Hazard Assessment and Implementation Strategies for Mitigating of Flood and Erosion in Nigeria

Abstract

There are notching unresolved issues and environmental hazards traceable to flood and erosion in major rural areas and notable communities in Nigeria. Researchers’ efforts on erosion control and flood mitigation have not yielded notable fruits due to inadequate planning and implementation strategies. Maintenance of roads and other infrastructures are the bed rock of any development round the globe. This paper assessed recent occurrence of flood and erosion. The study examined the causes, urban and regional planning of the affected area, construction practices, damages and maintenance practices. Questionnaires, field study and interview of experts were wont to elicit information from people within the affected location, officials from state and native government agencies charged with rehabilitation of affected areas. The research finding revealed that there are inadequate drainage systems, lack of enforcement of plan, corruptions, failure of systems, poor supervision, construction malpractices, lackadaisical attitude and lack of maintenance culture. Implementation strategies were highlighted to avert flood and erosion ravaging several areas of the country. The paper concluded that stakeholders, researchers, engineers should partner with government agencies within the planning, construction, management and maintenance of rural and concrete drainages for adequate funding and sustainable construction. It is recommended that strategies for alleviating flood and erosion should be implemented supported latest technology for sustainable infrastructural development. Periodic hazard assessment should be planned in various geopolitical zones especially Lagos, Niger delta and rain forest region of Nigeria. Land use control, landscape maintenance, weather stations, proper enforcement of construction works consistent with plan should be strategically put in situ for effective monitoring and alleviation of flood and erosion in Nigeria.

"Urban Flood Intricacies and Implications in Uyo Capital City, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria"

“…High level of flood disaster is witnessed along IBB Avenue, Atiku Abubakar, Esuene Street, Urua Ekpa, Nkemba Street among others due to factors such as heavy and prolonged rainfall topography, poor drainage network, dumping of waste in gutters, building along water channels/depression, among others. The resulted in high level of economic hardship, migration and displacement of people from their houses, among others [41][42][43][44][45][46][47].…”

Flood Risk Profile of Nigeria

“…A variety of environmental hazards including floods, storms, droughts, desertification, landslides, wildfires, sandstorms, heat waves, disease outbreaks, pest infestations, soil erosion, ravine erosion, coastal erosion, other types of erosion, volcanic eruptions and related events occur occasionally in Nigeria, and establishing sustainable flood management has been a priority in public policy because the majority of communities lack of community services and infrastructures that are operational. 6 In 2022, Nigeria has experienced its most devastating episode of seasonal flooding in a decade. A study acquired by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) claims that 33 of Nigeria's 36 states have already experienced the floods expected in 2022, with many of the impacted areas highly dependent on agriculture for subsistence.…”