Lagos, Nigeria – Kadiri Malik, a 40-year-old fisherman from Akodo-Ise in Nigeria, fondly remembers walking hand in hand with his father through a boulevard of coconut trees on their way to the shore to start their fishing day. However, that picturesque scene is now just a distant memory in the coastal village of Lagos.
Malik laments the disappearance of the once-beautiful coconut belt that used to provide economic gains for the fishing community and serve as a natural buffer against the weather and natural disasters. Now, thousands of trees have been swallowed by the ocean as rising sea levels due to climate change continue to threaten coastal communities globally.
In Akodo-Ise, Malik and other fishermen face daily challenges as they battle extreme weather events and accelerated sea level rise. Violent ocean surges often occur at night, leaving fishermen like Malik with destroyed boats and lost property. The community has lost more than 30 boats, 25 boat engines, and 50 bundles of net in the past year alone.
For Malik, fishing is not just a livelihood, but a way of life passed down by his ancestors. Despite the challenges, he cannot imagine changing careers. He has seen a significant decrease in profits due to the need to travel further out to sea in rougher waters, consuming more fuel and facing higher costs due to the removal of petrol subsidies.
Johnson Igbokoyi, another fisherman from the village, has lost more than five boats to the ocean and now struggles to afford a new one due to rising costs of engines and fishing nets. He has taken out a loan from a cooperative society but worries about repaying it amidst rising inflation and financial strain.
The fishermen in Akodo-Ise feel the impact of large-scale developments like the Dangote oil refinery and Lekki deep sea port, which have been accused of accelerating climate challenges in the area. Dredging activities associated with these projects disrupt sediment flow along the coast, making the shoreline more vulnerable to erosion and violent sea incursions.
Despite the challenges they face, the fishermen of Akodo-Ise remain resilient, clinging to their way of life even as they watch their village succumb to the forces of nature and development.