Experts to examine rising flood risks, climate resilience at Orodata Monthly X Spaces
As climate change continues to intensify flooding across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, Orodata Science will convene climate experts, policy advocates and the public for its August edition of the Monthly X Spaces to explore practical solutions to one of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The virtual conversation, themed “Beneath the Surface: Rising Waters, Flooding, Climate Change & The Way Forward,” will hold on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (WAT) on X (formerly Twitter).
The data driven orgainsiation said that discussion comes against the backdrop of increasingly severe flooding across Lagos and other parts of West Africa, where climate change, rapid urbanisation, loss of wetlands and inadequate drainage infrastructure are amplifying the impact of extreme rainfall.
Scientists say climate change is making heavy rainfall events more frequent and more intense, while poor urban planning continues to increase communities’ exposure to flood disasters.
According to Nigeria’s 2026 Annual Flood Outlook, 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory face high flood risks, with coastal states including Lagos identified among the most vulnerable because of rising sea levels, tidal surges and intense rainfall.
Recent weeks have seen heavy downpours inundate several Lagos communities, disrupting transportation, damaging homes and businesses and highlighting the growing vulnerability of Africa’s largest coastal city.
Environmental experts attribute the recurring floods to a combination of climate change, blocked drainage channels, uncontrolled urban expansion and the loss of natural wetlands that previously absorbed excess stormwater.
The challenge extends beyond Nigeria. In June 2026, devastating floods affected several West African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, with scientists from the World Weather Attribution initiative concluding that human-induced climate change made the extreme rainfall event about five times more likely and increased its intensity by approximately 23 per cent.
Across the continent, the African Development Bank has warned that an emerging “super” El Niño could cost African economies between 10 billion and 20 billion dollars, reducing GDP in the hardest-hit countries by up to two per cent through damage to infrastructure, agriculture, water systems and livelihoods.
Climate experts also warn that the human cost extends beyond damaged infrastructure. Recurrent flooding is increasingly linked to displacement, livelihood losses, food insecurity and mental health challenges, particularly among vulnerable coastal communities.
The Orodata X Spaces will feature Dr. Archibong Akpan, Climate Policy Expert with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Lecturer in Climatology at the University of Uyo, alongside Ogunlade Olamide Martins, Associate Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
The session will be moderated by Benedicta Elikor of Orodata Science.
Participants are expected to examine the science behind rising flood risks, the role of climate change in worsening extreme weather events, adaptation and resilience strategies for cities such as Lagos, and the policy actions required to protect vulnerable communities while advancing sustainable development.
According to Orodata Science, the Monthly X Spaces provides a platform for evidence-based conversations that bridge science, public policy and civic engagement on critical environmental and development issues.
Researchers, policymakers, environmental professionals, journalists, students, civil society organisations and members of the public are encouraged to join the conversation and contribute to discussions on building climate-resilient communities across Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
