Abstract
The aim of the study is to assess the effects of flood on the livelihoods of communities in Urban Zaria Nigeria. Field survey research was carried out in the five purposively selected residential communities (Hanwa, Magume, Tudun-jukun, Muchia and Gyallesu) that are representative samples of the study area. Data was collected by administering the flood and livelihood questionnaire (FLQ). The study identified areas affected by flooding, determined factors responsible for flooding, its effect on livelihood and identified measures to control flood occurrences in the area. Data was analysed descriptively and inferentially using linear regression analysis. In assessing the periodicity of floods, about 78% of respondents affirmed that flooding is a yearly occurrence. More so, 74.5% observed that flooding around the area coincided with the rainy season in Zaria within May to August. Investigating the factors of flooding shows about 36% of respondents affirmed that blocking of the drainage systems caused by the dumping of wastes and heavy rainfall are the most likely causes of flooding in the area. The study reveals that the impact of floods could be seen across all the sources of livelihood in the area with farming considered as the major livelihood source declining sharply to about 40% due to instances of crop destruction and failure. Further assessment shows that flooding caused extensive damage on infrastructures like roads, schools and houses in the communities impacting negatively on the delivery of services such as health, agriculture and education in the area. In combating flooding occurrences in the area, 74.6% argued that government is doing little or nothing to salvage the situation. However, about 60% of the respondents stressed that public enlightenment programmes, channelization of drainage systems, government aid and policies, and community effort among others will help to reduce the impact of flooding. The result of the statistics revealed the proportion of variation; r2 = 0.055 has an overall effect of only 5.5% suggesting that 94.5% of association within the model cannot be established. The combined effect indicates no significant relationship exists between flooding occurrences and livelihood sources in the area. It is recommended, among other things, that there should be enforcement of law against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainage system; efforts should be made by the government in the expansion and construction of new drainage channels to convey heavy rainstorms and high stream flow and mass sensitisation and advocacy programmes to create awareness in the vulnerable communities.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i
Declaration ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ii
Certification ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii
Acknowledgement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- iv
Dedication ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- v
Table of Content ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ vii
List of tables ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- viii
List of Figures and plates -------------------------------------------------------------------- ix
List of Appendices ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- x
Abbreviation, Definition, Glossary and Symbol ------------------------------------------ xi
Abstract ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- xii
Chapter One: Introduction and Background of the Study -------------------------- 1
1.1 Introduction and Background of the Study ---------------------------------------- 1
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem ------------------------------------------------ 6
1.3 Aim and Objectives ------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
1.4 Null Hypotheses ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
1.5 Scope of the Study- ------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
1.6 Justification of the Study ------------------------------------------------------------- 11
Chapter Two: Conceptual Consideration and Literature Review ------------------ 12
2.1 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
2.2.1 Conceptual Framework---------------------------------------------------------------- 12
2.2.2 Concept of Flooding -------------------------------------------------------------------- 14
2.2.3 Characteristics of Floods --------------------------------------------------------------- 16
2.2.4 Causes of Flooding ------------------------------------------------------------------ 17
2.2.5 Flood Vulnerability --------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
2.2.6 Flood prediction ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 24
2.2.7 Flood Occurrence ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 25
2.2.8 Benefits of Flood ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 27
2.2.9 Flood Control and Management ------------------------------------------------------- 28
2.3 Urbanisation and Flood ----------------------------------------------------------------- 30
2.3.1 Livelihood and Flood Occurrence in Urban Areas ---------------------------------- 31
2.4 Review of Similar Studies -------------------------------------------------------------- 33
Chapter Three: Study Area and Methodology ------------------------------------------ 38
3.1 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38
3.2 Study Area ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 38
3.2.1 Location --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38
3.2.2 Climate --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40
3.2.3 Vegetation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40
3.2.4 Soils ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41
3.2.5 Geology -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41
3.2.7 Population and Economy------------------------------------------------------------- 42
3.2.6 Land Use ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43
3.3 Methodology--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44
3.3.1 Reconnaissance Survey -------------------------------------------------------------- 44
3.3.2 Research Design ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 44
3.3.3 Types of data -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44
3.3.4 Sources of Data ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 45
3.4 Sampling Technique and Sampling Size ------------------------------------------ 45
3.4.1 Questionnaire Administration ------------------------------------------------------ 46
3.5 Procedure for data collection ------------------------------------------------------- 47
3.6 Method of Data Analysis ------------------------------------------------------------ 47
Chapter Four: Result and Discussion ---------------------------------------------------- 49
4.1 Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49
4.2 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents ------------------------------- 49
4.3 Flood Experiences -------------------------------------------------------------------- 52
4.3.1 Duration of Flood Occurrences ----------------------------------------------------- 52
4.4 Areas Affected by Flood ------------------------------------------------------------- 53
4.5 Factors Responsible for Flooding in the Study Area ----------------------------- 57
4.6 Livelihood Pattern of the Households ---------------------------------------------- 60
4.6.1 Effect of Flooding on the Livelihood Patterns of the Household ------------- 61
4.6.0 Effect of Flooding on other Important Sectors in the Area -------------------- 62
4.6.1 Effects of Flood on Crop Farming ------------------------------------------------ 62
4.6.2 Effects on Housing ------------------------------------------------------------------ 65
4.6.3 Effect on infrastructures ------------------------------------------------------------ 66
4.6.6 Effects on Health -------------------------------------------------------------------- 68
4.7 Flood Control Measures ------------------------------------------------------------ 69
4.8.0 Extent of Government Participation in Controlling Flooding Occurrences--- 71
4.9.0 Test of Hypothesis ------------------------------------------------------------------ 71
Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation ---------------------- 73
5.2 Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 73
5.3 Conclusion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 75
5.4 Recommendation --------------------------------------------------------------------- 77
References ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78
Appendices----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 86
List of Tables
Tables
3.1 Population of the Selected Communities ------------------------------------------- 46
3.2 Proportion of Respondent in the Selected Wards --------------------------------- 47
4.1 Demographic Characteristics of the respondents --------------------------------- 50
4.2 Flood Experiences -------------------------------------------------------------------- 51
4.3 Frequency of Flood Months --------------------------------------------------------- 53
4.4 Loss of the Main Staple Crop Grown ---------------------------------------------- 63
4.5 Effects of Flood on Housing -------------------------------------------------------- 65
4.6 Effect on infrastructures-------------------------------------------------------------- 67
4.7 Effects of flood on Health------------------------------------------------------------ 68
4.8 Government Intervention in Addressing Urban flooding------------------------- 71
4.9 Summary of Linear Regression Statistics ------------------------------------------ 73
List of Figures and Plate
Figure 3.1 Map of the study Area (Urban Zaria) ----------------------------------------- 39
Figure 4.1 Areas affected by flood ---------------------------------------------------------- 55
Figure 4.2 Factors Responsible for Flooding ---------------------------------------------- 58
Figure 4.3 Livelihood Patterns of the Communities -------------------------------------- 60
Figure 4.4 Effect of Flood on Livelihood Before and After Flooding Occurrences 61
Figure 4.5 Measures Employed in Mitigating Flooding in the Study area ------------- 70
Plate 1: Bakatoshi Street Magume Community Zaria ------------------------------------ 56
Plate 2: Blockage of Drainage with Solid Waste at Tudun-Jukun ---------------------- 59
Plate 3: Effect of flood on Farming---------------------------------------------------------- 63
Plate 4: Effects of Flood on Housing -------------------------------------------------------- 66
Plate 5: Effects of Flooding on Roads in the study area ---------------------------------- 68
List of Appendices
Appendix I: Flood and Livelihood Questionnaire (FLQ) --------------------------------- 84
Appendix II: Statistics of Regression Analysis --------------------------------------------- 87
Abbreviation, Definition, Glossary and Symbols
BNRCC Building Nigeria’s Response to Climate Change
WHO World Health Organisation
UNICEF United Nation Children Education Funds
DFID British Department for Development Studies
GIS Geographical Information System
UN United Nation
NEMA National Emergency Management Agency
NPC National Population Commission
Ung. Unguwa (Town)
SPSS Statistical Packages for Social Science
SHELDUS Spatial Hazard Event and Losses Database for United State
FEMA Federal Environmental Management Agency
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
APFM Associated Programme on Flood Management in 2006
UHI Urban Heat Island
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
UN/ISDR United Nation for International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
UNEP United Nation Environmental Programme
UNFCCC United National Framework Convention on Climate Change
