EFFECT OF FLOOD ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Flooding is an environmental hazard that needs appropriate measures to be instituted to stem the tide of occurrence. Flooding causes inundation and harm to plants and animals, including man, buildings and infrastructure (Ujene and Oguike, 2020). However, flooding is a global natural hazard that has affected lives, led to the loss of properties and extinction of species in the environment. In fact, flooding is a threat that affects the quality of the environment. Floods affect the households according to their vulnerability and capacity to deal with these shocks. The National Erosion and Flood Control Action Plan Committee (2005) defined flooding as a condition which exists when discharge of a river or stream cannot be accommodated within the margin of its normal channels so that waters spread over adjoining land (Macmillan, 2009).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

In recent decades, flooding has led to the loss of thousands of lives and properties. According to available studies, flooding in Nigeria is caused by weak implementation of planning policies, streams and channel obstruction due to indiscriminate waste disposal habits and human activities in flood plains (Ituenet al., 2014; Ekpoh, 2015; Udoh, 2015 and Evan et al., 2017; Abraham et al., 2021). Generally, flood is an overflowing or eruption of a great body of water over land not usually submerged (Daniel and Udo, 2019). It is an extreme weather event naturally caused by rising global temperature which results in heavy down pour, thermal expansion of the ocean and glacier melt, which in turn result in rise in sea level, thereby causing water to inundate coastal lands. Flooding causes inundation and harm to plants and animals, including man, buildings and infrastructure (Ujene and Oguike, 2020). However, flooding is a global natural hazard that has affected lives, led to the loss of properties and extinction of species in the environment.

Flooding as an environmental problem is an age-old phenomenon. Flooding is a significant rise of water level in a stream, lake, reservoir or coastal system that overflows the banks. The National Erosion and Flood Control Action Plan Committee (2010) defined flooding as a condition which exists when discharge of a river or stream cannot be accommodated within the margin of its normal channels so that waters spread over adjoining land. Also, flooding is a situation in which water from a river or from rain covers large areas of land (Macmillan, 2009).

Flooding is one of the most common environmental hazards in Nigeria (Etuonovbe, 2011). There is increasing vulnerability of populations and infrastructure to flooding and flood related hazards. Although flooding is one of many hazards occurring in human environment, its effects are significant both in terms of discomfort, destruction of lives, properties and pollution. The severity of flooding has been reckoned with, by the level of damage done (Williams, 2011).

Flooding not only damage property and endanger the lives of humans and animals, but have other effects as well. Floods and its effects all over the world are becoming a threat to sustainable development in human settlements (Aderogba, 2012). Nigeria is a lucky country on earth when it comes to water resources. But we must know that flooding and water disturbance in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world, are environmental challenges that need prevention to ensure sustainability (Akolokwu, 2012).

Flooding is one of the major environmental crises one has to contend within the century. This is especially the case in most wetlands of the world (Bariweniet al., 2012). The reason for this is the general rise in sea level globally, due to global warming as well as the saturated nature of the wetlands in many parts of the world such as Nigeria. Floods occur on many waters periodically, these rivers overflow as a result of excess rainfall etc. One good thing about the river overflows is the fact that it deposits sand; silt and debris on the surrounding land as flood waters flow into the banks. After the river water calmed and return back to its normal flow, the materials deposited will help increase the fertility of the land. The organic materials and minerals deposited by the

river water therefore maintain the soil fertility and productivity (Abowei and Sikoki, 2010). Flooding that happened in some parts of Nigeria in 2012 including Oguta is the country’s worst in living memory (Social Action, 2012).

Specifically, flooding has affected the lives, properties and sustainability of the environment as noted in available studies. Notably, flooding being a natural hazard has negative implications not only on the environment but also from the economic point of view. For instance, flooding affect housing, roads and other physical structures making such areas not to be attractive to residents. In spite of the foregoing, literature that are aimed at analyzing the causes and implications of flooding are inadequate.

Therefore, in Kogi State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Flood on Socio-economic Development of Nigeria.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that flooding affects numerous aspects of man’s environment. These include his economic activities; settlements and lifestyle. Several threats to livelihoods ranging from the physical threats to social and economic threats exists, while affected persons suffer some psychological effects. Flooding also causes land pollution which leads to epidemics and infections.

Flooding affects numerous aspects of man’s environment. These include his economic activities; settlements and lifestyle. A lot of social and emotional costs were involved in flooded areas. These costs include: displacement from homes, the loss of personal valuables and the ongoing fear and insecurity caused by the experience. Portable water supplies were contaminated and lost during periods of flood.

Also, the school system was disrupted as communication and personal mobility proved difficult. Although, most people complained of the adverse impact caused by flooding, some people rejoiced during flooding and prayed because of the gains usually made from the affected persons.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Effect of Flood on Socio-economic Development of Nigeria using Kogi State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the various causes of flooding in Nigeria;
2. To determine the incidence of flood in Agodo community;
3. To examine the adverse and beneficial effects of flooding on socio-economic activities of the people of Agodo Community;
4. To examine government policy on flood control in Nigeria;
5. To examine appropriate measures to be taken to prevent further occurrence of flooding; and
6. To examine the relationship between flooding and socio-economic activities of people of Agodo Community.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are there appropriate measures to be taken to prevent further occurrence of flooding?
• What are the various causes of flooding in Nigeria?
• What are the incidences of flood in Agodo community?
• What are the adverse and beneficial effects of flooding on socio-economic activities of the people of Agodo Community?
• What is government policy on flood control in Nigeria?
• What is the relationship between flooding and socio-economic activities of people of Agodo?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant adverse and beneficial effect of flooding on socio-economic activities of the people of Agodo Community.
• H1: There is a significant adverse and beneficial effect of flooding on socio-economic activities of the people of Agodo Community.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant relationship between flooding and socio-economic activities of people of Agodo.
• H1: There is a significant relationship between flooding and socio-economic activities of people of Agodo.

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1.7 Significance of Study

The findings would be of benefit by enabling policy makers to come up with adequate measures towards mitigating the effects of flooding in the study area and in Nigeria as a whole. This will also aid in planning and help in decision making when addressing the issues relating to flood problems and its sustainability. It will also help future scholars who will endeavor to undertake a study on the topic.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Effect of Flood on Socio-economic Development of Nigeria using Kogi State as a case study. The study is restricted to the effects of flooding on the socio-economic activities of the people of Agodo.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Flood: A flood is a body of water which rises to overflow land which is not normally submerged. Flooding is generally regarded as a devastating event worldwide and has been reported as the most common environmental hazard in Nigeria.

Socioeconomics: Socioeconomics (also known as social economics) is the social science that studies how economic activity affects and is shaped by social processes. In general it analyzes how societies progress, stagnate, or regress because of their local or regional economy, or the global economy.