Tragedies of Floods: A Contemporary Discourse in Nigeria

Flooding is becoming an increasingly severe and more frequent problem in African cities. Unfortunately, the impact is more felt by the urban poor in such a way that recovery is unlikely to be achieved without external aid(Blaikie, 1994). In other words, urban poor are the most vulnerable to impact of flood because they occupy thefloodplains for settlements (informal). Coupled with lack of attention to household waste collection, constructionand maintenance of drainage channels, flood disasters is becoming more pronounced (Satterthwaite et al., 2007;Douglas et al., 2008; Potschin, 2009).

It should however be noted that, flooding is a natural phenomenon that has surmounting effects on human livelihoods. Nelson (2001) viewed flood as a natural consequence of stream flow in a continually changing environment. Sada (1988) defines flooding as unusually high rates of discharging;often leading to inundation of land adjacent to streams, and it is usually caused by intense or prolonged rainfall.

The occurrence of flood represents a major risk to riversides populations and floodplains, in addition to causing substantial impacts on the environment, including aquatic fauna and flora, and bank erosion. Flooding is often Exacerbated by human activities (Olanrewaju & Fadairo, 2003) such as the presence of riverside infrastructure (dams, piers, and lands); and by poor development practice including riverside development, excessive cleaning,

Encroachment upon water ways, dredging which may cause changes in the hydrological balance of water-ways involved (Nolan & Marron, 1995).

In Nigeria, particularly cities; flooding is a critical environmental problem or major hazard that is continuously affecting effective functioning of urban environment, especially in the areas of sustained infrastructure and services, which are germane to sustainable livelihood. It often arises as a result of the extension of urban areas

unaccompanied by development of strong drainage systems, adequate planning and disaster managementstrategies. Indeed, flooding is one of the most devastating hazards that are likely to increase in many regions of the world partly due to global climate change and poor governance. According to ActionAid (2006) four types of

urban flooding can be recognized:

(i) Localized flooding- occurring many times in a year due to few and blocked drains

(ii) Small streams in urban areas rise quickly after heavy rain, but often pass through small culverts under

roads

(iii) Major rivers flowing through urban areas

(iv) Wet season flooding in lowland and coastal cities

In Nigeria, flooding occurs in three main forms; river flooding, urban flooding and coastal flooding (Gwary, 2008; Adeoti, 2010).

The heavy rainfall coupled with bad human activities in relation to the environment and lack of drainage infrastructure in most Nigerian cities has left hundreds of people distressed and homeless. It should be mentioned that flooding in cities can contaminate water supplies and intensify the spread of epidemics diseases, diarrhea, typhoid, scabies, cholera, malaria, dysentery and other water-borne diseases. Frequent occurrence of floods can be attributed to the impositions made by cities on their environment.

In some cases, natural ecosystems are often destroyed owing to demand for renewable resources, such as water, fossil fuels, land and building materials (development). Also, human influences in urban areas have considerably altered

the hydrological system and nature of the ground surface causing destructive flood disaster and its attendant physical and socio-economic outcomes (e.g. disruption of socio-economic activities, loss of properties, inaccessibility and reduction of the aesthetic quality of the environment).

Tragedies associated with flood disasters in Nigeria have significant effects on the people, city infrastructure and urban governance. In recent time most city residentsfelt the impacts of floods directly or indirectly, and the

pathetic stories were captured by different newspaper headlines in Nigeria it’s also reveals that floods has become a major problem in Nigerian cities since the first flood hit Ibadan, the headquarters of the old western region (now the capital of Oyo State) in 1948. Subsequently, series of serious tragedies of floods have

occurred in Ibadan and other parts of the country between 1963-2011

Pathetic newspaper headlines on flooding in Nigeria

Ibadan floods washed away 2,105 buildings (The Punch, 24th 2011, p.14). flood kills eight in Katsina and\100 families rendered homeless; five hour downpour triggers panic in Ibadan; Boy dead, dad, sister hospitalized in school fence collapse. Floods of fury in cities. Lagos calls for calm, Lagos ask pupils to stay away from school; (The Nation, July 11th, 2011). 10 dead in Lagos floods; Lagos/Abeokuta road cracks (The Nation, July 12th, 2011).Bakery, 10 buildings collapse. How Doctor, three kids died. Senator condoles with families of victims (The Nation, August 30th, 2011). Ibadan floods: six residents still missing as death toll hits 32. Lagos lawmakers seek Fed. Govt. intervention on flooding (The Nation,August 30th 2011). Four waitresses, baby die on wet night. Floods: Lagos residents go fishing (The Punch, July 12th 2011).Where do I start life from? Asks Ganiyat Hussein, revenue collector who lost all (The

Nation, September 3rd, 2011). Floods: Residents count losses as canoe operators rake money (The Punch, October 7th, 2010). Flood: Sokoto council evacuates 6,000 residents (Daily Times, August 26th, 2011). I thank God I lost my business and all, but not my life (Aj ibade Adewale, the Nation September 3rd, 2011).

Ogun/Lagos flood national disaster, says President. FG launches ‘flood early warning system’ for food security (The Guardian, August 2nd, 2011). Govt. distributes relief materials to victims. Oyo CAN, senator mourn. Flood threatens Oyo residents (The Nation, August 29th, 2011). How we saved a 102-yr-old woman and 15 kids Ibadan floods death toll up as more bodies surface. Man loses eight children. Another loses four kids; father (The Nation, August 29th, 2011). Oyo: Politics of flooding, relief materials. (The Punch, September 19th, 2011). ‘How we survived the flood of sorrow’ (Oladele, Bisi). Our heart was in our mouth. We were so afraid because we were close to death (Felix Ero-The Nation, September 3rd, 2011). Man drowns in Odo Ona, Ajimobi to demolish buildings. UI loses ₦10b property. (The Nation, August 31st, 2011). 12-year-old girl drowns in Lagos floods, typhoid cases rise. Lagos relocates 681 (The Punch, October 12th, 2011). Floods sack residents of highbrow Ikoyi, Victoria Island. (Punch, July 3rd, 2011).Lagos residents panic as fresh downpour causes floods (The Punch, July 18th, 2011).

Tragedies of flood and associated impacts in selected cities in Nigeria

States, Causalities and Recorded Years

Abia Rainstorm Houses 500 people 2001

Adamawa Flood Houses & Farmlands destroyed 500 people 2001

Akwa-Ibom Flood &Rainstorm 367 houses washed away 4000 people 2001

Bayelsa Flood Houses, Schools, Markets &Farmlands submerged2/3 of the population 1999, 2001

Delta Flood & Rainstorm Houses, Schools, Markets &

Farmlands submerged half of the population 1999, 2001

Edo Flood & Rainstorm 560 Houses destroyed 820 people 2001

Kano Flood &Windstorm Schools, Houses, Farmlands &animals destroyed 300,000 people 1988, 2001

Lagos Flood Buildings collapsed, markets submerged, properties destroyed.

300,000 people affected 1970’s, 2011

Oyo Flood 500 Houses demolished, properties destroyed & bridges collapsed 50,000 affected 1978,1980,1985,1987 1990,2011

Taraba Flood 80 Houses totally swept off. 410houses extensively destroyed Over 50,000 displaced 2005

Zamfara Flood Building submerged, Farmlands destroyed, properties damaged 12,398 affected 2001

Source: Adapted from Etuonovbe, (2011).