity. In other countries with abundant water volumes, aquatic sport is very common; no wonder, many of such countries excel in swimming during Olympic Games. Expectedly, many Nigerian coastal cities would wake up one day to realise the resourcefulness of lagoons that abound in every corner of their respective localities.

Although, it is on record that in the past, successive administrations had implemented initiatives to conserve the lagoons’ environment, including clean-up exercises and waste management programmes in order to harness the benefits therefrom, but lack of continuity and inconsistency had been the bane of maximum benefits from the lagoons. However, there are ongoing efforts to develop infrastructure, such as jetties, bridges and roads, to improve access and connectivity for residents in order to improve their living conditions and ultimately derive the benefits from them.

On a final note, the experiences of these “amphibian” Lagosians and Nigerians living on the lagoons are complex and multifaceted, reflecting both the challenges and opportunities presented by their unique environment.