Managing the Impacts of Storm Surge on Victoria Island

Abstract Victoria Island has been experiencing acute erosion problems due to the construction of breakwaters at the entrance to the part of Lagos, the presence of Avon canyon near the coast, the steep nature of the coast and the nature of the waves. Recently, however, these erosion problems have bee...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Peter Chigozie Nwilo
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1997
Subjects:
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1050.72
http://hydrologie.org/redbooks/a239/iahs_239_0325.pdf
Description
Summary:Abstract Victoria Island has been experiencing acute erosion problems due to the construction of breakwaters at the entrance to the part of Lagos, the presence of Avon canyon near the coast, the steep nature of the coast and the nature of the waves. Recently, however, these erosion problems have been exacerbated by the more frequent occurrence of storm surges and relative rise in sea level. This has led to the loss of beaches, the flooding of buildings and the destruction of the infrastructure such as roads, drains, and water pipelines. During storm surge periods, the sea level has often risen by up to 2.0 m above normal. Government response has been in the form of regular beach replenishment and monitoring of the replenished coast. There is also a proposal to build breakwaters as a form of permanent solution. It is, however, suggested that a more permanent solution is the collection and analysis of sea level, surge, wave, bathymétrie and topographic data/information. These data will be of immense assistance in the design of an appropriate protection measure for Victoria Island. In addition, the design must take into consideration the impact of hard engineering measures on the Lekki Peninsula located on the downdrift side of Victoria Island.