REVIEW OF EROSION CONTROL WORKS AT

THE LAGOS BAR BEACH

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The beach is part of a barrier lagoon complex stretching from Abidjan
to Cote D’Voire to Lekki in Nigeria.Located to the down drift side of
Lagos harbour entrance, it forms the Southern seaward border of
Victoria Island. It lies specifically to the North of Latitude 6˚2΄N and
longitude 3˚24΄30˝ and 3˚26΄30˝.
Victoria Island has witnessed one of the fastest rates of socio-
economic development in the West African sub-region. It has been
transformed from a densely wooded mangrove swamp land 50 years ago
to a cosmopolitan centre and the bar beach is the country’s most
attractive leisure beach but unfortunately, it is constantly under the threat
of submergence by coastal erosion and flooding of its environs.
The threat imposed by ocean surges and associated flood over the
low-lying coast of Nigeria especially that of the Victoria Island is
becoming unbearable. It has caused the contamination of coastal water
resources, decimation of coastal, agricultural and recreational areas,
destruction of settlements, major roads like Ahmadu Bello way, labour
and navigational structures. It also dislodged oil producing and export

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 handling facilities and environmental impact of loss of properties,
income and sometimes lives.
Most changes along the coast are produced by waves while others by
long shore current or drift, tides, wind and sea level rise cannot be over
emphasized.

2.0 OVERVIEW OF LAGOS AND THE BEACH EROSION

PROBLEM
DEMOGRAPHY
• Nigeria’s Primate City (since 1917), Africa’s Lead NEPAD City
(since 2000)
• 6th Global Mega city (fastest growing mega city, UN-Habitat,2006)
• Projected Population (UN-Habitat,2007) – over 17 million
• Population Growth Rate - over 5% per annum
• Population Density - 4,990.22 per Sq. Km
• Population Spatial Distribution -70:30 (Urban: Rural)
• Urbanisation Rate – 16% p.a. (Lekki peninsular)
• Number of Communities - over 2,600
• Number of Local Development Areas - 57

BAR BEACH HISTORY/BACKGROUND

 Recreational spot for all
 Major tourist spot in Lagos

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 Provided one of the most scenic views in Nigeria
 Venue for some forms of prestigious economic activities
 Very well known throughout Africa and beyond for its splendour

1) Beach in the days

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2) Beach in the days

GENESIS OF THE PROBLEM

 Bar Beach, once a popular and prestigious beachfront, became a poor
reflection of its former glory
 Severe coastal erosion has removed in excess of 2 km of beach front
and at times the adjacent road; resulting in acute disruption to traffic
flow and flooding of properties
 The erosion is a direct result of the construction of rock moles
between 1908-1912; to protect the harbour access
 The moles interrupted the natural Littoral Drift along the African
West Coast which transports and deposits sand along the beaches of
Western Nigeria

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 Since the early 1950’s to date in excess of US$250 million expended
in regular sand replenishment to restore the beach, without providing
a permanent solution.
CHALLENGES
 Between 8 – 14m of beach-front is eroded annually along Bar Beach
 Drastic drop in property values along the waterfront
 A major storm on October 31st 2005 was the “straw that broke the
camel’s back”
 The storm destroyed large sections of the nearby carriageway of
Ahmadu Bello Way which in turn disrupted and in some cases
destroyed economic activities in that corridor
 Sand in excess of 400mm thickness was deposited on both sides of the
carriageway rendering it impassable for motor vehicles
 Sea water overflow into private properties and led to some residents
vacating their dwellings and offices relocating from that area.

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2) Encroachment of sea water

4) Damage to Carriageway

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5) Sand Deposits on Dual Carriageway

6) Erosion of Beachfront (West)

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7) Erosion of Beachfront (East)

8) Threatening Road & Properties

PAST EFFORTS

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• Governments (Both Federal & State) in the past had spent Billions of
Naira to no avail especially when the problem of ocean surge and
erosion got closer to the carriageway.
• Tons and tons of Sand replenishment and Boulders placement have
been done over the years but were washed off shortly after
completion.
3.0 NEW AND FINAL APPROACH/SOLUTION
• Basically, this involves using a membrane (Geosynthetic or Geotextile
materials) to resist the erosion of the replenished materials i.e. sand,
boulders, etc.
• The membrane (Geotextile materials) prevents the surge/wave from
eroding the sand, rocks, boulders and X bloc directly placed on the
membrane.
CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF THE WORKS

+3 .905 + 4.00

R OC K (300-1000 Kg ) RO A D
+3.0 0

A R TIFIC IA L SA N D FIL LING

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RO C K (3

Drawing Title: SC ALE DRAWN LEGE ND Project: Drawing Title: E n gine er

1 : 100 JIH A D K A M EL (S .M ) 3 00 -1 00 0kg
SH OR ELIN E P R O TECTIO N TY PIC AL C R O SS SEC TIO N HITE C H C O N S TR U C T IO N C O . LTD.
8th Floor,1682 S anusi F afunwa Street
SOO1 1 0-10 0k g B A R B E A C H PR O J EC T V IC TO R IA ISLA N D Vic toria Island,Lagos
DATE C HE C KED
(234) 1 2623351 F ax: (234) 1 2611307
SAN D
15/05 /06 A D d e B E S T (P .M ) X B L OC STRU CTURAL C IVIL RO AD E NGINE ERS

PROCESS OF PROJECT EXECUTION

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  Sand Replenishment
 Contour Sand to required profile
 Lay Geo-Textile material to beach-front
 Place first Layer of Rock (10 – 60kg) – 300mm thick
 Place second Layer of Rock (300 – 1000kg) –700mm thick
 Place x-blocs
 Further compacted sand layer on beach-top to receive walkway
concrete
 Lay Geo-Textile material to act as drainage channel for beach-top and
carriageway
 Place Layers of Rock on beach-top to rear of x-blocs
 Cast 150mm thick concrete bed on remaining beach-top
 Form roadside drain and beam

9) Lay Geotextile Material to Beach front

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 10) Lay Geotextile Material to Beach Front

11) Placing of Rocks & Boulders

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12) Placing of X Blocs

13) Casting of 150mm of Concrete Bed on Remaining Beach Top

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 CONCRETE X-BLOC PRODUCTION
• A total of 5,000 x-blocs were cast for the project over a period of 6
months
• Making use of chemical additives to the concrete mix, maximum use
of the steel mould was achieved with 2 castings every 24 hours from
each mould utilising 2 teams of operatives working in shifts
• Frequent tests were made to each batch of concrete and each x-bloc to
ensure adherence to specifications and strength attainment before
transfer to the stock area and final location
NIGHT WORKING
• Coastal Marine Works are programmed to coincide with low tide
level.
• Preliminary works below beach-top level in particular are executed at
low tide
• The tides are influenced by the phases of the moon, hence low tide
occurs at different times of the day in each month
• For approximately one-third of the month low tide occurs during the
hours of darkness
• Most of the concrete work were also executed at night to control the
rate of curing or drying

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14) Placing Geotextile on Sea Bed

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15) Placing Large Rock in Front of X Blocs to Extend 10m Seaward

16) Section View of Sea Defence

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17) Completed Section of Beach Front Showing Interlocking of X Blocs
and 10m of Rock Extending Seaward

18) Horizontal Material on Beach Top & First Layer of Rock

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18) Aerial View 1

19) Aerial View 2

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20) Overspray Repelled by Beam

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21) Yet the Road Remains Stable & Dry

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