Nigeria, Nov. 15 -- Fatima Sulaimon, 35, had her fifth child on a tiny fishing canoe. It happened in the dead of night, five years ago, in Agboyi, a riverine community under the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Agboyi comprises three main areas: Agboyi I, II, and III, all of which are surrounded by the Lagos Lagoon. The settlement suffers severe flooding not just during heavy rains but also when water levels rise or when excess water is released from the Oyan River Dam in Ogun State.

When these waters surge, the streets turn into a dark, impassable lagoon. The only way to reach the mainland is by canoe or boat. When PREMIUM TIMES visited the community on 11 October, this reporter had to navigate the flooded streets wearing h...