Flooding is a Landscape Problem

Every rainy season reminds us of Nigeria's growing flood challenges. The common response is to build larger drains. But what if the solution starts much earlier? Landscape Architecture approaches flooding differently. Instead of moving water away as quickly as possible, it asks: • Where should water naturally go? • How can green spaces absorb runoff? • Which wetlands should be protected? • How can parks become part of flood management? • How can development work with nature instead of against it? Around the world, landscape-based solutions are reducing flood risks while creating healthier public spaces. Nigeria needs more than engineering solutions. We need integrated planning that combines engineering, ecology and landscape design.