Page 1 of 19
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 09
September 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 140
An Assessment of the Perennial Flooding in Akure, Ondo State.
By:
ADENIYI, Joshua Olu
Urban & Regional Planning Department,
Faculty of Environmental Studies,
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State.
E-mail: hadeniyijoe52@yahoo.com +2348033536010
Abstract
Lives and properties are annually threatened by perennial flooding as a result of climate change and
human activities all over the world. In May 2008, floods triggered by torrential rains killed dozens of
people across China, while thousands of others were victims of landslides caused by the downpours, in the
United States of America, the Mississippi River caused damages put at several millions of dollars when it
over flew its banks (Oyegbile, 2008). In Nigeria, record shows that more than 200 people had lost their
lives to flooding while hundreds of thousands had been rendered homeless and properties worth millions
of Naira had been destroyed by devastating floods across the country (Oluduro, 1988). This paper has
assessed flooding and the sustainable measures that could be taken to curb its future recurrence in Akure.
The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Secondary data were sourced from the literatures on
flooding while the primary data were sourced using personal observation and structured questionnaires
which were administered to household heads randomly selected from people living in the flood prone
areas chosen for this study: Odo-Ikoyi, Isolo, Ala, Oshinle, Isikan, Ijoka and Danjuma. 163
questionnaires were administered to the household heads living in the flood prone areas without bias; 23
questionnaires were administered to the targeted respondents in each of the areas selected for this study
systematically at the interval of 10 building. The study revealed that indiscriminate refuse dumping, poor
town planning practices, poor drainage system, building too close to the river bank, high rainfall, blocked
drainages and overpopulation are causes of flooding in the study area. The study recommends
environmental enlightenment programmes, proper land use planning, accurate weather forecast,
appropriate environmental law preventing indiscriminate refuse dumping as the sustainable measures that
could curb flood disaster in Akure.
Key words: Flooding, Hazard, Natural Disaster, Perennial, Sustainability, Urbanization.
Page 2 of 19
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 09
September 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 141
1.0 INTRODUCTION
There is no doubt that the world is under a serious threat from the environment: From China to
Mexico, Indonesia, United States of America and United Kingdom, analysts have argued that the
environment was only responding to the abuses heaped on it by man’s activities (Christopherson, 1997). The
concern is that the world may be getting close to extinction through natural disasters unless immediate
actions are taken; and the signs are just too apparent to be ignored (Christopherson, 1997 and Oyegbile,
2008). Specifically, in May 2008, floods triggered by torrential rains killed dozens of people across China,
while thousands of others were victims of landslides caused by the downpours. China is not alone. In the
United States of America, the Mississippi River caused damages put at several millions of dollars when it
over flew its banks, flooding some cities, towns, farmlands and major industrial installations over a distance
of about 250km and ravaging Iower before it heaped downstream. Apart from the Mississippi-Missouri River
Systems of 1993, and that of 1995, world records of flood have it that severe floods were experienced in
Norway, China, Bangladesh, Ghana, The Netherlands and South Florida, (Christopherson, 1997).
In February 2000, a cyclone swept across Mozambique which left some 950,000 people homeless as
floods devastated huge areas of low-laying lands. Roads, homes, bridges and crops were destroyed
(Aderogba, 2012). Aderogba opined that towards averting the annual tragedy of floods often occasioned by
torrential rains and living habits of the residents, government at all level must step up rehabilitation activities
that would ensure major roads and drainage channels across the cities and towns free of encumbrances and
serviceable. Nigerian Punch Newspaper (July 18, 2017) reported that the Northeast India floods were caused
by overflowing of Brahmaputra river in the state of Assam affecting four Indian states: Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur killing at least 85 people and rendering 500,000 people homeless. Nearly 60
animals, mostly deer and wild boars, were perished in the floods. The flood-affected 15 districts of Assam
state that includes Lakhimpur , Jorhat , Golaghat , Sivasagar , Cachar , Dhemaji , Karimganj, Sonitpur , Hojai
Page 3 of 19
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 09
September 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 142
, Biswanath, Majuli, Barpeta , Chirang , Nagaon and Nalbari. It also inundated large tracts of Kaziranga
National Park , Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Nameri National Park .
Epa, (2011) gave a remark of the incident that occurred in Ghana in August, 2007, where floods
affected about 350,000 people with 49 casualties in the Northern parts of the country alone causing an
estimated damage of over $130 million, not including long term losses . Even though, the Government of
Ghana inaugurated statutory supervisory agencies such: as Ministry of Works and Housing, City Engineers
of Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Lands Department and commissioned consultants to see to the
reduction effects of flood on human lives and properties (Adinku, 1994; NEDECO, 1962 and RRDRA,
1991). Yet, the methods employed by the aforementioned agencies such as; identifying watermarks on
structures, media reports and aerial photographic interpretations are not enough to solve or mitigate flood
hazards as new areas periodically experience flood (Kuma, 1996). According to Samuel Asumadu et al,
(2015), to adopt a sustainable approach for flood risk management, practitioners in Ghana needs to consider a
mixture of measures for managing flood risk and plan these measures across the whole catchments. They
stressed that increasing resilience to flood risk is an important component of sustainable flood management.
They submitted that resilience to flooding can be increased through varieties of measures including flood
warning, flood defenses, natural management and quick and effective responses to flooding.
In Nigeria, record shows that more than 200 people have lost their lives to flooding while hundreds of
thousands have been rendered homeless and properties worth millions of Naira have been destroyed by
devastating floods across the country (Oluduro, 1988; Sunday Times, 1988; Oyo Ministry of Information and
Culture, 1989). Askew (1999) as cited by Etuenovbe (2011), opines that floods cause about one-third of all
deaths; one-third of all injuries and one-third of all damage from natural disasters. Flooding in various parts
of Nigeria has forced millions of people from their homes, destroyed businesses, polluted water resources
and increased the risk of diseases (Baiye, 1988; Akinyemi, 1990; Nwabani, 1991; Edward, 1997). Adeniyi
and Omole, ( 2015) noted that flooding effect which are always negative may either be mild or heavy in the
