THE IMPACT OF FLOOD DISASTER ON RURAL COMMUNITY OF OKPELLA IN ETSAKO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the impact of flood disaster on rural community of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Five research questions and two hypotheses were raised and formulated respectively to guide the study. The study adopted the survey design. The sample size for the study comprised three hundred and seventy seven residents of Okpella Community. Questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.75 is the instrument used for data collection. Data were analyzed using simple percentage, mean and Chi-Square. Results showed that: Heavy rains, overflowing rivers, broken dams, lack of drainage system and lack of vegetation are the causes of flooding in Okpella Community; flooding has significant effect on the economic and social life of the people of Okpella Community. The study recommended, among other things, that there should be adequate and early information sent to communities where there is a likelihood of flooding. Such information must be carried by government agencies directly to the kings of such communities who will use their best methods to disseminate the information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER PAGE i
TITLE PAGE ii
CERTIFICATION iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS v
LIST OF TABLES ix
LIST of FIGURES x
ABSTRACT xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of Problem 3
1.3 Purpose of the Study 4
1.4 Research Question 5
1.5 Hypotheses 5
1.6 Significance of the Study 6
1.7 Scope and Delimitation of the Study 7
1.8 Study Area 8
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms 11
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Concept of Flooding 12
2.2 Causes of Flooding 14
2.3 Consequences of Flooding 18
2.4 Remedy to the Causes of Flooding 23
2.5 Empirical Studies on the Impact of Flooding on Humans 25
2.6 Appraisal of the Reviewed Literature 30
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD AND PROCEDURE
3.1 Research Design 31
3.2 Population of the Study 32
3.3 Sample and Sampling Technique 32
3.4 Research Instrument 33
3.5 Validity of the Instrument 33
3.6 Reliability of the Instrument 34
3.7 Method of Data Collection 34
3.8 Method of Data Analysis 35
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Analysis of Questionnaire Response Rate 36
4.2 Answering of Research Questions 37
4.3 Testing Hypotheses 43
4.4 Discussion of Findings 44
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary of the Research 48
5.2 Conclusion 50
5.3 Recommendations 50
5.4 Suggestions for Further Studies 51
REFERENCES 52
Appendix One: Impact of Flood Disaster on Rural Community Questionnaire 57
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1: Questionnaire Response Rate 36
2: Causes of Flooding in Okpella Community 37
3: Effect of Flood on the Economic Life of the People of Okpella
Community 38
4: Effect of Flood on the Social Life of the People of Okpella
Community 39
5: How Government Alleviated the Sufferings of Okpella Community 40
6: Solution to Flooding in Okpella Community 42
7: Chi-Square Analysis of the Impact of Flooding on the Economic Life of
People of Okpella Community 43
8: Chi-Square Analysis of the Impact of Flooding on the Social Life of
People of Okpella Community 44
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1: Location Map of Edo State Showing Okpella Community 10
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The arrival of the rains is met with joy and wild celebrations in African communities, particularly in rural areas. It's a welcome natural occurrence that everyone anticipates. The peasant farmers who have tilled the earth celebrate as mother nature gives them permission to plant their seeds. The rainy season ushers in a busy season for them, as they eagerly plant their seeds. However, if drainage is impeded as the rains continue, floods may occur. Flooding is caused by water bodies overflowing beyond their natural and man-made bounds as a result of persistent and severe rainfall. Flooding is one of the world's most destructive natural disasters, claiming human and animal lives while also destroying property and natural environments (Agbonkhese, Agbonhkese, Aka, Joe-Abay, Ocholi & Adekunle, 2014).
Flooding occurs when water overflows and submerges normally dry terrain. It can also happen when a body of water travels across terrain that is normally not submerged. It is the temporary flooding of a region caused by an increase in the level of a stream, river, lake, or sea (Agbonkhese et al, 2014). Elenwo (2015) described flood as a body of water rising to exceed land, but Nkwunonwo (2016) defined flood as water overtopping natural and manmade defenses and overflowing locations that are not normally submerged. Flooding is a frightening and growing threat all across the planet. This is because increased development exacerbates flooding, resulting in urban flooding, bad urban planning, and climate change (Elenwo, 2015 & Nkwunonwo, 2016). Building over flood plains, as well as uncontrolled dumping of garbage on flood plains and drainages, can all contribute to flooding.
Increased road building along rivers and population concentration near flooded regions, according to Emeribeole (2015), can cause flooding and increase damage. Building across a natural stream causes flooding as a result of urbanization. During the rainy season, when rivers expand and overrun their banks, this can be heard across the globe. River flooding is the most prevalent cause of flooding, which is frequently caused by extreme rainfall and climate change. Excess rainfall causes water bodies to rise, and overflows into nearby lands, which might be residential or agricultural. This causes significant harm to humans, cattle, and other assets.
Flooding has a harmful impact on people all across the world, including Nigeria. Nigeria is plagued by floods in both urban and rural areas. Flooding has been a frequent occurrence in towns with significant rivers including as Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Lagos, Imo, Edo, and others (Aliyu & Suleiman, 2016; Elenwo, 2015). The losses are frequently substantial and diverse. Rural regions are not immune, even if most of their pain appears to go unnoticed. According to Emeribeole (2015), 20 percent of Nigeria's population is at risk of flooding in one form or another. Flooding in Nigeria buried hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland between July and October 2012, forcing 1.3 million people from their homes and killing over 430 individuals, according to the author. Flooding has submerged thousands of acres of agriculture, as well as causing several additional damages and deaths. The Nigerian government has not looked into the teething problems and their repercussions on peasant farmers and communities, as well as the possibility of government intervention.
It is against this background that the researchers sought to investigate the impact of flood disaster on rural community of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
For years, the rural town of Okpella, like many other regions of Edo State, has been facing floods, which has had a variety of effects on the residents (Osasogie & Alabi, 2015). Crop and livestock farming, unsurprisingly, have been severely impacted. This research is based on the impact that the continuous flooding has had on the livelihoods of Okpella residents, who have been forced to fall behind in terms of development and living standards. To make matters worse, essential amenities and social services are rendered inaccessible in the impacted communities, resulting in a plague of contagious diseases, children failing to attend school, starvation, and other problems. People in Okpella's flood-prone area have been living hand to mouth for years, relying on government flood relief funds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of flood disaster on the rural community of Okpella in Edo State's Etsako East Local Government Area, in order to determine the causes of flood disaster and measures to mitigate flood disaster in this area.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The study generally investigated the impact of flood disaster on rural community of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. The study specifically:
1. determine the causes of flood in Okpella community;
2. determine how the flood has affected the economic life of the people of Okpella community;
3. determine how the flood has affected the social life of the people of Okpella community;
4. determine how far the government has helped in alleviating the sufferings of these people; and
5. Proffer solution on the flooding problem in Okpella community.
1.4 Research Question
The following research questions guided this study:
1. What are the causes of flood in Okpella Community?
2. How has the flood affected the economic life of the people of Okpella community?
3. How has the flood affected the social life of the people of Okpella community?
4. How far has the government helped in alleviating the sufferings of these people?
5. What is the solution to flooding problem in Okpella community?
1.5 Hypotheses
The following hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance.
1. There is no significant impact of flooding on the economic life of the people of Okpella community.
2. There is no significant impact of flooding on the social life of the people of Okpella community.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The completion of this study will be of significance to students, Okpella community people, members of the society, town planners, Government and future researchers in the following ways. The outcome of this study will expose students to the impact of flood disaster on the people of Okpella rural community. This will further boost the knowledge of students on the causes of flood and ways of resolving flood disaster.
The outcome of this study will furnish the people of Okpella rural community on the causes of flood in that locality. This may enable the people in curbing the menace of flood to the best of their ability.
The outcome of this study will provide information to the general public (society) on the impact of flood disaster on rural community of Okpella and expose the general public to the causes, the effects and ways of remedying flood disaster. This may encourage members of the public to help curb the problem of flooding in Okpella community and other neighbouring communities.
To town planners, the outcome of this study will provide useful information to them on the impact of flood disaster on rural community of Okpella. This will enable the town planners in selecting appropriate land area to be used for drainage purpose when allocating lands to people that want to develop.
The completion of this study will provide useful information to the government on the impact of flood on the people of Okpella rural community. This may encourage the government to come the aid of inhabitants of Okpella rural community through the construction of drainage system in the area and regular maintenance of existing drainage system.
The outcome of this study will add to existing literature on the impact of flood disaster on the environment. The outcome of this study will not only serve as a source of related literature to future researchers but will also guide them in stating research questions, hypotheses and selection of methodology and statistical tools.
1.7 Scope and Delimitation of the Study
The scope of this study was limited to the impact of flood disaster on rural communities in Okpella. The study covered the following area:
1. the causes of flood in Okpella Community;
2. impact of flood on the economic life of the people of Okpella community;
3. impact of flood on the social life of the people of Okpella community;
4. ways the government has helped in alleviating the sufferings of these people; and
5. ways of solving the problem of flood in Okpella community.
This study is delimited to only rural community in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. The choice of rural community is predicated on the prevalence of flooding in these areas as compared to the urban communities.
1.8 Study Area
1.8.1 Location
The research was conducted in the Okpella Community of Edo State's Etsako East Local Government Area (Lat. 60 17' to 70 12'N and Long. 5° 15' to 5° 41'E), Nigeria. The village is located in the Niger Delta's northwestern region, west of the lower Niger Valley and the southwestern plains and ranges. The community region is a southwest-sloping plain with a slanted plain. The Ishan Plateau is where it reaches its maximum elevation. The rest of the community region has rather flat terrain, with the exception of the Ikpoba hill, which is part of the plateau in the northwest corner of the city region in the Etete and Aduwawa regions. The soil is lateritic in nature (mostly red or reddish brown in colour containing clay particles). The Ikpoba River, which drains the eastern section of the city, and the River Niger, which drains the northern part, are the two main river systems that drain the settlement (Ogbonna, Amangabara & Itulua, 2011).
1.8.2 Climate
Rainfall falls throughout the year in the community, with July being the wettest month. July and August were the wettest months between 1997 and 2007. From December to February, the amount of rainfall was lower. The yearly rainfall averages over 2980 mm. April to October is the rainy season, whereas November to March is the dry season. The pattern of relative humidity was similar to the pattern of rainfall reported before. During the wet season, the node experienced high values (above 95 percent). High daily relative humidity readings varied from 86.5 to 94.0 percent during the dry season, peaking at 0600 hours. Since the early 1980s, the Community has experienced significant flash floods as a result of heavy rainfall and other flood-inducing factors such as building on floodplains, poor gutters, destruction of natural flood retention attenuations, and low infiltration rate (Ogbonna, Amangabara & Itulua, 2011).
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