Importance of Land Reclamation in Nigeria
Nigeria has a land mass area of 923,768 km² and places a broad and high significance on land reclamation. It is crucial to the environment’s welfare both now and in the future. The procedure attempts to convert unused land into useable land and contributes to the expansion of the land area, the creation of habitat for species, and the improvement of the environment’s living conditions. Reclaiming the land and converting the unused space into spaces for homes, businesses, and industries. Different techniques, like sand filling and drainage construction, can be used in Nigeria to reclaim land. The significance of land reclamation in Nigeria will be thoroughly examined in this article.
WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT LAND RECLAMATION
The process of reclaiming undesirable or wasteland land and converting it to productive use is known as land reclamation. To put it another way, it is a technique for converting a wasteland into a useful area for residential, social, commercial, and industrial uses. In the southern regions of Nigeria, where there appears to be lots of land, particularly around the coast, land reclamation is very popular.
REASONS FOR LAND RECLAMATION
People engage in land reclamation for a variety of reasons. Among the causes are:
Insufficient land — People start reclamation projects because their land is so little. They consequently start the land reclamation process in order to extend the current land.
Population pressure — There is an increasing need to restore land that has been submerged under water as the population grows.
For residential purposes — People start land reclamation projects to build homes for residential use because there isn’t enough land to build on and housing is so expensive.
For commercial purposes — Land reclamation leads to the emergence of trade and other commercial activity. This occurs frequently in Lagos State.
For industrial purposes — Industrialists do take part in land reclamation so that their businesses can be located in the new region.
IMPORTANCE OF LAND RECLAMATION IN NIGERIA
The following are some reasons why land reclamation is important in this country.
RECLAMATION OF LAND RAISES LAND MASS
Land reclamation is important in Nigeria since it contributes to an expansion in the country’s land mass. Thus, the area that may be occupied by people rises when some land is reclaimed.
The purchasing power of the properties are likely to be rather low in locations where there is quite a bit of damaged land. Consequently, this lowers the standard of living for those who reside there. Land reclamation helps to bring the area’s quality back to its former splendor on such devastated land. This is accomplished by raising the local properties’ monetary value.
Land reclamation introduces massive space for the construction of high-quality homes and other developments, whether commercial or industrial.
LAND RECLAMATION HELPS TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
The improvement of agricultural operations that result from land reclamation helps to provide food security in Nigeria, which is another benefit. For instance, agricultural pursuits like the production of marsh rice are typically encouraged in areas where land has been reclaimed. The varieties of rice grown on reclaimed land are typically tolerant of salt.
Fish farming is another type of agriculture that can be practiced on reclaimed ground. Fish pond construction is primarily encouraged in these places. It is also possible to turn swampy areas into farmland that can be used for crop development. By producing food for the populace, all of these agricultural activities that occur in these locations contribute to the country’s overall food security.
LAND RECLAMATION CREATES HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE
The land is recovered in Nigeria to make habitats for wildlife. Different types of species use reclaimed ground. This is yet another crucial function that land reclamation serves in Nigeria. It is well known that the majority of our woods have been cut down for a variety of reasons, forcing these wild creatures to abandon their homes. These creatures are in danger of going obsolete due to the development of urbanization. Thus, it is possible to recover land and develop habitat for these wild creatures. This may be viewed as a type of the game reserve, in which they are looked after and safeguarded.
RECLAMATION OF LAND IMPROVES TOURISM
Land reclamation is important in Nigeria because it encourages tourism, which brings in money for the government. Reclaimed land is occasionally used for leisure activities like the construction of national parks, which are popular tourist destinations. These tourism destinations draw visitors from all around the nation and even from beyond. These individuals spend money when they go to these facilities. When infrastructure is deficient, the government will utilize this money to fill the gaps. Reclamation of land so encourages tourism.
LAND RECLAMATION CREATES LAND FOR GRAZING PURPOSES
In Nigeria, reclamation of land makes space for livestock grazing. Ruminant animals including goats, cows, sheep, and cattle graze on some of the land that has been restored for agriculture. As a result, it can be said that land reclamation gives ruminant animals food.
In some locations, once the land has been reclaimed from waterlogged areas, water is typically saved. Such protected water typically acts as a natural wildlife preserve, supplying food for aquatic species
LAND RECLAMATION CREATES ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES
The ability to construct artificial islands is another benefit of land reclamation in Nigeria. Nigerian cities such as Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, Gracefield Island, Lekki, Lagos, The Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, and Lagos are examples of constructed islands. To expand the number of high-quality residential places available, these regions were developed. They are the location of numerous businesses and industries.
The Dangote Refinery, which is situated in the Lekki free trade zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is another illustration of a region that has been reclaimed in Nigeria. More land is made accessible for development in certain locations. It is possible to construct more structures and infrastructure to support economic growth, increase housing options, and ease traffic and population growth. This is due to the necessity to recover land that was previously covered by water as the human population grows.
The development of such locations also creates work for Nigerians, lowering the level of unemployment. This is true because recovered lands are used to develop trade and other commercial activity. Additionally, manufacturers locate new industries on reclaimed ground.
