Makoko Research Document NLE

NL
Shaping the Architecture

of Developing Cities
Phone +31 748 361 575
contact@nleworks.com
www.nleworks.com
Brouwersgracht 821
1015GK Amsterdam
The Netherlands
MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL

RESEARCH REPORT APRIL 2012
SUPPORTED BY
MAKOKO IS A COMMUNITY ON WATER.

FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS IT HAS THRIVED ON
THE FISHING AND SAWING INDUSTRIES
PROVIDING OVER A THIRD OF LAGOS FISH
SUPPLY AND MOST OF ITS TIMBER.
IT IS A HIGHLY DENSE AND URBANIZED
AREA, YET IT HAS NO ROADS, NO LAND,
AND NO MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE.
MAKOKO IS AN INNOVATIVE AND
CONTEMPORARY MODEL FOR COASTAL
AFRICAN CITIES.
MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER CITIES PROJECT
MAKOKO
Photography :
Ade Adekola
CONTENT

INTRODUCTION
URBAN AND INFRASTRUCTURAL

ISSUES
11
1A Challenges and Conditions

1B How Makoko is Perceived
12
1C Life in Makoko
1D Project Location and Access
40
1E Sanitation, Sewage and Waste

Disposal Systems
1F Ecological impact on Marine Life
54
67
ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH
OF APPROPRIATE BUILDING
TECHNOLOGIES
31
46
57
2G Waste Management and Sanitation
116
2H Ideal Standalone System
119
2I
Other Makoko Building Projects
123
2J
Conclusions
125
SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND

EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE
SCHOOL AND BUILDING USE
140
3A School Program, Schedule and

Teachers
142
3B Community Programs, Social Patterns

and Cultural Events
145
4
68
LAND AND WATER USE

(REGULATIONS AND POLICIES)
152
2A Makoko Building Techniques: Learning

From Makoko
2B The Ganvie Experience
4A Makoko Land Legality, Ownership and

Jurisdiction
153
72
2C Building Materials Supply, Local

Availability and Durability
77
4B Lagos Inland Waterways and

Jurisdiction
154
2D Flotation & Anchoring Technoogy

Principles
82
4C Applicable Building Regulations,

Permits/Waivers, Rights and Licenses
155
2E Alternative/Reusable Energy Systems

and Installation
92
2F Water Supply, Storage and Treatment

Systems
102
MAKOKO
Photography :
NL
INTRODUCTION
Makoko community has adapted its lifestyle to its
environment and has become a city on water.
It builds wooden houses on stilts and
transportation is by canoes only. Although an
informal settlement, it is believed that about
100,000 people now call Makoko home. Due to
the impact of climate change, rising sea levels,
increased rainfall and flooding are becoming dayto-day reality for people of Lagos and other world
cities under similar coastal conditions.
With its current building quality and stilt
construction, Makoko is better prepared,
yet not completely spared. Although overall
living conditions are very poor and modern
infrastructure is not available, the people of
Makokos adaptation to their environment offers
valuable insights for addressing the imminent
challenges of rapid urbanization and climate
change in coastal cities.
In response to this, we propose to develop a

Floating School for the community. This school
will meet the immediate needs of the community,
at the same time be a new building for adapting
to the imminent impact of climate change.
Our proposal of a floating building addresses
different issues regarding flooding, poor building
structures and land titles. The project will also
provide a flexible multi-use space which can
be used outside of school hours by the entire
community for a range of purposes.
RELATED NEWS ON MAKOKO
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Within Makoko a nursery and primary school

facility was built, not even on stilts, but on
reclaimed land. The consequences are now
uneven settlement and recurrent flooding of the
school building, which hinders childrens access
to their basic need an education. The last
flooding occurred in October 2011.
BBC documentary: Welcome to Lagos:

Episode 2
Aljazeera documentary: Street Life in Lagos
TIME article: Intelligent Cities
Nigerian Tribune article: Amphibious
Residents of Makoko
The Guardian article: Images of the
Community of Makoko
RELATED NEWS ON FLOODING:

1.
2.
BBC article: Nigeria floods

BBC clip: West Africa meets for climate talks
WHAT WE ARE DOING
KEY BENEFITS
NL is developing a floating school for Makoko.

We began engaging the community through
comprehensive survey questionnaire, conducting
research and conceptualizing designs for the
school as a self-initiative in May 2011. Now, with
the support of the Heinrich Bll Stiftung, we have
funding for further research and documentation
of the school, the evironment and the community
needs.
1.
Our proposal for the Floating School is a bulding

that is self-sustaining and adaptable for other
building typologieshomes, community centres,
playgroundsto gradually cultivate an improved
quality of architecture, urbanism & living on water.
We would appreciate support or collaboration for
3 outstanding phases of the project to realise the
project by May 2012 (before the onset of heavy
rains).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Concept Design & Research (Funded by

NL)
Detail Research & Documentation (Funded
by Heinrich Bll Stiftung)
Design Development and Construction
Supervision
Building Construction & Operations cost
Post-occupancy Evaluation
Supports the immediate educational needs

of children
2. Provides a flexible space and a multi-use
facility for the larger community needs
3. Poverty alleviation strategy: through
integrated social development and gainful
employment of local skills and technologies
4. Addresses challenges of climate change:
mitigates urban flood risks and disasters
5. Furthers the development of water
settlements as an attractive and
contemporary way of living
6. Ecologically/Environmentally friendly and
responsible in energy use/building systems.
7. Addresses challenges of rapid urbanisation:
densification of inner city core
8. Re-usable modular building prototype that
increases the urban housing stock through
affordable, good quality, flexible housing
9. Identifies and unlocks an alternative to
reclamation of land as urban assets.
10. Creates opportunities for international
knowledge exchange and professional
practice
Please contact team@nleworks.com for more
information, collaboration or support.

CONCEPT DESIGN
Art wall (placeholder for student project) inspired by Yinka Shonibare

Location is suggestive only

INDIGENOUS
ECOLOGICAL
LOCAL MATERIALS
SELF SUSTAINING
ECONOMICAL
ADAPTABLE
MOVABLE
SAFE
FLOATING COMMUNITY

10
URBAN
AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL
ISSUES
1
11
1A CHALLENGES AND CONDITIONS
Photography:
Ade Adekola
12
MAJOR URBAN
COMMUNITY CHALLENGES
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
SANITATION AND
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER SUPPLY
AND MANAGEMENT
ELECTRICITY
MAJOR SOCIAL
COMMUNITY CHALLENGES
EDUCATION
HEALTH & SECURITY
Source:
NL questionnaire kindly responded to by inhabitants of Makoko
13
MAJOR ISSUES
1
2
3
Adelekan, Ibidun O. Vulnerability Of Poor Urban Coastal

Communities To Climate Change In Lagos, Nigeria
Adelekan, Ibidun O. Vulnerability Of Poor Urban Coastal
Communities To Climate Change In Lagos, Nigeria
Ibid.
80
TENANT
50
40
SQUATTING
60
OWNER
PERCENTAGE
70
30
20
10
0
MAKOKO
PERCEPTION OF FLOOD
OCCURENCE BY MAKOKO
INHABITANTS
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
NO CHANGE
90
DONT KNOW
RESIDENTIAL STATUS OF
MAKOKO INHABITANTS
100
VARIABLE
Flooding
Insecurity
Disease (malaria)
Waste accumulation
Inadequacy of the drainage network
Poor energy connection
Land ownership issues
The dominant housing type is wooden houses/
shacks (35%) followed by one-storey concrete
bungalows (22%)
A large number of Makoko residents are
tenants
10% of Makoko residents own their house
50% of households comprise of 4 6 persons
Most Makoko residents live there because of
existing family ties
Major flooding occurs 3 4 times per year
Flooding lasts up to 4 days
Rivers overflow due to blockage caused by
improper waste disposal
75% of residents observed no change in
frequency of flooding events1
60% of respondents in Makoko have been
living there between 2 and 10 years2
73% of respondents had no education above
secondary level3
PERCENTAGE
30
20
10
0
MAKOKO
14
Most Makoko residents claim that the process

of obtaining legal title is expensive and
laborious.
The titles of ownership known to most of them
are the building plan and land registration.
Most do not have these documents (see table).
The interviews show that most of the
respondents simply do not see the importance
of legal title in light of the quality of the
buildings and the general environment.
90
STUDENT
UNEPLOYED
40
WHARF WORKER
50
GOVERNMENT
60
ARTISIAN
70
TRADER
FISHERMAN
80
CIVIL SERVANT
OWNERSHIP
EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF
MAKOKO INHABITANTS
100
PERCENTAGE
Major occupations are fishery and trade

Some work in government employment and as
artisans
Around 19% are unemployed1
The land is owned by one large landowner
(Olaiya Family)
Only 7% have legal title of ownership2
30
20
10
0
MAKOKO
The existence of approved building plans is

refuted by the government officials in the ministry.
According to them, approved records of building
plans do not exist for more than 65% of buildings
in Lagos.
This claim of 65% contrasts with the 57.1%
of Makoko residents who claim to have an
1
2
Ibid.
Field Survey, 2006
15
approved building plan. This discrepancy could

be explained through incorrect answers given
by residents out of fear for reprisal, but there
are also indications that records of the citys
approved building plans are not properly kept.
LAND PROCUREMENT
Direct interviews revealed that very few of the
plots in Makoko have been purchased by the
current tenant. Most are instead occupied on
a leasehold basis, whereby the occupants are
required to pay an annual rent to the land owners
(in this case the family representatives).
A sizable proportion of the occupants admitted
that they moved in and occupied the space
without the consent of land owners (self
acquisition).
Self acquisitiong occurs especially in areas on
the lagoon (this Portion of the site belongs to
the federal government), and areas along the
canal at Ajegunle.
Some occupants claimed that they acquired the
occupied and developed land from their relatives
who were original occupants who had now
migrated elsewhere. There are instances where
the community found in these areasin this
case, the major ethnic grouphas a collective
leasehold title which is sublet to the community.
This arrangement is observed in Makoko, where

three major dominant groups, Ilajes, Eguns and
Ijaws, were identified.
SOURCE OF LAND PROCUREMENT
Government
Community (major ethnic group)
Family owner (Olaiya)
Transfer from previous occupants
Self acquisition
Purchased from vendor
7.1%
9.5%
57.1%
7.1%
11.9%
7.1%
REASONS FOR NOT HAVING LEGAL TITLE

Not interested
Will soon relocate
Not aware of the implications
Too expensive and laborious
16.7%
2.4%
14.3%
66.7%
MAKOKO RESIDENTS AND BUILDING PLANS

Have an approved building plan
Do not have an approved building plan
57.1%
42.9%
Source:
Urbanization, slum development and security of tenure: the
challenges of meeting Millennium development goal 7 in
metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria - FIELD SURVEY 2006 By Tunde
Agbola & Elijah M. Agunbiade
16
RECOMMENDATIONS
This research is intended as a wake-up call
to policy-makers and stakeholders in the city
of Lagos. The negative socio-economic and
environmental consequences of this process
need to be reduced both to solve currently
observed problems and to prevent future ones.
A forum involving all the major stakeholders
in the city should develop a vision of how to
regularize the citys informal settlements and
develop an inclusive city for all its citizens.
This must be preceded by a land audit to
assess the legal ownership of the land
occupied by informal settlements.
As recommended by the Lagos State Urban
Renewal Authority, all the identified blighted
areas should be declared and designated as
special zones or districts for regularization.
Source:
Urbanization, slum development and security of tenure: the
challenges of meeting Millennium development goal 7 in
metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria - FIELD SURVEY 2006 By Tunde
Photography
NL
17
We are a community with a great and

bright future. Yes, people living on
water, people that are great fishermen.
Noah Shemede
Community figure
Photography:
Bichop
Bishop
18
URBAN GROWTH OF LAGOS
1978 - current
1963 - 1978
1901-1962
Makoko
Lagos 1900
Source:
SNC-Lavalin Report 1995
19
COASTAL SETTLEMENTS & RECLAIMED

AND SQUATTED COASTAL LAND
Mile Market Aree
Ogudu Villege
Oworonsoki
Ilaje
Iwaya
Makoko
Okobaba
Otto
Ijora Olove
Badia
Marine Beach
Coastal
Coastalsettlements
settlements
Reclaimed
land
Claimed Land
Suatted
land
Squatted
Land
Source:
SNC-Lavalin Report 1995
20
CLIMATE IN LAGOS
RAINFALL
The average temperature in Lagos, Nigeria is

26.4 C (80 F).
The warmest average maximum temperature is
33 C (91 F) in February & March.
The coolest average minimum temperature is
21 C (70 F) in August.
Lagos receives on average 1,626 mm (64 in) of
precipitation annually or 136 mm (5.3 in) each
month.
There are 121 days annually on which more
than 0.1 mm (0.004 in) of precipitation
occursor 10 days in an average month.
The month with the driest weather is January,
where only two rainfall days are recorded with
40 mm (1.6 in) of total precipitation.
The month with the wettest weather is June,
where 20 rainfall days are recorded with 336
mm (13.2 in) of total preciptation.
Mean relative humidity for an average year is
84.7%, ranging from 80% in March to 88% in
June, July, September and October.
There are 1,885 sunshine hours annually and
approximately 5.2 sunlight hours for each day.
Average sunshine hours per day range
between 3.0 hours per day in July & August
and 6.7 hours per day in February.
While the mean annual rainfall for the 25-year

period 1971-1995 was 1,697.79mm, that for the
10-year period 1996-2005 was 1,647.26mm.
Although the difference in mean annual rainfall in
the two periods is not much, fewer rain days are
recorded during the more recent ten-year period
relative to the 1971 1995 period.
This demonstrates the fact that the fewer
rainstorms recorded in the latter period are
much heavier than those of the earlier period.
This creates a tendency towards producing
more floods.
Source:
http://www.climatetemp.info/nigeria/lagos.html
21
RAINFALL MEAN
120
100
80
60
40
20
y=0.253x+76.35
R2+0.040
2005
2000
1995
1990
1985
1980
1975
1971
MEAN
LINEAR (MEAN)
22
FLOODING
SEA LEVEL RISE ADAPTATION
ENGINEERING APPROACHES
Sea-walls
Groynes
Barrages and barriers
Elevation of infrastructure
Dolosse and gabions
Off shore reefs
Beach nourishment and replenishment
Water pumps
Beach drainage
BIOLOGICAL APPROACHES
Dune cordons
Coastal mangroves
Estuary and wetland rehabilitation
Kelp beds
Photography
Noah Shemede
SOCIO-INSTITUTIONAL APPROACHES
Vulnerability mapping
Risk communication
Enforcing a buffer zone
Preventing activity that compromises the
coastline (e.g. sand mining)
Early warning systems
Planned relocation
Source: UNEP, The Status of the Nigerian Coastal Zones, 2005
Photography
Noah Shemede
23
FLOODING
Makokos housing on stilts and use of waterways
for transportation and public space offers some
strong ideas which could resolve many of the
problems caused by flooding. However, Makoko
residents are still greatly affected by frequent
flooding due to their lack of effective coping
strategies for many of the impacts of flooding.
Community members noted that sections of the
community that have benefitted from improved
drainage systems experienced less flooding than
areas where the drainage system is poor. The
community addresses the flooding impact in the
following ways:
COMMUNITY LEVEL IMPACTS
IMPACT
COPING STRATEGY
Damage to roads
Roads are sand-filled or filled with wood shavings
Disruption of movement
Use of rain boots; taking available unaffected

routes. Residents are often left helpless
Dirty environment
Surroundings cleared after flood events
Flooding of community
Staying indoors while a community member(s)

clear blocked drainage channels
School children prevented from going to school
Children stay home until flood water subsides
24
HOUSEHOLD IMPACTS
IMPACT
COPING STRATEGY
Damage to and deterioration of building

infrastructure
Roads are sand-filled or filled with wood shavings
Flooded houses and rooms
Use of rain boots; taking available unaffected

routes. Residents are often left helpless
Prevalence of malaria
Surroundings cleared after flood events
Homelessness
Destruction/damage of household property
Relocation of property to outside the community;

keeping property above flood level
Disease
Use of local herbs/medicine
INDIVIDUAL IMPACTS
IMPACT
COPING STRATEGY
Poor health condition resulting from unnecessary

sickness, including different skin diseases
Effect on social relationships as friends/family
cannot visit each other
Disruption of economic activities
Scarcity of food
Source: Vulnerability of Poor Urban Coastal Communities to Climate Change in Lagos, Niberia by Ibidun O. Adelekan
25
CLIMATE IN LAGOS
Measured at an altitude of 40m
90
40
35
88
30
86
25
Temperatures
Precipitation
Wind Speed
Wet Days
Sunlight
84
20
Relative Humidity %
82
15
80
10
78
Jan
Source:
www.climatetemp.info
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Min Temp (oC)

Average Temp (oC)
Wet Days (>0.1 mm)
Average Wind Speed (Beaufort)
Relative Humidity (%)
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
76
Max Temp (oC)

Precipitation (cm)
Average Sunlight Hours/Day
26
FLOOD RISK IN LAGOS
PROJECTED FLOODING AFTER A

SEA LEVEL RISE OF 1 METRE
Source:
Bas van de Sande, GIS Consultant
27
SOCIAL CHALLENGES
Makoko faces immense challenges. The
government services are very limited. This reflects
a complete lack of governance or political
interest in the community. Community issues
are addressed by the Baalethe Chief and
most respected person in Makoko. The peoples
concerns relate primarily to poverty, crime,
unemployment, and the need for small-scale
businesses.
A great number of children living in Makoko
do not attend school. According to a needs
assessment conducted in 1998 with local chiefs
and other stakeholders, poverty and survival were
the major challenges facing Makoko residents.
Photography:
NL
Chiefs and parents were mainly concerned

about the high rate of teenage pregnancy and
anti-social activities of area boys (small gangs,
formed by young men who drop out of school
and misuse alcohol and drugs). On the other
hand the young people were concerned about
their parents inability to provide resources for
their education, parental unemployment, and the
unsanitary and cramped conditions in which they
lived. Young people often expressed a feeling of
helplessness.
In response to these concerns, several
organizations and foundations, in collaboration
Photography:
NL
28
with the Makoko community, offer different

community programs.
These programs take the shape of a variety of
projects, workshops, seminars and activities
involving education, health and human rights.
These images are from the Back to School
Project held at the Makoko HMI Youth Centre.
Source:
HIV prevention with especially vulnerable young people/
Case studies of success and innovation. Thomas Coram
Research Unit Institute of Education, University of London May
2006 p. 23-33
Photography:
Dipo Agoro
Photography:
Dipo Agoro
29
RECOMMENDATIONS
Our research identifies that urgent action and
attention is required in the following:
SEWAGE
EXPLOITATION OF FISHERY RESOURCES
Monitoring of health of the coastal

environment from sewage and solid waste
Low cost technology sewage treatment and
management facilities
Strengthening legal instruments for effective

management of fishery resources
Fish stock assessment
Community conscientization for sustainable
exploitation of fishery resources
Development of coastal aquaculture
SOLID WASTE
Implementing sound disposal methods
Implementing sustainable collection and
disposal techniques
Formulating and implementing waste
minimisation strategies
Waste to recycling strategies
Community conscientization of waste
disposals
OIL SPILLS
Remediating polluted areas
Improving facilities in Nigerian ports
Building capacity for oil spill management and
technical acquisition
Monitoring of oceanographic processes and
health of sensitive ecosystems.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Development of national climate change plan
of action
Inventory of Greenhouse gases
Coastal protection from flooding and erosion
resulting from sea level rise.
30
1B HOW MAKOKO IS PERCEIVED
Photography:
NL
31
HOW THE GOVERNMENT PERCEIVES MAKOKO
The government wants to clear watertop slums such as Makoko. It is willing

to assist in relocation for those with
a legitimate claim to businesses or
property, but those who built illegally
are another matter.
Photography:
NL
32
NIGERIA: HEAVY RAIN FORECAST - LAGOS

WARNS SLUM RESIDENTS TO RELOCATE
BULLDOZERS PURSUE NIGERIAS SLUM

DWELLERS
The work on the Makoko drainage channel is a

work in progress. What we are doing now is to
dredge so that we can reduce the instance of
flooding. Makoko is a low line area in the state, so
what we are doing is to minimise the instance of
flooding, but ordinarily people should not live in
the low line.
People in these communities built their houses

without adequate planning. We are resettling
them for their own good. If not climate change
will move them.
Tunji Bello
Interview by Olasunkanmi Akoni
AllAfrica.com
LAGOS AT CENTRE OF AFRICAS POPULATION
BOOM
Regarding Lagos wider challenges, Bello said
the state government is seeking to have more
affordable housing built as well as to attract more
industry to provide jobs. He acknowledges that
infrastructure has lagged far behind population
growth, blaming much of the problem on the
federal government, which Bello says has not
provided Lagos with nearly enough financing.
Tunji Bello
rnw.nl
Toyin Ayinde, State Commissioner for Physical

Planning and Urban Development.
Interview by Ekwtosi Collyer
rnw.nl
NIGERIA: POVERTY ERADICATION - LAGOS
GOVT TASKED ON MAKOKO
The OEF Programme Coordinator, advised
Government not to demolish/displace the
Makoko people whose lives are better on water,
but instead, to find ways and means of enhancing
their living standard through the provision of
educational infrastructures, health facilities,
portable water and improved environmental
sanitation.
Olumide Emmanuel, founder OEF
Interview by Iheanyi Alozie
AllAfrica.nom
33
HOW LAGOSIANS PERCEIVE MAKOKO
Consequently, irritated by
abandonment and frustrated by
enduring neglect, the people have
continued to wallow in the slum.
The government could build decent
houses and relocate the inhabitants.
Photography:
O. Osobu
34
MAKOKO: PRO POOR DEVELOPMENT

PLANNING AND SUSTAIN
I do not deny Makoko is a slum, I have only one
issue here, the Makoko shown to the world is
only 1 part of it, that is the area called Houses
on the Lagoon! Makoko is much bigger than the
decrepit houses you see from the third mainland,
it is a flourishing community.
Lagosian Blogger
makokoslum.blogspot.com
BORN, LIVE, WORK ON WATER

While Lagos bubbles with life and lots of
commercial activities, you need just a drive
around town, especially to Makoko in Yaba, to
see the other side of the City of Excellence,
where livelihood is on water and residents truly
living below one dollar a day.
Obinna Emelike
businessdayonline.com
ALL AFRICA
MAKOKO: THE WASTED VENICE OF LAGOS!

Consequently, irritated by abandonment and
frustrated by enduring neglect, the people have
continued to wallow in the slum, power outages,
sanitary problems and overcrowding, with many
residents surviving only on subsistence fishing.
Dele Aderibigbe
tribune.com
But not all about the Makoko area is bad. There

is a thriving catfish business in the area. One
can get to buy directly as the fishermen bring the
fishes they have caught to the shore. You may
also get the fishes cheap.
Accommodation in Makoko is also cheap. It
is cheaper than what you get in most parts of
Lagos. This is probably why many residents
would not be willing to relocate despite the acute
problems in the area.
Lagosian Blogger
AllAfrica.com
35
HOW MAKOKOS INHABITANTS PERCEIVE MAKOKO
We are happy and satisfied but we want

government to build us both primary
and secondary schools. We also need
boreholes to give us drinkable water.
Photography:
Flickr user mudpix
36
DAILY TRUST
FEARING THE FLOODS - SLEEPING WITH ONE

EYE OPEN
We dont want them to take us anywhere or give

us land anywhere. We are happy they way we are.
They should give us a councilor or representative,
so that we can enjoy from government too.
Sometimes our people fall sick and before we
take them to land where the clinic is, they die,
he pleaded. We are educationally disadvantaged
as not many among us have received formal
education. My people are more concerned about
feeding their families and training their children to
be better fishermen than about going to school.
Nobody wants to come and buy food while the

dirty flood water is everywhere. I normally get
very depressed whenever the flood prevents me
from selling food, I will always wonder where I
will get money to take care of my children, she
said
Faseun - local from Makoko
interviewed by Sam Olukoya
Ipsnews.com
Baale Makoko
Dailystrust.com
WE ARE THE ONES THAT SUPPLY LAGOS STATE

FISH BAALE, MAKOKO COMMUNITY
NIGERIA: LAGOS, THE MEGA-CITY OF SLUMS
For a long time now, we have been in good

relationship with the state government. They know
us as the fishing community of this area. Right
from the military regimes. When some areas were
demolished in the state, Makoko was left. We are
the ones that produce fish for Lagos State. The
fish eaten by Lagos people is from us.
We spend 20 naira [15 cents] to buy water every

couple of days and divide the electricity bill
between a few families, said Merunu. There
isnt enough money left over to send the kids to
school.
Merunu - local from Makoko
Irinnews.org
Victor Panke, Baale of Makoko

Interviewed by Onukwube Ofoelue
Nationalmirroronline.net
37
HOW FOREIGNERS PERCEIVE MAKOKO
Despite the extreme poverty,

squalor and inescapable stench, joy
exists even here where playful children
gawk and tease visiting outsiders and a
vibrant micro-economy of transactions
aboard makeshift boats seems
to somehow flourish.
Photography:
P. Utomi Ekpei
38
URBAN TRAVEL BLOG

Key to understanding the dynamics of this
heaving mess of a city, with its dozen or so million
residents crammed on top of each other, is a trip
to the shantytown canals of the lagoon village
of Makoko. Land is at such a premium in and
around Lagos, that what was once long ago a
small fishing village is now an open sewage slum
on stilts where the poorest of the poor have been
pushed off the land.
Photography:
Chris Osburn
Chris Osburn
Urbantravelblog.com
THE INDEPENDENT - UK
Lagos: Inside the ultimate mega-city
Chaotic, sprawling, dynamic Lagos inspires
and terrifies visitors in equal measure. How do its
citizens survive the worlds most extreme urban
environment?
Daniel Howden
Theindependent.co.uk
Photography:
Daniel Howden
39
1C LIFE IN MAKOKO
Photography:
Bishopi
40
URBAN
Industry
Community
Agriculture
Transportation
41
SOCIAL
Shopping
Recreation
Services
Adventure
42
PHYSICAL
Roofing
Facade
Structure
Materials
43
AESTHETIC
Reflection
Sunset
Refraction
Sunrise
44
CHALLENGES
Education
Sanitation
Housing
Utilities
45
1D PROJECT LOCATION AND ACCESS
Photography:
Ade Adekola
46
OVERVIEW
Makoko and its two-neigbouring communities,
Oko-Agbon and Ago-Egun lay like three
kwashiorkor-suffering triplets, victims of
government neglect. These three communities are
connected by a short bridge constructed over a
wide canal in which there is stagnant, black and
murky water.
Although the three communities are distinct,
they share common history, characteristics and
problems, and people generally refer to the whole
area as Makoko.
Makoko is situated in the south-east of the
Mainland Local Government Area and overlooks
both the Lagos Lagoon and the Third Mainland
Bridge to the east. The Mainland Local Planning
Authority estimates Makokos population at
85,840 in 2002 from the base population drawn
from the 1991 census.
The community is in two parts:

The major northern area which is the site of
most of the famous houses on the lagoon.
The minor southern area is against a collector
road along the south of the lagoon. Access
to this area is separate from the access to
the lagoon area, and therefore there is a clear
distinction between the two areas.
NEIGHBOURHOOD ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS IN MAKOKO
Accessible and well-drained
Accessible and marshy
Largely occupied
14.3%
64.3%
14.3%
Source:
Urbanization, Slum development and security of tenure: The
Challenges of meeting Millennium development goal 7 in
Metropolitan Lagos, Nigeria FIELD SURVEY 2006 By Tunde
A population projection based on the 1995 figure

of 51,336 and the growth rate of 7.5% means that
the population of Makoko was 85,168 as of 2002
and 113,740 in 2006.
The selected section of Makoko is 72 ha in size
with a population density of 713 persons per
hectare. It is located within a 500m boundary
from the coast line.
47
ACCESS
MAKOKO
Ebutte-Metta
Market Areas
Universities
Schools
Train Station
Accesses
48
MAKOKO
Photography:
Lagos State Goverment Orthophotography
49
MAKOKO SURROUNDINGS
2
7
6
1
5
50
Photography:
Panoramio user Summala
Photography:
Photography:
Photography:
Photography:
Panoramio user Matsumoto
51
Photography:
Panoramio user Nicki
Photography:
Panoramio user Tambek
52
PUBLIC SERVICES
Water reservoirs
Main accessways
Main water routes
Mosque
Schools
Community Centre
Floating School location
53
1E SANITATION, SEWAGE AND WASTE DISPOSAL
Photography:
Bichop
54
SANITATION IN LAGOS
SEWAGE AND WASTE DISPOSAL IN LAGOS
35 million cubic metres per day of wastewater

is generated in Africa, and Lagos State alone
generates 1.5 million cubic metres per day:
119 mgd (66 percent) from surface water
51 mgd (34 percent) from groundwater
There is no central sewage system in the

megacity.
There is a 430 mgd supply gap: 71% of

demand.
The water supply coverage is about 40% through
a pipeline network that runs north-south and
mostly services the eastern part of the city, and
excludes the large population in the western part
The informal water supply sector is substantial,
serving about 60% of Lagos State residents.
Cases of groundwater contamination through
seepage from buried petroleum pipelines have
been reported.
Less than 2% of the population is served with

off-site sewage treatment plants, and only toilet
wastewater is connected to septic tanks and
soakaway systems. Other household liquid
wastes are discharged directly into the mostly
open gutters in front of houses or on the streets.
The wastewater eventually percolates or is
washed into the water bodies by rainstorms.
Septic tanks and soakaway systems used in the
collection of toilet wastewater often contaminate
and pollute the shallow groundwatera vital
source of water to most low and middle income
residents.
Also, there is no septage treatment plant in the
megacity and the untreated septage is mostly
evacuated into the Lagos Lagoon.
The faecal contamination of the megacitys
water system and the environment through the
inadequate management of wastewater is an
important health concern.
55
SANITATION, SEWAGE AND

WASTE DISPOSAL IN MAKOKO
Sanitation in Makoko is grossly deficient. Most
people have no access to a hygienic toilet,
and most faecal waste is discharged into the
environment without treatment.
This has grave implications on the sustainable use
of the groundwater. The problem may worsen with
the rapid sprawling and growth of the population
if not properly developed and managed.
Common sanitation solutions include open
defecation, plastic-bag defecation, various types
of latrine, and in some cases pour-flush toilets
discharging into open drains. Much rarer are
pour-flush toilets discharging to septic tanks.
Photography:
Flickr user
There are no major wastewater treatment

facilities.
source & images:
what-when-how.com, wikiwater.com, Water and Sanitation Media
Network Nigeria, watsanmnet.wordpress.com
Photography:
Flickr user
56
1F ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ON MARINE LIFE
Photography:
NL
57
BIODIVERSITY AND WATER THREAT LEVEL IN AFRICA
Human water
security threat
low
high
Biodiversity threat
low
high
Source:
www.nature.com
58
CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES FACING FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
Two thirds of the nations most

vulnerable to climate change are in
Africa, where fish provides more than
half of the animal protein consumed
in some countries. Inland and coastal
waters are highly sensitive to climatic
variation, and adaptive capacity is
low.
High
Moderate Low
Very Low
Source:
www.thefishsite.com
59
NIGERIAN ECOLOGY
Nigeria shares a coastline with the Atlantic
Ocean approximately 853km long. This coast is
comprised of 4 distinct geomorphology units:
the Barrier-Lagoon Complex

the Mud Coast
the Arcuate Niger Delta
the Strand Coast
The coastal area is low lying, with elevations no

more than 3.0m above sea level, and is mostly
covered by fresh water swamps, mangrove
swamps, lagoon marshes, tidal channels, beach
ridges and sand bars (Dublin Green et al, 1997).
Nigerias total land and water area is 923,768 km2,
with the area of the land being 910,768 km2 while
that of water is 13,000 km2.
Source:
CIA World Fact Book, 2005
Photography:
Drinkula
60
LAGOS LAGOON ECOLOGY

The Lagos lagoon is the most extensive lagoon
system out of the several in the West African
subregion. The lagoon is part of the Nigerian
Barrier-Lagoon Complex.
This water is regarded as one of the most
productive aquatic ecosystems in the world,
and is of great socio-economic importance to
Lagos. (Kiener, 1978 cited in Laly and Moreau,
2005:28).
The lagoon is fed mainly by the rivers of Ogun,
Shasha, Oshun, Agboyi and Majidun, the Ogudu
creeks, and the waters of Epe and Lekki lagoons.
The lagoon empties into the Atlantic Ocean via
Lagos harbour. It contains brackish (slightly salty)
water.
The lagoon is 40 64km long and has two arms;
one connects with the Lekki Lagoon while the
other leads northward into the hinterland (Allen,
1965). The lagoon is shallow with depths of 1.5
3m (Ibe, 1988), and made up of a muddy and
sandy bottom. Its bottom relief is negligible.
Durand et al (1994) categorised the fish fauna in

West African lagoons into:
the littoral euryhaline marine species which
come seasonally or accidentally into the
lagoon
the estuarine species which live usually in
mixohaline inland waters
the continental or inland water species that are
only scarcely recorded in the lagoon as they
can enter them only when the water is fresh
Out of 332 species belonging to these three
categories of West African fish, 79 species have
been identified in the Lagos lagoon.
Lagos lagoon offers substantial diversity and
quantity of aquatic foods in the sub-region.
Pollution is already damaging the lagoon, its
ecosystem and the people who subsist on it.
Upsetting the delicate physico-chemical and
biological structure of the water even further
promises significant socio-economic and health
implications.
61
In many villages near oil installations, even

without a recent spill, an oily sheen can be seen
on the water. In fresh water areas this is usually
the same water that the people living there use for
drinking and washing.
In April 1997, samples taken from water used for
drinking and washing by local villagers had 18
ppm of hydrocarbons in the water, 360 times the
level allowed in drinking water in the European
Union (E.U.).
Another widespread problem is the introduction
of excreta into the water. No city in Nigeria has an
organised and effective sewage system. Excreta
is often evacuated straight into open water
bodies such as the Lagos Lagoon.
Photography:
Akintunde Akinleye
Even those Lagosians who try to dispose of their

waste hygienically by using septic tanks succeed
in polluting the lagoon. Waste handlers who
empty the septic tanks simply dump the excreta
into the lagoon without treatment.
Excreta contain enteric organisms such as
Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp. and E. coli that
contaminate and are harmful to fauna and flora.
Furthermore, these oxygen-demanding bacteria
also starve the water of oxygen, leading to
massive death rates of plants and animals in the
water.
Photography:
NL
62
Biologists contend that the level of contamination

from excreta and toxic hydrocarbons has
already made eating fish caught in the lagoon
unacceptably dangerous. This danger is
significant given that more than 70% of all
fish and other seafoods consumed by Lagos
residents on a daily basis continues to come from
the Lagos Lagoon.
The CO2 produced by excreta is also one of the
many factors in Lagos contributing to global
warming. Almost all parts of the community are
covered with a screen of seemingly never-ending
smoke, mostly from the burning of saw dust
and fish processing.This smoke, and the carbon
dioxide emitted by the same industries, brings a
significant and far-reaching risk on the climate of
the whole of Nigeria and Western Africa.
Photography:
NL
Sources:
Impacts and Management of Oil Spill Pollution along the
Nigerian Coastal Areas by Peter Nwilo.
Durand et June 2011 Journal of Sustainable Development and
Environmental Protection Volume 1 Number 1 95 al, 1994.
Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget 2004:9.
Raufu June 2011 Journal of Sustainable Development and
Environmental Protection Volume 1 Number 1 98 2006:1.
Photography:
NL
63
WETLANDS
Changing land cover in the Lagos coastal
area (Okude (2006) showed that between
1986 and 2002 the developed land cover
comprising residential, industrial, commercial,
transportation and other man-made use
increased from 85.44km2 (43.36%) to
111.89km2 (56.78%).
Similarly natural vegetation cover including
mangrove and swamp thicket reduced from
59.24km2 (30.06%) to 38.31km2 (19.44%)
naturally occurring water bodies comprising
the ocean, lagoons and streams reduced from
52.39km2 (26.58%) to 46.87km2 (23.78%) during
the same period.
In four coastal local government areas of
Lagos wetland loss of 38% to 100% (Taiwo,
unpublished manuscript, 2009)
TEMPORAL VARIATION IN WETLAND
COVERAGE (%) IN COASTAL LAGOS BY LGA
Coastal LGA
Apapa
Eti-Osa
Lagos Island
Lagos Mainland
Shomolu
Wetland Cover
1986
2006
14.0%
41.8%
17.0%
4.4%
8.6%
25.2%
6.7%
Loss of
Wetland
38.6%
37.8%
60.6%
100.0%
Photo:
Lagos State Government Orthophotography
64
OPTIONS FOR ALTERNATIVES
STRATEGIES
THE DUTCH EXPERIENCE
COMMUNICATION
We need joined-up, coordinated thinking and
action by all the interested and affected parties.
Much better community involvement and
engagement in the process
With the prediction that sea levels will rise by

about one metre this century, the Dutch are
reversing centuries of tradition to create natural
flood plains for rivers as well as rebuild mangrove
swamps as buffers against the sea.
Instead of raising dikes, the Dutch want to reclaim
land and build public recreation areas that can
absorb storm surges.
Rather than dredging sand to maintain beaches,
they are looking at dumping piles of sand
offshore to create sand engines shifted by the
tides.
TIME-SCALE
Need for a long-term strategic vision to be
embedded into the current planning, especially
land use allocations
INFRASTRUCTURE DIVERSIFICATION
Imperative, including building floating/amphibious
homes that can rise and fall with changes in sea
level.
INTEGRATED DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Marshes may be renewed to break the power of

incoming waves.
Source:
Prof. E. Oladipo - EkoAtlantic Forum 2012
65
ARCHITECTURAL
RESEARCH OF
APPROPRIATE BUILDING
TECHNOLOGIES
2
67
2A BUILDING PRINCIPLES & LEARNING FROM MAKOKO
Photography:
NL
68
COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE
ORGANISATION
PLANNED/ORGANIC?
69
BUILDING MAKOKO
Building on water is a challenge. Over the
years, the builders and craftsmen of Makoko
have mastered the art of building on stilts. Their
continually improving skill now allows them to
build multi-storey buildings.
Wood is the most common building material in
Makoko. The local sawmill industry makes lumber
readily available. This local wood is very durable
and resilient against the harsh conditions of the
Lagos Lagoon.
Traditionally the roofing is thatched. Today
corrugated steel and aluminium plates are
more common, though thatched roofs are still
widespread.
Local Building Technology
The people of Makoko use their scarce resources

to build structures on water, relying heavily on
the local supply industries. With the appropriate
expertise, there is a strong opportunity for
innovation for the future.
Pitched Roof
70
Global expertise
Local expertise
Documentation
Community involvement
71
2B THE GANVI EXPERIENCE
Photography:
UNESCO
72
GANVI AND MAKOKO SETTLEMENTS
MAKOKO
GANVIE
73
GANVI
74
GANVI
Ganvie is similar to Makoko in a lot of ways. It is
a lake village built on stilts in neighboring country
Benin, and is the largest lake village in WestAfrica.
Ganvie enjoys a widespread reputation for being
a lake village, and tourists from all over the world
are traveling there each year. Tourists describe
it as picturesque and beautiful, and it has been
dubbed the Africa Venice.
Since 1997 it has been listed as a World Heritage
site by UNESCO.
Photography:
Flickr user
As in Makoko, the main activity of the Ganvie

people is fish farming. Passed from father to son,
this traditional way involves creating an enclosure
which mimics the natural environment in which the
fish live.
Transportation is done by boat only and it there is
a floating market.
But like Makoko, Ganvie faces challenges. Waste
and rubbish, and the rising water level threatens
the town.
Source:
The Courier. Online magazine
Photography:
Flickr user
75
Tourism
Aquaculture
Photography:
NL
Photography:
NL
Photography:
NL
Photography:
NL
76
2C BUILDING MATERIALS: PROPERTIES & AVAILABILITY
Photography:
NL
77
HARVESTING WOOD
The total forest area of Nigeria is estimated at
over 13 million hectares. This area is devided
into forest reserves, with over 3 million hectares
designated as production forest. Of the 70 million
cubic meters of roundwood production each year,
almost ninety percent is used as fuelwood.
Harvesting is done by mill operators or
independent loggers. After harvesting, a
network of creeks and rivers allow for efficient
transportation of the logs to the Lagos Lagoon
and Makoko.
Ife
The timber industry is an important part of the

economy of Makoko. Wood is the most important
building material, and the sawmills also produce
timber for the rest of Lagos.
Onigambari
Forest
Aga-Owu
Shasha
Forest
Source:
Status of Tropical Forest Management, 2005
Og
u
nr
ive
Omo Forest
Oluwa Forest
un
sh
er
riv
ni
er
riv
Makoko
78
Photograph
Panoramo user
IMAGE?
Photography:
Panoramio user Matsumoto
79
LOCAL TIMBER PROPERTIES

local
availability
durability
workability
strength
weight
conservation status
950 1100
kg/m3
VULNERABLE
550 600
kg/m3
N/A
300 400
kg/m3
NOT THREATENED
EKI
lophira alata
AKUN
uapaca heudelotii
BAMBOO
Bambusa vulgaris
14-20 height and 20cm grid
80
WOOD INNOVATION
Corrugated wood
Ready for Use Advanced Wood
Steel wire net filled with wood leftovers from sawmill
Steel reinforcement as foundation for bamboo structures
81
2D FLOTATION & ANCHORING TECHNOLOGY PRINCIPLES
Photography:
NL
82
STRUCTURE CONCEPT
Increasing
tropical rainfall
+
Increasing
sea levels
LOCAL MAKOKO
TECHNOLOGY
GLOBAL FLOTATION
TECHNOLOGY
DERIVED
SOLUTION
83
FLOTATION CONCEPT
Poor stability and trim

Poor roof drainage
Good stability and trim

Poor roof drainage
Poor stability and trim

Good roof drainage
Very good stability and trim

Ideal roof drainage
84
FLOTATION OPTIONS
local
availability
local
technology
cost
construction
time
durability
maintenance
weight
LOCAL BOATS
CONCRETE ARK
PLASTIC CUBES
85
FLOTATION OPTIONS
local
availability
local
technology
cost
construction
time
durability
maintenance
weight
BARRELS
STEEL BARGE
CONCRETE-EPS
PLATFORM
86
PLASTIC SEGMENTS

NEXTFLOAT
www.nextfloat.net
ROLLING BARGE
www.rollingbarge.com
Construction
Connections
Lift
Info / Pros / Cons
Displacement of 74400 kg needed
Lift 93 kg per barrel

950 barrels (36x36 double layer)
950 barrels deliver 88 tonnes of lift
double layer standard
Lift 208 kg per barrel

384 barrels (double layer barrels)
384 barrels deliver 80 tonnes of lift
double layer not standard
Ships from Shenzhen, China
Ships from USA
+ Easy durable connection

+ Denser stacked. Pre-fab anchoring
+ Rigid frame
+ Easy to move after assembly
No rigid frame
Vulnerable construction
87
CONCRETE ALTERNATIVES

ARK
www.arkenbouw.nl
CONCRETEEPS
Construction
Connections
Cast in-situ
Needs special concrete mix
Cast in-situ
Needs special concrete mix
Lift
Displacement of 74400 kg needed (Akun)

(Akun)
11 m x 11 m x 0.65
Depth 65 centimeters
Delivers 78650 kg lift
Information /
+ Extra space
Pros ( + ) / Cons ( ) + High weight structure
Needs drydock
High-tech
11 m x 11 m x 0.65
Depth 65 centimeters
Delivers 74700 kg lift
+ Low-tech
+ High weight structure
Construction on water
88
TWO PREFERRED SOLUTIONS WITH

READILY AVAILABLE LOCAL RESOURCES
LOCAL BOATS
BARRELS
89
MODULAR BARRELS CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
90
ANCHORING OPTIONS
CENTRED POLE
CROSS-CHAINED TO ANCHORS
POLES ON SIDES
91
2E ALTERNATIVE/REUSABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

AND INSTALLATION
Photography:
NL
92
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
PV cells
ventilated roof
natural ventilation
roof top classroom
louvres for shade
classroom
local building
materials
playground and green

area
rain water collection and
storage
water line
floatation platform
93
MAKOKO ENERGY SUPPLY

Apparently Makoko has a power connection to
the national grid although the supply is erratic and
very few of the houses are serviced with installed
meters. It is speculated that about 5% of the
community obtains electricity by paying those on
land with electric meters to draw electricty from
the main power grid, while 19% use generators,
and the rest use candles and lanterns. At the
same time, illegal connections are rampant in
Makoko community.
The following investigation examines different
possibilities. The main focus is on renewable
energy sources and particularly sunlight,
wind and rain. In this case tidal energy is not
appropriate due to the fact that Makoko is
located in inland waters.
The ideal solution is to choose a stand-alone
sustainable and efficient system in order to
generate light, and power water pumps and
even small appliances.
Source:
Episode 2.Welcome to Lagos.BBC Two. Dir Gavin Searle. 22
Apr 2010. Television.
Photography:
NL
94
AVAILABLE RENEWABLE RESOURCES
SOLAR
WIND
RAIN
SUNSHINE ALL YEAR ROUND
NORTH EAST AND SOUTH

WEST WINDS
RAINFALL MOST OF THE

YEAR
95
OPTION A: SOLAR ENERGY
27A Charge Controller
210W PV panel
190W+ Inverter
AC Power
DEMAND
2000Wh per day
This demand accounts only for

lighting and small appliances
ENERGY COLLECTION
565W of total PV capacity needed
DC Power
24V Capacity
Battery Bank
(9568 Wh)
STORAGE / DISTRIBUTION
565W / 210W = 2.6 modules
Actual requirement:
Three x 210W PV modules
(1650 x 992 x 50 mm per module )
96
SOLAR ENERGY ROOF INTEGRATED PV PANEL
ROOF
ROOF INTEGRATED PV PANEL

ROOF ANGLE 60O
DC
LOADS
CHARGE
CONTROLER
BATTERY
AC
LOADS
INVERTER
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
97
SOLAR ENERGY FRAME MOUNTED PV PANEL
ROOF
FRAME MOUNTED PV PANEL

ON OPTIMAL YEAR ROUND
ANGLE 84O
DC
LOADS
CHARGE
CONTROLER
BATTERY
AC
LOADS
INVERTER
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
98
OPTION B: WIND ENERGY
WIND
TURBINE
190W+ Inverter
AC Power
DEMAND
2000Wh per day
ENERGY PRODUCTION
513KWH produced
DC Power
24V Capacity
Battery Bank
(9568 Wh)
e.g
1kW Roof-Mounted Wind Turbine
Rotor Diameter 1.75m

Mean wind speed 4m/s
99
ROOF MOUNTED WIND TURBINE
ROOF
ROOF INTEGRATED WIND

TURBINE
DC
LOADS
CHARGE
CONTROLER
BATTERY
AC
LOADS
INVERTER
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
100
ENERGY SUPPLY ALTERNATIVES OVERVIEW

PROS
CONS
PV PANELS
ROOF

ROOF ANGLE 60O
DC
LOADS
CHARGE
CONTROLER
BATTERY
AC
LOADS
INVERTER
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
Almost zero maintenance

Works even in cloudy days
Quick installation
No moving parts
Green energy source
Dependent on intensity and

duration of sunlight
Large roof area or other
appropriate space needed
Expensive installatiion
WIND TURBINES
ROOF
ROOF INTEGRATED WIND

TURBINE
DC
LOADS
CHARGE
CONTROLER
BATTERY
AC
LOADS
INVERTER
Stand alone systems could

produce enough electricity
for energy self-sufficiency
Possible to earn back setup
costs through selling power
to the grid
Green energy source
Requires ample space clear

of obstructions such as trees
and buildings
Heavier than PV panels
Dependent on wind intensity
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
COMBINATION
AND WIND TURBINE
DC
LOADS
CHARGE
CONTROLER
BATTERY
AC
LOADS
Increased power production

capability
Built-in redundancy
Green energy source
Complex and expensive

Produces power surplus to
requirements
Heavy installation
INVERTER
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
101
2F WATER SUPPLY, STORAGE AND

TREATMENT SYSTEMS
Photography:
NL
102
WATER AVAILABILITY
The Lagos water supply draws mainly from two
rivers: the Iju (170,000 m3/day) and the Owo
(265,000 m3/day). However, the availability of
water is steadily diminishing.
In his 2006 Human Development Report,
Matthew Gandy stated that only about 10% of
households have an in-plot connection, while
other households are depended on communal
standpipes, wells or surface water sources.
1000
Scarcity
Stress
2000
5000
6000 cm3
Vulnerable
Niger
Benin
Sudan
Senegal
Mauritania
Mozambique
Uganda
Ghana
Togo
Madagascar
Water availability per capita

in 1990
in 2025
Burkina Faso
Tanzania
Zimbabwe
Ethiopia
Lesotho
Mauritius
Comoros
Source:
Gandy, Mathew. Water, Sanitation and the Modern City
Colonial and Post-colonial Experiences in Lagos and Mumbai.
Human Development Report 2006. PDF file.
4000
Cte dIvoire
Nigeria
Also, the author reported that when municipal

authorities do attempt to extend water supply
to poorer neighbourhoods, they are often met
with violence and intimidation from water tanker
lobbies, area 13 boys and other groups who
benefit from the unequal distribution of water.
3000
Water scarsity
less than 1000 m3/person/year
Water stress
1000 to 1700 m3/person/year
Water vulnerability
1700to 2500 m3/person/year
South Africa
Egypt
Somalia
Malawi
Rwanda
Burundi
Kenya
Graph:
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA),
Addis Abeba ; Global Environment Outlook 2000 (GEO), UNEP,
Earthscan, London, 1999.
103
MAKOKO WATER SUPPLY

Despite Lagos being built around and in water,
and the ongoing flood risk, Lagosians cannot
get enough drinking water.
According to the United Nations Children
Education Fund (UNICEF) and the Department for
International Development (DFID), 20 to 40 litres
of water per person per day is considered to be
the necessary minimum to meet the needs for
drinking and sanitation alone.
However, the standard set by both of these
bodies is a mirage in some parts of Lagos due
to the increasing rates of population growth and
urban expansion. Makoko and many other slums
in Lagos are in short supply of water.
Photography:
NL
Investigations reveal that the majority of residents

depend solely on water from hawkers who sell a
jerry-can of water for N20, while many others buy
direct from operators of boreholes in their area.
According to the Baale of the community, Chief
Shomede Ajakaye, when the people of Makoko
cannot afford to buy water, they use the water in
which they live for washing and bathing; but even
then, the water is far too polluted for drinking.
Given the unreliability of the Lagos water system,
much more localised solutions need to be
Photography:
NL
104
developed. Noah Shemede, a community figure,

points out that there are no government agencies
involved in water distribution in Makoko, forcing
residents to solve the problems themselves. Many
inhabitants already begin to collect rain water
shortly after the rains start.
He also suggests that boreholes, which pump
clean, fresh groundwater from 40 50 meters
below ground level to the surface, should be
installed throughout Makoko.
Sources:
Femi, Akinola Lagos: Water everywhere, none to drink. Weekly
Trust. 10 Sep. 2011, Lagos.
Ebenezer,Adurokiya. Aphibious Residents of Makoko. Saturday
Tribune. 05 Jun 2010,Lagos.
Photography:
NL
Photography:
NL
105
MAKOKO WATER USE

Domestic chores performed every day in Makoko
involving water use include :
Housecleaning
Washing clothes
Watering fruit gardens
Sanitation Water
Bathing
For some chores the people of Makoko recycle

already-used water.
Photography:
Akintunde Akinleye
Photography:
NL
106
MAKOKO WATER DEMAND AND SUPPLY
MAKOKO WATER DEMAND
MAKOKO WATER SUPPLY
180 LITERS OF WATER
BOREHOLE OWNERS
PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY
FROM 10 TO 30 PER VESSEL
20 40 LITERS OF WATER
CANOE HAWKERS
PER PERSON PER DAY
20 PER VESSEL
107
OPTION A: RAINWATER
HARVESTING
Rainwater Harvesting is by far the easiest and
most cost effective way of collecting water.
Once the water catchment system is installed it
practically runs by itself. In addition, a rainwater
harvesting system is a perfect application for offgrid housing settlements. The concept is simple:
Collect, Store, Use.
LAGOS AVERAGE DAYS WITH PRECIPITATION

PER MONTH
16
13
12
11
12
11
9
6
4
In order to calculate the amount of water that we

are likely to harvest we use the following formula:
catchment area (m2 ) x RF (mm) x runoff

coefficient = net runoff (liters)
whereas:
footprint of the roofs drip line = catchment area
Rainfall in mm = RF and
1
Jan
2
Feb
2
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Note: The graph shows average amount of days

(24h) with precipitation during a month. When
precipitation has surpassed 1mm per day (24h) it
is defined as a day with precipitation. The mean
period is 19611990.
Source:
World Meteorological Organisation
0.9 = Proportion of total rainfall harvested

Source:
Lancaster, Brad, 2006. Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands, Volume
1, Appendix 3: Water Harvesting Calculation.
108
OPTION A: RAINWATER HARVESTING

WHAT DO WE NEED?
+
CATCHMENT
Aluminium roofing sheet
=
STORAGE
Floatation device with barrels
USAGE
Rain harvesting system
109
OPTION A: RAINWATER HARVESTING
ROOF
RAIN FALLS ON THE

ROOF AND IS COLLECTED
IN THE COLLECTION POINT.
4-HR
LIATED METSYS GNITSEVRAH RETAWNIAR
ELACS OT TON
.TIK NOITACIFIRUP & KNAT ERUSSERP ,PMUP ELBISREMBUS ,KNAT DNUORG EVOBA
4-HR
ELACS OT TON
PURIFICATION KIT
tiK noitacifiruP
VU
erusserP
knaT
PRESSURE TANK
erusserP
knaT
VU
leveL
rotacidnI
tnioP noitcelloC
retliF eniF xetroV
tiK noitacifiruP
tneV
leveL
rotactiedlnI yrallixuA )deriuqer sa ezis(
)deriuqer sa ezis(
tneV
)deriuqer sa ezis(
telnI yrallixuA
)deriuqer sa ezis(
wolfrevO
wolfrevO
ISP 54
elbisrembuS
pmuP deeF
COLLECTION POINT
ROOF GUTTER
noitcuS gnitaolF
retliF
noitcuS gnitaolF
retliF
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
wolfrevO
WATER IS FILTERED
1
THROUGH A
VORTEX FINE FILTER.
POSSIBLE 90% IS
MOVED
INTO THE
wolfrevO
STORAGE
TANK.
3
tnioP noitcelloC
1
retliF eniF xetroV
ISP 54
hctiweSlbtiasorelFmbuS
reptam
wuwPol(deeF
)ffo-tuc
4
telnI gnihtoomS
ot retlif xetrov morf retaw gniniameR 3
.wolfrevo
-wolf" leets sselniats - telnI gnihtoomS 4
etanimile ot ecived "gnimlac
ti sa retaw gnimocni eht fo ecnelubrut
.knat eht sretne
hctiwS taolF
retaw wol(
)ffo-tuc
telnI gnihtoomS
edarG
,sniard foor( tniop.wnooliftrceevloloc retawniaR 1
.)cte ,srettug
etandim
nailereotltifexceivtreodv "eghntim
srleatcne retawniaR 2
ti sa retaw gndim
ht0f9
oe
elcbnisesluobPr(ut.dessecorp si
etorecvniide%
.knat eht sre)t.nkenat egarots ot
VORTEX FILTER
REMOVES LARGE
rG
AND FINEedaDEBRIS
knaT egarotS
4
knaT egarotS
,sniard foor( tniop noitcelloc retawniaR 1

.)cte ,srettug
dna retlif xetrov eht sretne retawniaR 2
detrevid %09 elbissoP( .dessecorp si
).knat egarots ot
110
OPTION A: RAINWATER HARVESTING CONCLUSIONS

SCHOOL DEMAND
1.5 litres per student per day

x 100 students
54,750 litres of water per year
4,500 litres of water per month
150 LITRES OF WATER PER DAY
COLLECTION
HOUSEHOLD DEMAND
30 litres of water per family member

per day x 6 family members
65,700 litres of water per year
5 ,400 litres of water per month
STORAGE
60m2 catchment area

85,560 litres of water caught
per annum
7,130 liters of water caught
per month
Storage for two weeks supply

587 litres of water capacity
per barrel
3,000 litres of water storage
required
237 LITRES OF WATER

CAUGHT PER DAY
FIVE BARRELS REQUIRED

FOR WATER STORAGE
180 LITRES OF WATER PER DAY

111
OPTION B-1: DESALINATION WITH REVERSE OSMOSIS
ROOF
SUPPLY
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
WATER STORAGE
LAGOON INTAKE
FINAL TREATMENT
Chlorine
REVERSE OSMOSIS
Guard Filter
ULTRAFILTRATION
STORAGE TANK
112
OPTION B-2: DESALINATION WITH SOLAR DISTILLATION
ROOF
DISTILLATION SOLAR COLLECTOR
DRINKING WATER
BRINE DISPOSAL
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
PUMP
LAGOON INTAKE
113
OPTION C: BOREHOLE SYSTEM
SUPPLY
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
PUMP
STORAGE TANK
PIPE 40m-50m DEEP
114
WATER SUPPLY ALTERNATIVES OVERVIEW

PROS
ROOF
RAIN FALLS ON THE

4-HR
ELACS OT TON
4-HR
ELACS OT TON
PURIFICATION KIT
tiK noitacifiruP
VU
erusserP
knaT
PRESSURE TANK
erusserP
knaT
tnioP noitcelloC
retliF eniF xetroV
tiK noitacifiruP
VU
leveL
rotacidnI
telnI yrallixuA
)deriuqer sa ezis(
wolfrevO
wolfrevO
ISP 54
elbisrembuS
pmuP deeF
COLLECTION POINT
ROOF GUTTER
noitcuS gnitaolF
retliF
noitcuS gnitaolF
retliF
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
WATER IS FILTERED
1
THROUGH A
VORTEX FINE FILTER.
POSSIBLE 90% IS
MOVED
INTO THE
wolfrevO
STORAGE
TANK.
3
tnioP noitcelloC
1
retliF eniF xetroV
tneV
leveL
)deriuqer sa ezis(
tneV
)deriuqer sa ezis(
wolfrevO
hctiwS taolF
retaw wol(
)ffo-tuc
ISP 54
reptam
wuwPol(deeF
)ffo-tuc
telnI gnihtoomS
telnI gnihtoomS
.wolfrevo
.knat eht sretne
edarG
,sniard foor( tniop.wnooliftrceevloloc retawniaR 1
.)cte ,srettug
etandim
ti sa retaw gndim
ht0f9
oe
etorecvniide%
VORTEX FILTER
REMOVES LARGE
rG
AND FINEedaDEBRIS
knaT egarotS
4
knaT egarotS

.)cte ,srettug
).knat egarots ot
RAIN HARVESTING
Rainfall all year round
Back up water supply
The physical and chemical
properties of rainwater are
often superior to those of
groundwater or surface water
CONS
Relies on frequency and

amount of rainfall
Impact on overall
construction cost
Stored rainwater can foster
bacterial growth
ROOF
DESALINATION
North-east and South-west
winds
Secure source of water
Safe and purified water
SUPPLY
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
WATER STORAGE
LAGOON INTAKE
FINAL TREATMENT
Chlorine
REVERSE OSMOSIS
Guard Filter
ULTRAFILTRATION
Removal of healthy, naturally

occuring minerals from water
More water wasted
Brine water is a waste
byproduct
STORAGE TANK
BOREHOLE
In most cases borehole water
does not require treatment
The only operating cost is the
electrical supply for the pump
Systematic water purity

checks required
Filters and other treatment
may be necessarry
Installation can be expensive
SUPPLY
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
PUMP
STORAGE TANK
PIPE 40m-50m DEEP
115
2G WASTE MANAGEMENT AND SANITATION

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
COMPOST TOILETS
A compost toilet provides a complete circulation
of nutritious substances. The contamination of
streams, lakes and seas will be reduced. There is
no use of fresh water. It is important especially in
areas with a lack of water.
DRY BAMBOO LEAVES
BAD SMELLS
OPERATION
AIR VENT
In a compost bin the waste from a toilet will,

together with a supply of air, be broken down
into compost. The heat generated by the
decomposition will cause fluid to vapourise. This
vapour is then evacuated through a ventilation
pipe. The waste will be drastically reduced in
volume and be emptied normally every second
year.
FAN
BARREL
RESULT
10 40 litres compost per person and year, which
can be used to improve the soil.
COSTS
DRY BAMBOO LEAVES

MANURE
DRAINAGE STONES
None, except when using a 30 Watt ventilator.

116
COMPOST TOILETS IMPLEMENTATION

DESIGN CONCEPT
COLLECT
STORE
USE
117
COMPOST TOILETS IMPLEMENTATION

ROOF ANGLE 60O
BAD SMELLS
TOILET
FAN
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
SEPTIC TANK
118
2H IDEAL STANDALONE SYSTEM
AIM:
AN EFFICIENT STANDALONE SYSTEM
POWERED BY PV PANELS
119
STANDALONE SYSTEM
ROOF
RAIN FALLS ON THE

ROOF ANGLE 60O
CHARGE
CONTROLER
BATTERY
INVERTER
4-HR
ELACS OT TON
4-HR
ELACS OT TON
PURIFICATION KIT
tiK noitacifiruP
SUPPLY
VU
erusserP
knaT
PRESSURE TANK
erusserP
knaT
VU
leveL
rotacidnI
tnioP noitcelloC
retliF eniF xetroV
tiK noitacifiruP
tneV
)deriuqer sa ezis(
tneV
leveL
)deriuqer sa ezis(
telnI yrallixuA
)deriuqer sa ezis(
wolfrevO
wolfrevO
PUMP
FLOATATION
TECHNOLOGY WITH
BARRELS
ISP 54
elbisrembuS
pmuP deeF
wolfrevO
noitcuS gnitaolF
retliF
ISP 54
reptam
wuwPol(deeF
)ffo-tuc
hctiwS taolF
retaw wol(
)ffo-tuc
COLLECTION POINT
ROOF GUTTER
VORTEX FILTER
REMOVES LARGE
rG
AND FINEedaDEBRIS
knaT egarotS
4
knaT egarotS

.knat eht sretne
noitcuS gnitaolF
retliF
4
telnI gnihtoomS
STORAGE
TANK
telnI gnihtoomS
587 LITRES
PER
,sniard foor( tniop.wnooliftrceevloloc retawniaR
.)cte ,srettug
.wolfreBARREL
vo
PIPE 40m-50m DEEP
WATER IS FILTERED
1
THROUGH A
VORTEX FINE FILTER.
POSSIBLE 90% IS
MOVED
INTO THE
wolfrevO
STORAGE
TANK.
3
tnioP noitcelloC
1
retliF eniF xetroV
edarG
1

etandim
ti sa retaw gndim
ht0f9
oe
etorecvniide%

.)cte ,srettug
).knat egarots ot
120
PROPOSED APPLICATIONS AND ESTIMATED LOADS

Equipment/
Load
Powered by Qty
Load
Total Load
(see below)
(Watts)
(Watts)
Hours used Total Energy Use

per day
per day (Watt hours)
AIR CONDITIONING/VENTILATION
Fans
DPN
10
10
100
600
PV-Direct
1
1
70
500
70
500
4
4
280
2000
1500
1500
1500
2000
2000
2000
1
1
1
1
100
20
10
150
100
20
10
150
8
6
2
2
800
120
20
300
20
4
10
40
200
160
8
12
1600
1920
WATER SUPPLY
Water delivery
Borehole pump
PV-Direct
WATER TREATMENT PLANT

All equipment
DPN
SOIL AND WASTE WATER DISPOSAL

Sewage treatment
DPN
POWER TO SOCKETS
Computer
Television
DVD player
Projector
DPN
DPN
DPN
DPN
LIGHTING
LED fluorescent
LED fluorescent
DPN
DPN
TOTAL ENERGY USED PER DAY IN WATT HOURS

DPN = DISTRIBUTED POWER NETWORK
11,140 Wh
or 11.14 kWh
121
ESTIMATED MAJOR EQUIPMENT TO BE INSTALLED
210W PV panel
5000 Inverter
AC Power
SCHOOL DEMAND
11,140Wh per day
ENERGY COLLECTION
2,955.5W of total PV capacity needed
DC Power
24V Capacity
Battery Bank
(91471 Wh)
2,955.5W / 175W = 20 modules
Actual requirement:
20 Solar Modules of 175Wp, 17.4V, multicrystalline
silicon
24 Deep cycle batteries 210AH, 12V, deep cycle
VRLA
1 Inverter 5000W, 230VAC pure sine wave inverter
122
2I OTHER MAKOKO BUILDING PROJECTS
Hope Floats project:

Makoko Amphibious Clinic
Isi Etomi:
Canoe Stop
Student project:
Water Hyacinth Harvesting
Student project: Empowering Makoko

Wale Falde
123
Earth Architecture Project:

The Oil Barrel House
Student Project:
Amphibious Dwelling
Komi Olafimihan Project:

Makoko FIshing Community Project
Student project:
Amphibious Dwelling
124
2J CONCLUSIONS
125
FLOATING BUILDING
PHOTOVOLTAICS
ROOF
S
FURNITURE
SHELL
FRAME
GREEN AREAS
TOILET
FLOATING
PLATFORM
126
PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION
8
1
FLOTATION PLATFORM
SERVICES AREA
ACCESSIBILITY
OPEN GREEN SPACE
PLANTING AREAS
TOILET
CLASSROOMS
OPEN AIR CLASSROOMS
5
2
4
1
127
BUILDING ASSEMBLY
SITE
ROOF
FLOATING PLATFORM
FRAME
SHELL
128
SITE
ANCHOR POINTS
Aluminium
FLOATING
PLATFORM
SURFACE WATER
129
FLOTATION PLATFORM
BARRELS
Plastic
PLATFORM FRAME
Aluminium/Wood
FLOATING
PLATFORM
SURFACE WATER
130
ROOF
PHOTOVOLTAICS
20 panels 174Wp
ROOF 03
Aluminium/Thatch
ROOF 02
Bamboo joists
ROOF 01
hardwood beams
131
SHELL
SOUTH FACADE
Bamboo Louvres
WALLS
Bamboo/Aluminium
NORTH FACADE
Bamboo Louvres
132
FRAME
FRAME
hardwood
133
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
134
RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS DIAGRAM

S o l a r
energy
PV panels
Batteries
+
Supply
-
Green waste
Compost unit
Compost
Food
Rainwater
Storage
Filration
Shower
Washing
Greywater
Helophytes
Filter
Drinking
Cooking
Borehole
Toilet
Irrigation
Surface
water
Septic tank
& Bio-Rock
135
WATER
Rain and borehole water
is stored in a 1000 Liters
tank(1).The collected water
then passes to a vortex
filter and pressure pump.
Afterwards, this water could
be used for irrigation and
domestic use (2). For drinking
water further filtration is
necessary (3). All the grey
waste water that is produced
could be temporarily stored
in a grease trap tank and
then purified in a helophytes
filter (5). The effluent from 9
the constructed wetland is
then used to rinse the toilet
and as irrigation water for
the plants (6). The water for
sinsing the toilet is called
black water. Black water
settles into a septic tank (7)
before final purification is
carried out by a BIOROCK
filter (8). The purified water
then could be released in the
lagoon surface or be re-used
as grey water.
7
6
5
H 2O
4
3
H 2O
UV FILTERS
VORTEX FILTER
H 2O
136
ELECTRICITY
Generating electricity is one
of the most crucial aspects in
a stand alone system. Based
on the climate conditions
solar energy is our best
option to provide electrical
energy to the school.
Thus, we use PV Panels.
At the same time, as a
supplamentary system, there
could be the option of biogas production the toilet and
kitchen waste. The surplus
electrical production could
power near by houses.
137
FOOD
The idea is that the platform
could funtion as a food
production are (vegetables
agriculture). The plants are
watered with grey water (1)
filtered by the helophytes
filters (2). If insufficient stock
tain water can be made of
use (4). The organic waste
together with a portion of the
CH CO
waste water are collected
6
in a 1000 Liter tank (5) in
which methane is captured
for biogass production for
the possibillity of cooking (6).
The combination with black
water is possible but could
make the system significally
complex and harder to use
the remaining effluent as a
fertilizer for the vegetable
garden.
4
3
2
H 2O
138
SOCIAL, CULTURAL
AND EDUCATIONAL
NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL
AND BUILDING USE
3
140
WHAYINNA NURSERY PRIMARY SCHOOL
Photography:
NL
141
3A SCHOOL PROGRAM, SCHEDULE AND TEACHERS
Photography:
NL
142
1 SCHOOL*
1 SCHOOL*
8 TEACHERS
8 TEACHERS
32 STUDENTS PER TEACHER
50 N
50 NN
10,000
236,000
10,000 N

PER DAY PER STUDENT
PER DAY PER

STUDENT
TEACHER
SALARY
PER MONTH
TEACHER
SALARY
PER MONTH
TOTAL
SCHOOL
REVENUE
PER MONTH
* Whayinna Nursery and Primary School is the
only school in Makoko with an English curriculum.
143
MAKOKO SCHOOL SYSTEM
250 STUDENTS
1000+ CHILDREN ON WAITING LIST IN MAKOKO
In private unregistered schools:
7500 N
5000 N
Term fee per

schoolyear
Senior secondary 1
Junior secondary 1
Junior secondary 3
Primary 1
Primary 6
Nursery 1
2500 N
Nursery 3
58% have electric light

60% have a playground
31% have a library
79% have toilets
48% have drinking water
33% have computers
Source:
Private and public schooling in low-income areas of Lagos State.
Tooley J., Dixon P., Olaniyan O. 2006
144
3B COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, SOCIAL PATTERNS

AND CULTURAL EVENTS
Photography:
NL
145
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
EDUCATION
CULTURE
RECREATION
1 SCHOOL*
8 TEACHERS
COMMUNITY
50 N
10,000 N
PER DAY PER STUDENT
TEACHER
SALARY
MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER
CITIES PROJECT
PER MONTH
146
MAKOKO SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Makoko enjoys a rich culture and heritage. A wide
mixture of cultures and languages from all over
West Africa have found a home in Makoko, and all
seem to peacevully co-exist.
This is made possible in part by the respect each
inhabitant of Makoko shares for its deeply rooted
tradition. Traditional practices such as Shaman
consultation and medicine, superstition, rituals
and traditional celebrations are still abundant.
Family is also very important. The elders expect
respect and assistance from their children.
Despite the use of communication technology
such as mobile phones, news in Makoko still
travels by word of mouth.
Source:
Episode 2. Welcome to Lagos. BBC Two. Dir Gavin Searle. 22
Apr 2010. Television.
Photography:
NL
147
MAKOKO SOCIAL STRUCTURE
THREE MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS

Eguns, Ilajes and Igbo
BAALE
Community Leaders
SHAMAN
Spiritual and physical doctors
AREA BOYS
Gangs of unemployed youth
WORKING CLASS
Fishermen, traders, teachers, etc.
148
MAKOKO 1981
Source
Kentina Earth Sciences Interntional Canada 1981 in SNC-Lavalin (1995)
149
MAKOKO 2012
Photo
Lagos State Government Orthophotography
150
MAKOKO 2012
>100,000
~20,000
6-8
area approx. 0.8km2
per
~40,000
151
LAND AND
WATER USE,
REGULATIONS
AND POLICIES
4
152
4A MAKOKO LAND LEGALITY, OWNERSHIP

AND JURISDICTION
Typically a planning permit is required to develop
property in Lagos State. The Lagos State Physical
Planning Permit Authority (LaSPPPA) is the
government agency responsible for issuing the
permit to owners/developers in the State. The
Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and
Development Act 2010 in section 102 defines
development to include the carrying out of
any building, mining, or other operations in, on
or under any land. Land is defined to include
land covered with water and everything attached
to the earth or permanently fastened to anything
which is attached to the earth.
It appears therefore that the intention is
to extend the authority of the LaSPPPA
to buildings resting on (or fastened to
permanent structures in) water bodies such as
the Lagos Lagoon.
LaSPPPA (through its supervisory ministry, the

Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and
Urban Development) says that although large
swathes of Makoko is Federal Government (FG)
property, Lagos State Government (LaSG) has
made and continues to make a claim over the
area, as a result of the Federal Governments
continued lack of plans for the area. The official
we talked to added that ownership of land
in the area is complicated: some areas are FG
owned, some parts have been reclaimed by
LaSG, and others are areas which have been
allocated to owners by the FG. He then advised
that the best way to obtain land in the area is
to buy from the local owners who have been
allocated land by the FG.
The question remains whether a structure such

as the proposed school constitutes a building for
planning approval purposes.
153
4B LAGOS INLAND WATERWAYS AND JURISDICTION

The National Inland Waterway Authority Act
establishes the National Inland Waterway
Authority (NIWA) and empowers the Authority
to exclusively manage, direct and control all
navigable waterways, inland waterways, riverports and internal waters of Nigeria. The NIWA
Act defines inland waterways to include all
waterways, rivers, creeks, lakes, tidelands,
and lagoons below the low water baseline. The
Interpretation Act gives a similar definition for
inland waters. Section 11 of the NIWA Act vests
the duty of management, direction and control
of, amongst others, inland waterways, in NIWA.
This duty was affirmed by the Court of Appeal
in Gani-Tarzan Maritime Enterprises v. Caravelle
Resources and Investments, Ltd CA/L/10/09.
However, the Lagos State Government (LaSG)
has variously asserted that NIWA has no right
over the land comprised in the Lagos Lagoon.
We are not aware of any instance in which this
issue has had to be decided, or even resolved in
practice. However, it may be the case that LaSGs
case is premised on the fact that the FGNs
constitutional authority to legislate on inland
waterways is limited to shipping and navigation
thereon. It is possible that, if the matter comes
before the courts (which have the ultimate
authority to interpret statute law), the position
advanced by LaSG may not or may be accepted.

But the position now is that the NIWA Act remains
valid law until upturned (we note however that the
Supreme Court has held in the case of Attorney
General of Lagos St. v. Attorney General of
the Federation, 2003 12 NWLR pt.833 p.1 that
the power of making planning laws is reserved
exclusively by the constitution to the States).
NIWA claims to be responsible for regulating
the construction of buildings within the
area. They have however refused to give any
information on the regulatory requirements
for the construction of a school within the area
without embarking upon a physical inspection
of the proposed site. Allegedly this is because
the Makoko area is zoned for different uses and
until they get to the site in order to ascertain
the use to which the specific area was zoned
to, it would be impossible to provide us with the
relevant guidelines.
By the NIWA Act, legal title to the land
comprised in the Lagoon is vested in NIWA,
and the authority may grant permission to
construct the building or moor the watercraft
without necessarily granting title to the land,
LaSG however asserts the right to approve the
development plans.
154
4C APPLICABLE BUILDING REGULATIONS,

PERMITS/WAIVERS, RIGHTS AND LICENSES
BUILDING REGULATIONS
The procedure is outlined below:
Some building restrictions/regulations do appply

in the Makoko area. The Lagos State Government
has zoned different parts of Makoko for different
uses, each with their own set of specifications
and guidelines. A survey plan of the property
would need to be submitted to the Lagos
State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban
Development in order to determine what
restrictions, if any, apply.
1.
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
The following documents must be submitted in
order to obtain a building/development permit
(the typical case being on land):
2.
Survey plan of the property

Structural/architectural drawings of the
proposed building;
Physical planning report (to be prepared by a
town planner); and
Tax clearance certificate of the applicant
(in the case of a corporate applicant, of its
directors).
3.
Submit survey plan of the property. The

survey plan would be charted by the officials
of LaSPPPA, in order to ascertain what
the area has been zoned for, and whether
the property has been or is intended to be
acquired by the Lagos State Government. It
is only after this has been done that specific
guidelines on the height of the building,
approved density, etc. may be obtained.
LaSPPPA will also assist to ascertain if the
government has an operational plan for the
area in which the property is located.
Complete the purchase of the property and
perfection of applicants title in the property
(the application would not be processed
without the Governors consent).
Submit a formal application with the
requisite documents (an application form
will be provided after we have submitted the
above documents).
Barring any complications, the process usually

takes about a month to complete if all the
documents are satisfactory.
155
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT

An additional construction permit is required for
schools from a department of the Lagos State
Ministry of Planning and Urban Development.
The cost of this permit will be determined only
upon presentation of the survey.
WATERCRAFT PERMIT
The National Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA)
Act dictates that all watercraft in Nigerias inland
waterways be registered with NIWA. Niwa also
claims to be responsible for regulating the
construction and operation of buildings within
the area. However, they have refused to give
any information on the regulatory requirements
for the construction of a school within the area
without embarking upon a physical inspection of
the proposed site. Allegedly this is because the
Makoko area is zoned for different uses, and until
they get to the site in order to ascertain the use
to which the specific area was zoned to, it would
be impossible to provide us with the relevant
guidelines.
institutions but does not include any institution

established by the State Government) anywhere
in Lagos State is required to obtain approval
from the Lagos State Ministry of Education. The
application for approval is required to be made
at least 12 months prior to the commencement
of the private institution. The procedure for
obtaining such approval involves the submission
of the following information to the Commissioner
for Education:
Name and address of the proprietor of the
institution
Type of institution
Situation of the institution and plan of the
buildings
Number and type of classes and the medium
of instruction proposed
The Commissioner may give the approval
where he is satisfied that the building proposed
to be used as a private institution is properly
constructed and equipped.
Source:
Ikeyi & Arifayan, Legal Practitioners
SCHOOL OPERATION PERMIT

A person intending to establish and operate a
private educational institution (any pre-primary,
primary, post-primary, technical, vocational,
remedial, training centers or any similar
156
PERMISSIONS PROCESS
WATERCRAFT
PERMIT
CONSTRUCTION
PERMIT
SCHOOL
CONSTRUCTION
PERMIT
SCHOOL
OPERATION
PERMIT
NATIONAL INLAND
WATERWAYS AUTHORITY
LAGOS STATE PHYSICAL

PLANNING PERMIT
AUTHORITY
LAGOS STATE PHYSICAL

PLANNING PERMIT
AUTHORITY
LAGOS STATE MINISTRY

OF EDUCATION
NIWA HAVE REFUSED TO

GIVE ANY INFORMATION
ON THE REGULATORY
REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION
OF A SCHOOL WITHOUT
EMBARKING UPON A
PHYSICAL INSPECTION
OF THE PROPOSED SITE
PROCESS
1. REQUEST SITE SURVEY
2. COMPLETE PROPERTY
PURCHASE
3. SUBMIT DOCUMENTS:
application form
site survey
structural/architectural
drawings of the
proposed building
physical planning report
tax clearance certificate
PROCESS
APPLICATION MADE
CONCURRENTLY WITH
CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
PROCESS
1. SUBMIT DOCUMENTS:
application form
name and address of
institutions proprietor
type of institution
site survey
plan of buildings
number of classrooms
and proposed medium of
instruction
L x W x H x 128
= 288,000
COSTS + TIMEFRAME
1. 288,000 to the Lagos
State Government
LxWxH x 128 to the
Lagos State Government
2. Plus 28,800 (10%)
to the Town Planning
Authority
3. Plus 30,000 to the Local
Government
FURTHER DETAILS ON
THE PROCESS WILL BE
DETERMINED ONLY UPON
PRESENTATION OF THE
SITE SURVEY
COSTS + TIMEFRAME
THE COST OF THIS
PERMIT WILL BE
DETERMINED ONLY UPON
PRESENTATION OF THE
SITE SURVEY
COSTS + TIMEFRAME
COSTS NOT YET KNOWN
THIS APPLICATION
MUST BE MADE
AT LEAST TWELVE
MONTHS PRIOR TO THE
COMMENCEMENT OF
THE INSTITUTION
157
NL Online video: Makoko Floating School Research Document VIdeo
158

VISION PLATFORM
Innovative way to address social and physical
needs in relation to climate change in an
urbanizing African context
Makoko Community
NGOs
Government/
Authorities
Sponsors
Technical Partners
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Architecture
& Building
Construction
Environmental &
Climatic
Dynamics
Energy &WATER
Infrastructure
Social &
Educational
Issues
Innovative Building
Solution
159
CURRENT STAKEHOLDERS / COLLABORATORS / ALLIANCES

TECHNICAL COLLABORATORS
MAKOKO
COMMUNITY
POTENTIAL STAKEHOLDERS / COLLABORATORS / ALLIANCES
160
OUR INTEREST
NL TEAM
Our interest is to contribute to responsible and

economically viable developments of African
coastal cities. With our increasing alliances
and supporters, we share a collective vision to
develop contemporary African Cities on water.
Kunl Adeyemi, Rafe Copeland, Marije

Nederveen, Chryso Onisiforou, Berend Strijland,
Monica Velasco B.
For more information and inquiries, email
contact@nleworks.com
With the unique combination of our background,

experience, and global network, our interest is
in the establishment of a solutions and advisory
platform for cities, while focusing on our core
competences of architecture and urban design.
Please visit our website nleworks.com and follow

us on Facebook NL Shaping the Architecture
of Developing Cities.
We have started... with a small step by building

prototype - a Floating School in Makoko. This
prototype will be developed into other building
types - a home, a shop, a playground - to
gradually cultivate a new type of architecture and
urbanism on water.
Ikeyi and Arifayan, Legal Practitioners;

Solarmate, Renewable Energy Engineers;
Peters Bouwtechniek, Engineering advice in
Construction; Blok Kats van Veen, Architects.
SPECIAL THANKS
Heinrich Bll Stiftung Monika Umunna and Christine K.
COLLABORATORS
NOTE
The information contained herein is based
on reliable sources and subject to further
verification, research and development.
Makoko Community, Chief Emmanuel Shemede,

Noah Shemede, Peter Jeunbete Shemede, Daniel
Ayinde, Robert van Kats, Leslie Ebony, Ade
Adekola, Jaap Dijks, Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo,
Bas van de Sande, Mrs. Bola Adetula, Mrs. Yemisi
Ransome-Kuti
161
to responsibly shape physical, human and

commercial structures around the world. We are
starting in Africa and other developing regions.
NL IS AN ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN, AND

URBANISM PRACTICE FOCUSED ON
DEVELOPING CITIES
In the 21st (mega) century, the world faces a
trend of rapid urbanization and de-ruralization.
Megacities in the developing world are at the
forefront of this trend
and therefore at the forefront of finding
solutions.
The solutions uncovered and deployed here will
be critical in shaping the near future of entire
human civilization.
We believe rapidly developing cities are the home
of global advancement. Like Silicon Valley is to
modern technology, the developing cities are
the birthplace of innovative, new sustainable
solutions for todays developing world. As
thinkers, creatives and agents of change, our role
is to reveal these solutions and apply them
Our activities are focused on city development

research and strategy advisory service,
conceptualization and creative structuring,
architecture and products design, infrastructure
design, arts and cultural urban interventions.
With our global network of experts and
collaborators, our products and services are
of world-class quality and integrity. At the same
time, we ensure value and relevance through local
resources, capacity building and economy of
means.
AT HOME IN THE CITY
NL means at home in Yoruba, the language
of Africas first truly urbanized population. From
the 11th century onwards, the Yoruba lived in
a network of West African cities characterized
by sophisticated commercial and governing
structures.
But within NLs philosophy, the home is much
more than walls, floors and ceilings. For us it
refers to the fundamental building blocks of the
city, to everyday life and the uses of public space
in the emerging and endlessly complex urbanisms
of the so-called developing worlds.
162
Due to rapid urbanization and the forces of

globalization, the people in such cites have
redefined our understanding of cities through
their innovative and economical appropriation
of spaces, materials and infrastructure. The
environmentstreets, bridges, sidewalks, raw
materials and junkare acquired, cultivated
and reconstituted to achieve maximum
necessities through minimum means. This
creates unique organisations and advanced
social structures in which people live, work,
trade and play in ways that are now rarely seen
in the developed world, which is now ironically
the less developing world.
SOLUTIONS FOR THE MEGACENTURY
We believe that these colorful and seemingly
chaotic worlds hold some of the solutions to the
problems faced by cities in this century of mega
needs. Our aim is to work with, and be inspired
by, these worlds so that we create more economical and responsible interventions for/with
the people who have made them home.
In doing so, we explore the infusion of relevant
global ideas and advanced technologies that
add sustainable values to architecture, urbanism
and everyday products. Our international network
of experts and creatives from diverse fields
contribute to this process. In this way, NL is a
new language for shaping and advancing the
multiple physical and human architectures of the

megacentury.
BACKGROUND
NL is led by Kunl Adeyemi, an architect,
designer and urban researcher with a track record
of conceiving and completing high profile, high
quality projects internationally.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Adeyemi studied
architecture at the University of Lagos and
began his early practice. He later received a
post professional degree at Princeton University.
In 2002 joining the world renowned Office for
for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). At OMA,
working closely with founder Rem Koolhaas, he
led the design, development and execution of
numerous projects in Europe, Asia, Africa and the
Middle East. In 2010, Kunl Adeyemi founded NL
to focus on the architecture of developing cities.
In addition to practice, Adeyemi is a Distinguished
Visiting Lecturer of the University of Washington,
teaching and researching The Modern City in the
Age of Globalization in Chandigarh Indias first
planned modernist city.
See NL website www.nleworks.com for more

information, full profile and portfolio.
163
Our namesake, the writer and Nobel Prize

laureate Heinrich Bll, personifies the values we
stand for: defence of freedom, civic courage,
tolerance, open debate, and the valuation of art
and culture as independent spheres of thought
and action.
The Heinrich Bll Foundation is part of the
Green political movement that has developed
worldwide as a response to the traditional
politics of socialism, liberalism, and
conservatism.
Our main tenets are ecology and sustainability,
democracy and human rights, self-determination
and justice. We place particular emphasis on
gender democracy, meaning social emancipation
and equal rights for women and men. We are
also committed to equal rights for cultural and
ethnic minorities and to the societal and political
participation of immigrants. Finally, we promote
non-violence and proactive peace policies.
OUR CULTURE
Commitment, expert and social competence,
and flexibility are features of our employees,
both in Germany and abroad. They are highly
qualified, team-oriented and, with their high level
of motivation, they constitute the most important
asset of the Foundation.
Equality of opportunity and respectful dealings
between women and men of different ages,
religions, ethnic origins and sexual orientations
are constitutive for the foundation. Intercultural
competence and a productive engagement with
diversity are part of our corporate culture.
To achieve our goals, we seek strategic

partnerships with others who share our values.
We are an independent organisation, that is, we
determine our own priorities and policies.
Mutual respect and trusting co-operation among

ourselves and with our partners are the bases of
our business relationships.
We are based in the Federal Republic of Germany,

yet we are an international actor in both ideal and
practical terms.
We constantly evaluate and improve our work. We

undertake and take seriously both internal and
external evaluations. We handle the funds at our
164
disposal economically and efficiently and assure

transparent operations.
We work in close co-operation with our cofoundations in all of Germanys 16 states. We are
a reliable partner for volunteer work and for cooperation with third parties.
As a political foundation, we act independently;
this also applies in respect to our relationship with
the German Green Party. We are autonomous in
selecting our executive officers and staffing our
committees.
HBS - ABUJA OFFICE
The Foundation is active world-wide with more
than 25 regional and country offices. It is active
in Nigeria since 1994 and established a Nigeria
Country Office in Lagos in May 2002. Since
April 2011, the Foundation works from its Abuja
office. Programs on sustainability, womens
rights and good governance form the core of the
Foundations work in Nigeria.
HBS Nigeria co-operates on a long-term basis
with Nigerian partner organisations, both
at the grassroots and policy-making levels.
Internationally, the Foundation provides an
interface that links national and international
debates, and supports training and exchange
programs for its partner organisations.
In its Abuja office, HBS Nigeria organises

workshops and media-oriented events on current
issues, as well as capacity building workshops for
non-governmental organisations exploring new
fields of activities, helping to establish networks
among themselves and with other actors, and
supporting them with practical advice and
training on project and financial management.
HBS Nigeria receives the major part of its funding
from the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Its work in Nigeria
is based on a co-operation agreement with the
National Planning Commission of the Federal
Government of Nigeria
Lagos Liaison Office

4th floor, Lagos City Hall
30, Catholic Mission Street
Lagos Island, Lagos
Abuja Office
3rd Floor, Rukayyat Plaza,
93, Obafemi Awolowo Way,
Opposite Jabi Motor Park
Jabi District, Abuja.
E-mail: info@ng.boell.org
Web: www.ng.boell.org
Tel: call 01-7612353
165
Copyright 2012 NL. All Rights Reserved.

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NL

Shaping the Architecture

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL

MAKOKO IS A COMMUNITY ON WATER.

URBAN AND INFRASTRUCTURAL

1A Challenges and Conditions

1E Sanitation, Sewage and Waste

2G Waste Management and Sanitation

2H Ideal Standalone System

Other Makoko Building Projects

SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND

3A School Program, Schedule and

3B Community Programs, Social Patterns

LAND AND WATER USE

2A Makoko Building Techniques: Learning

4A Makoko Land Legality, Ownership and

2C Building Materials Supply, Local

4B Lagos Inland Waterways and

2D Flotation & Anchoring Technoogy

4C Applicable Building Regulations,

2E Alternative/Reusable Energy Systems

2F Water Supply, Storage and Treatment

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER CITIES PROJECT

In response to this, we propose to develop a

Within Makoko a nursery and primary school

BBC documentary: Welcome to Lagos:

RELATED NEWS ON FLOODING:

BBC article: Nigeria floods

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER CITIES PROJECT

WHAT WE ARE DOING

NL is developing a floating school for Makoko.

Our proposal for the Floating School is a bulding

Concept Design & Research (Funded by

Supports the immediate educational needs

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER CITIES PROJECT

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL

Art wall (placeholder for student project) inspired by Yinka Shonibare

Location is suggestive only

Location is suggestive only

Location is suggestive only

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER CITIES PROJECT

1A CHALLENGES AND CONDITIONS

HEALTH & SECURITY

Adelekan, Ibidun O. Vulnerability Of Poor Urban Coastal

Most Makoko residents claim that the process

Major occupations are fishery and trade

The existence of approved building plans is

approved building plan. This discrepancy could

This arrangement is observed in Makoko, where

REASONS FOR NOT HAVING LEGAL TITLE

MAKOKO RESIDENTS AND BUILDING PLANS

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER CITIES PROJECT

We are a community with a great and

URBAN GROWTH OF LAGOS

COASTAL SETTLEMENTS & RECLAIMED

Mile Market Aree

The average temperature in Lagos, Nigeria is

While the mean annual rainfall for the 25-year

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER CITIES PROJECT

MAKOKO FLOATING SCHOOL AFRICAN WATER CITIES PROJECT

Roads are sand-filled or filled with wood shavings

Use of rain boots; taking available unaffected

Surroundings cleared after flood events

Staying indoors while a community member(s)