Abstract
The effect of anthropogenic climate change poses threats for many people across the world.
Climate migration is gaining global attention as an adaptation strategy that people will adopt to
cope with climatic threats. However, beyond recognition of climate migration in research and
policy making spaces, is the need to further understand how people may choose to apply mobility
strategies. Although, research on climate induced mobilities within and from urban areas remains
limited in scholarship and practice. In urban coastal cities such as Lagos, Nigeria, such studies
have not been done. Lagos, the second most populous African city presents a unique and critical
case study to explore the outlook of climate induced mobilities given its vulnerability to climate
change through events like flooding. Thus, this dissertation research contributes to knowledge, by
examining vulnerabilities to flooding in Lagos, flood risk perceptions, and the likelihood of future
migration in response to increased flooding events. Mixed-method methodology was applied,
analyzing data acquired through online surveys and phone interviews. Overall, findings in this
study show that the urban poor are the most vulnerable to flooding in Lagos. Part of which is
shaped by state inefficiencies in providing amenities and implementing flood management
strategies. Beyond that, at the individual level, higher flood risk perceptions are associated with
the likelihood of moving due to flooding. In this dissertation, it is revealed that residents are likely
to apply mobility strategies to increased flooding, in the future. Although, most people would
rather relocate within the city, to less vulnerable locations than longer distance migration. These
have implications for planning around climate mobilities and in-situ resilience strategies for Lagos
and similar cities.