Drinking from a Shrinking Cup: Groundwater Depletion, Urban Flooding, and the Hidden Water Crisis Beneath Lagos, Nigeria
Keywords:
Groundwater depletion,, Urban flooding,, Climate change, Managed Aquifer Recharge, Water security, Urbanization, NigeriaAbstract
Lagos, Nigeria, is grappling with a growing but overlooked water crisis marked by recurring urban floods that coincide with groundwater depletion, diminishing water quality and increasing saltwater intrusion. This article provides a narrative literature review on the interaction between rapid urbanisation, climate change and unsustainable groundwater extraction that are jeopardizing water security in Africa's largest megacity. The review synthesises the evidence on groundwater status, flood dynamics, water quality and climate-related hydrological changes from peer-reviewed literature and institutional reports, 2012–2026. The results show that urban development has reduced natural aquifer recharge and that seasonal flooding often pollutes groundwater rather than replenishing it. Climate change adds to these pressures, with rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns and increased water demand. This article argues for the recognition of water as a core climate adaptation issue, and for strategies of integrated urban water management, including Managed Aquifer Recharge, that can simultaneously reduce flood risk, restore aquifer resilience and strengthen long-term water security in Lagos.
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