PROJECTS

L-R Mrs Atedoghu Director Federal ministry of Labor, Mrs Abimbola Meshinoye First Bank, Mr Akintunde Disu Founder Riteonthebeach initiative, Mrs Sandra Vermuijten-Alonge GIZ Nigerian German institute of jobs immigration migration, Mr Seleem Adegunwa MD Ritefoods Nig Ltd, Mrs Angela Emuwa Chairman Punch newspaper, HE Alexander Ernst Acting Consul Federal Republic of Germany, at the Inaugurationof the initiative.

Riteonthebeach project, driving climate resilience, community engagement, economic development, equity, inclusion and behavioral change to meet SDG goals by developing a volunteer based community which uses research to create data driven solutions for the design of replicable and scalable projects.

It seeks to restore, protect and conserve the western peninsula wetlands of Lagos state, an approximately 74km² wilderness on the edge of the mega city with the capacity of sequestering 22 million tons of CO2 per annum. It was initiated in 2021 to create a model to combat the inequality faced by the communities, the loss of biodiversity and the increase in plastic pollution with the aim of unlocking the natural capital of the mangroves and beaches of the western peninsular of the mega city of Lagos.

It tackles the provision of rights and responsibilities to conserve, protect, repair, maintain and enhance the natural delicate ecosystems at risk. While addressing inequality, encroachment, waste management, land use etc. It defines the scope of work and opportunities for scale with relation to the SDGs and determines the requirements for the development of boundaries to define limits for protection and delineate the space available for use by people in the community if they want to sustain the regions resources and continuously reuse them. It recognizes the need for setting boundaries, and the provision of minimum resource needs for all community members through the equitable distribution of resources.

Rate of anthropogenic activities over the last two decades in the western peninsular; The area earmarked in red box is the proposed buffer zone and the area in the white box is earmarked for conservation

The western peninsular of Lagos state is home to indigenous fishing communities who have been marginalised and under-represented due to the lack of infrastructure connecting them to the mainland. The importance of the western peninsula cannot be overstated as it is a key part of the ecosystem of Lagos state, it holds majority of the mangroves left within the state; they serve as a

natural barrier against floods and double as breeding grounds for fish, it also harbours the primary source of freshwater for the Lagos metropolis etc. The threat of unchecked population growth within the area and any misguided industrialization or plans for urbanisation of the area creates cause for alarm: the oceans will rise and the storms will get worse. It is essential we preserve a low footprint in the area