FLOODING IN NIGERIAN CITIES: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECT. (A CASE STUDY OF BENIN CITY, EDO STATE)

ABSTRACT

Nigeria is the most populous Black race country in Africa and in the world with a total land area of 983,213 km2 occupied by over 160 Million people: The interaction of these millions of people with their environment has left indelible mark on the landscape. Urbanization, deforestation, flooding, desertification, over population and all kinds of pollution are some of the resultant effects of man’s interaction with his environment. These changes result from the populace attempt to achieve their seemingly endless desire for food, shelter, recreation and infrastructural facilities and urbanization in general. This has placed a lot of pressure on the environment. Flooding has become the annual experience of Nigerian cities especially in Benin City, Edo State where it had caused economic stampede in the rainy seasons of the year. Effort made by the government and residents to forestall the menace has produced sub-optimal results. There is hence, the need to adopt more proactive, standard and reliable procedures that can give sustainable outcome and restore the socio-economic growth of the urban centre. Flooding due to extreme rain events in urban environments is a problem and a growing concern. Flooding has become more frequent due to a number of factors including climate change with the different patterns of precipitation, urban growth and an increase in paved surfaces. Recent flood disasters in Benin City area had claimed some lives, damaged properties and threatened the socio economic live of residents. It has therefore become important to create easily read, rapidly accessible flood hazard map, which will prioritize the mitigation effects. The aim of this study is to assess the problem of flooding in Benin City and also identify parts of the study areas that are prone to flooding.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Cover Page                                                                                                                              i

Title Page                                                                                                                                ii

Declaration                                                                                                                              iii

Certification                                                                                                                            iii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iv

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                  v

Table of Content                                                                                                                     vi

Abstract                                                                                                                                  ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study                                                                                                 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem                                                                                                             7

1.3 Research Questions                                                                                                           8

1.4 Significance of the Study                                                                                                             8

1.5 Significance/Importance of the Study                                                                              9

1.6 Scope/delimitation of the Study                                                                                       9

1.7 Limitation of Study                                                                                                          9

1.8 Definition of Term                                                                                                            10

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                  12

2.1 Definition of Flooding                                                                                                      12

2.2 Characteristics of Floods                                                                                                  15

2.3 Types of Flooding                                                                                                             16

2.4 Causes of Flooding                                                                                                           19

2.5 Impact of Climate Change on Floods                                                                               22

2.6 Urbanization and Floods                                                                                                 24

2.7 Flood Prediction                                                                                                               26

2.8 Flood Occurrences                                                                                                            27

2.9 Beneficent Effects of Flood                                                                                             28

2.10 The Negative Effects of Flood                                                                                       31

2.11 Flood Control and Management                                                                                     33

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY                                                  34

 3.1 Research Design                                                                                                              34

3.2 The Study Area                                                                                                                 34

3.3 Sources of Data                                                                                                                39

3.4 Method of Data Collection                       `                                                                      39

3.5 Method of Sample Collection                                                                                           40

3.6 Study Population                                                                                      `                       40

3.7 Data Analysis                                                                                                                    41

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT                                                                                             42

4.1 Result/Data Analysis                                                                                                        42

4.2 Discussion                                                                                                                         50

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS     52

5.1 Summary   of Findings                                                                                                     52

5.2 Conclusion                                                                                                                        52

5.3 Recommendations                                      53 References                                                                                                                         55 Questionnaire                                                                                                                                 59 Appendix                                                                                                                           63