Flood barrier solutions in Nigeria are essential to reduce flood risks and protect vulnerable communities. In this AfDB-supported project, WaveSave deploys SLAMDAM mobile flood barriers to provide fast, scalable, and effective flood protection.
Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, faced increasing urban flooding that disrupted daily life and damaged critical infrastructure. Traditional flood protection methods proved inadequate for the city’s complex drainage systems, while rapid urbanization intensified the impact of flood events on vulnerable communities.
The goal of the project was to implement an innovative urban flood protection solution using SLAMDAM mobile flood barriers, while building local capacity for flood management in densely populated areas of Lagos.
This flood barrier Nigeria AfDB project focuses on rapid deployment in flood-prone areas. WaveSave implemented a comprehensive urban flood control solution featuring:
Unlike permanent flood defence infrastructure, WaveSave provides deployable solutions such as SLAMDAM, enabling rapid protection and immediate impact without long construction timelines.
African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Adaptation Benefit Mechanism (ABM)
Location: Urban flood areas in Lagos
Timeline: 2020 – 2021
Deploying flood barriers in Nigeria enables immediate and scalable improvements in flood protection and climate resilience. By implementing flood barriers in Nigeria, communities gain flexible and scalable protection.
The project aligns with international climate resilience and disaster risk reduction frameworks supported by organizations such as the African Development Bank, UNDRR, and the World Bank.
Flooding is a recurring challenge in many regions of Nigeria, driven by heavy rainfall, river overflow, and climate change. Traditional infrastructure alone is often insufficient to respond quickly to these risks.
Deployable flood barriers provide a fast and flexible solution that can be used in multiple locations and adapted to changing conditions. This makes them particularly effective for protecting communities, infrastructure, and economic activities.
For governments and development partners, deployable solutions offer a scalable and cost-effective approach to improving flood resilience.
SLAMDAM is a mobile flood barrier designed to provide rapid and effective flood protection. Unlike traditional flood defenses, SLAMDAM can be deployed quickly.
Deployed 200 m of SLAMDAM in less than 2 hours to prevent glacier-melt flooding.
Local teams were trained in deploying and managing SLAMDAM and the early warning system.
Enhanced early flood warning with integrated monitoring and communication tools.
Reduced flood damage to homes and protected 250 hectares of farmland.
Enhanced early flood warning with integrated monitoring and communication tools.
Increased long-term flood resilience through community empowerment and scalable technology
What our clients say
The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..
Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan
SLAMDAM has transformed our community’s resilience to floods. With the technology and training, we now feel empowered to protect our homes and livelihoods.
Community Leader Passu Community
The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..
Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan
