Cambridge, UNILAG Identify 10 Locations for Urban Heat Research in Lagos

A collaborative research initiative between the University of Cambridge and the University of Lagos aims to tackle the health impacts of extreme heat in Nigeria's bustling metropolis. Dubbed the 'Hotsteppers Project,' this three-year endeavor, supported by a Wellcome Trust grant, will focus on identifying the negative health risks associated with high temperatures across 10 selected areas in Lagos.

Researchers will work with stakeholders, including the Lagos State Government and various transport and urban development agencies, to reimagine a cooler and healthier city. Professor Tolullah Oni, the project's Principal Investigator from Cambridge, emphasized the goal of spotlighting heat's connection to health, particularly for those navigating transit hubs. The project will also assess existing cooling assets and integrate these findings with people's lived experiences to propose low-cost, meaningful interventions.

"Over the next three years, we want to spotlight how heat connects to health in Lagos, the experiences of people who are moving through transit hubs, and the heat risks," explained Prof. Oni. "We would also be looking at what cooling assets exists and we would bring all of that together with people’s lived experiences to then say, in a particular intervention site, what can we do very quickly, low cost, to reduce heat exposure in a way that is meaningful."

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Over the next three years, we want to spotlight how heat connects to health in Lagos, the experiences of people who are moving through transit hubs, and the heat risks. We would also be looking at what cooling assets exists and we would bring all of that together with people’s lived experiences to then say, in a particular intervention site, what can we do very quickly, low cost, to reduce heat exposure in a way that is meaningful.

Professor Peter Elias, Co-Principal Investigator from the University of Lagos, highlighted the project's aim to create efficient heat adaptation solutions through multi-stakeholder input. He noted that heat has been a neglected aspect in most government climate adaptation plans, which tend to prioritize pollution and flooding. "Most of the climate adaptation plans and policies of the government did not embed heat. There is pollution, flooding, but heat has not been given a priority," Elias stated.

The Lagos State Government has expressed support, with Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser on Climate Change, encouraging the integration of insights from the state's climate action plans. The project's findings are expected to inform infrastructure development by agencies like LAMATA and contribute to the Lagos State Health and Climate Plan, aiming for long-term sustainability and resilience.

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Most of the climate adaptation plans and policies of the government did not embed heat. There is pollution, flooding, but heat has not been given a priority. So, I’m happy that our team is leading this project to really put out there the far-reaching implication of heat waves on different aspects of human life.