ASSESSMENT OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO FLOOD DISASTER IN KEDE FLOODPLAIN IN MOKWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE

ABSTRACT

Kede floodplain is under constant threat of devastating floods annually. The rural dwellers adopted strategies and even the government have developed the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to respond to the issues of disaster risk but substantive success has not been attained. This research seeks to examine the government response strategies to flood disaster in Kede floodplain community with a view of making recommendations to enhance flood risk reduction and management. The study assesses the trends of occurrence of flood disaster in the community; examine the response strategies adopted by the people and evaluate the implementation of the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) of NEMA in the study area. Quantitative data gathered for this research was interpreted using descriptive statistics to achieve the research objectives. The study recorded an aggregate of 340 respondents representing 90% who indicated that the early warning response by government has not reduced loss of human lives and assets to flood, while 10% agreed that it has reduced them. The study also discovered poor response by government in the maintenance and upgrading of infrastructure where 86.8% insist there is no maintenance and upgrade on damaged community infrastructures while, 13.2% who cited the world bank RAMP project on few roads claimed there are maintenance. The research also revealed that 95% of the respondents claimed that government does not presently have any prevention, preparedness and mitigation plan or arrangement for the flood prone area while, only 5% of the respondents claimed they have the required prevention, preparedness and mitigation plan on ground. The findings of the study have shown that government response to disaster risk reduction in Kede floodplain area is grossly inadequate and this is key to building a resilient community. The absence of key government response in Kede has weakened the local governance and aggravate their risk and vulnerability of rural livelihoods. Hence, the study recommends that building the technical capacities of the people for DRR at local government level and promoting Community- based strategies on disaster risk reduction.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0         INTRODUCTION

1.1         Background to the Study

Floodplains are land lying low next to rivers. They present several advantages to people especially the rural dwellers whose livelihoods depend on fishing, arable farming, freshwater for livestock rearing and human. Unfortunately, settlements that are located near to floodplains experience devastating flooding because of the impacts of environmental change (Vidal and Radford, 2005).

With the current challenges of climate change, flooding has been seen as a major environmental challenge in several parts of the whole world. Globally, mortality rate in the event of flood and other natural disaster has reduced because of the use of early warning system mostly in the global north, however, many of the third world nations still experience increase in deaths resulting from flood. This is because of the magnitude to which settlements in third-world countries  are exposed and vulnerable to flood (Komolafe  et al., 2015). According to Kron (2005), flooding accounts for about half of the global natural disaster fatalities and one-third of its economic losses. Flooding has since been designated as a major disaster in most developing countries of the world.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO, 2020) no one can claim ignorance of flood as a phenomenon. Howsoever, it is additionally obvious that natural risks, for example, floods and dry seasons can’t be annihilated, be that as it may, an ideal and precise suggestion of hydro-meteorological will assist people to getting ready for, mitigate hazards and decrease disruptions that can have negative impact to infrastructures and livelihoods. Flood is the most havoc wrecking catastrophic event affecting numerous world regions

annually. According to the WMO, there has been a dramatic rise in the danger brought about by floods during the previous decades generally as an outcome of the impacts of climate change. The Nigeria nation is not left out in the trend and has witness many flood disasters. The most outstanding occurrences are 2012 and 2018 destroying floods in which numerous lives were lost, property destroyed and general disturbance of business with unfavorable loss of livelihoods.

Nigeria has witnessed a series of floods disasters in the past few decades (Amangabra and Obenade, 2015). The occurrence and intensity of floods in Nigeria are more pronounced in the floodplains of river Niger, river Benue and other major rivers, as well as the coastal parts of the country. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, 2010), the national annual losses caused by floods, over the last decade ranges between $9.6billion and $18.4billion. The 2012 flooding event, for example, cost an estimated loss of $16.9b worth of properties and investments (Amangabra and Obenade, 2015). This kind of disaster has created serious devastation on both urban and rural populaces in the country. The responses from the governments of Nigeria, over the years, have been mainly reactionary.

The International actors, civil societies and governments in 2005, came together under the umbrella of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and developed a disaster risk reduction framework known as Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) and later the African Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and its Plan of Action (ARSDRR) 2010 which makes its practice easy for all African countries in the governance of disasters and their risks. By the year 2015, The Sendai Framework (2015- 2030) was developed as a legal document to succeed the Hyogo Framework for Action

(HFA) 2005-2015. Nigeria has been a member of the conferences that brought about these

frameworks and is also a signatory to many of them, nevertheless, the effectiveness of her reducing the risk of disasters has been adjudged unsatisfactory thereby calls for in-depth assessment of the system (Nkwunonwo et al., 2016).

Governance is a fundamental factor in disaster management endeavours (UNISDR, 2004). A good governance is anticipated to embrace disaster risk reduction through policy development, allocation of resources needed to achieve the set policy, ensure policy implementation and give an account of failures in addition to ensure that relevant stakeholders participation is not weakened (UNISDR, 2004). For a nation to attain a desired disaster risk reduction status, it requires a strong national governance on disaster management with an established dedicated local governance (Williams, 2011). In the Nigerian context, Oladokun and Proverbs (2016) argue that although the recent increase in flood incidence has increased levels of awareness; however, flood risk governance activities in Nigeria and its integration into governance systems and processes are still crude.

Across the globe, central governments of numerous nations are discreetly imparting more capacity to subnational practitioners in managing disaster risk (O’Neill, 2005). Most Disaster Risk Management routine include grassroots organization and implementation, and the international bodies call for the decentralization of power and assets to advance local area level disaster risk reduction. However, decentralizing duties can likewise have adverse outcomes if local governments can’t dole out resources or devoted staff with sufficient specialized skills (Pelling, 2003; Scott and Tarazona, 2011). In Latin America, many nations with whom have channel resources in the devolution their central mechanisms of Disaster Risk Management in the last ten years, for instance Colombia and Nicaragua, still battle with lacking municipal government know-how and funding (Hardoy et al., 2010). About 900 of Colombia’s 1,098 regions have commanded neighborhood councils for disaster risk reduction, however just 14% executed crisis and emergency courses of action. The same case is what is obtainable here in Nigeria and many other African countries; where local government institution is weak. Hence, in order to achieve effective flood disaster risk management good governance at local level is seen as a veritable tool.

1.2         Statement of the Research Problem

The reoccurring nature of flood hazards around the world has increased human and economic losses. Rabindra (2008) indicates that the majority of flood disasters’ victims are poor people of developing countries, who suffer most and are the first causalities of such incidents. Flooding wreak havoc on homes and business activities; damage roads and communication routes, crops and agricultural land, disrupt drainage and sewage systems, presenting a serious health hazard resulting from pollution and water borne-disease and even death (Ebuzoeme, 2015). Flood impacts on people’s livelihood is a very serious one, particularly on the rural dwellers whose main sources of livelihood are farming, livestock rearing and fishing. These poor families on floodplains, will either lose their lives and or assets they have accumulated over years when disaster strikes (Gulsan et al., 2016).

Kede communities are among the sub-tribes that make-up the Nupe Kingdom in Niger state. They are located on the flood plain of River Niger and are predominantly engaged in fishing activities. Flood plains are of special importance to rural communities, as they offer favorable conditions for agrarian economy of the people. However, these areas are under constant threat of floods. Flash-floods occur almost every year in Kede when the water level of the Niger River rises a few meters above the danger stage. The factor influencing the occurrence of the

flood is probably the pattern of monthly rainfall during the month of September to November.

The flood many a times displace the communities and destroy farms and properties.

Flooding  and  other  natural  disasters  are  global  phenomena;  in  response  to  which governments across the world met severally to develop policy frameworks between 1994 and 2015 to find a lasting and sustainable ways of managing disasters and climate risks (Kamara et al., 2019). The Federal Government of Nigeria also established the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in 1999 which also developed National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) to address the issues of disaster risk but substantive success has not been recorded in Kede floodplain community. Hence, the need to assess government response strategies to flood disaster in Kede floodplain community with a view of making recommendations to enhance disaster risk reduction and management.

1.3         Research Questions

This research has help to answer the following research questions:

i.     What is the trend of occurrence of flood disasters in Kede floodplain community?

ii.     What are the response strategies adopted by Kede floodplain community?

iii.     How has the implementation of National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) of NEMA responded to flood disaster in the study area?

iv.      How has the disaster governance system reduced risk in Kede floodplain community?

1.4         Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to examine the governance response strategies to flood disaster in Kede floodplain community with a view of making recommendations to enhance flood risk reduction and management.

The objectives of the study are to:

i.       assess the trends of occurrence of flood disaster in Kede floodplain community;

ii.       examine the response strategies adopted by Kede floodplain community;

iii.       evaluate the implementation of the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) of NEMA in the study area; and

iv.       assess the impact of the disaster governance system in reducing risk in Kede floodplain community.

1.5         Scope of the Study

The spatial scope of this research is the extent of Kede district, comprising of floodplain communities on the southern part of Mokwa local government area, Niger State.

On the temporal scope of the study, the research covers ten years (2010 – 2020) period of flood analysis in the study area and governance response strategies adopted. It also focuses on the Disaster Risk Governance structure of Kede district; using prevention/mitigation (preparedness before disaster), response measure (during disaster) and recovery and resilient measures (after disaster “Build Back Better”).

1.6         Justification for the Study

It is no doubt that daunting challenges of climate change and its resultant effects of global warming and flooding are fast ravaging many human settlements across the globe. This work with the aid of its response strategy assessment will be relevant in providing useful information regarding disaster risk governance and strategies to reduce the effect of any form of flood hazard within human settlement particularly the floodplain areas. Also as the disaster risk reduction campaign is becoming more necessary, the very high rate of involvement of every sector of the stakeholder will assist in the area of awareness, preparedness, prevention and mitigation.

1.7         The Study Area: Kede in Context of Mokwa Local Government, Niger State

Kede district zone is located on the Southern part of Mokwa local government, the area lies between Latitude 5o 0I N and 5o45I E and Longitude 9o15I N and 8o 45I N. The study area is a long stretch of land of about 102km, adjoining river Niger and on which thirty-two (32) villages are located; with the total land coverage of 600. 9sq.km

The flood prone communities extend from Rabba Koshaba in the South-Western part of Mokwa LGA, to Muregi on the South-Eastern; as well as all the villages within the two. This area of the state has been a major flash point of flood disaster over the years. In spite the economic importance of Kede floodplain, as the area offer a vast expanse of arable land for all season farming; and also offer favorable conditions for fishery and other riverine businesses; the area is bedeviled with an unabating flood incidents.

1.7.1      Climate and meteorology

The climate of Nigeria is influenced by seasonal changes of two air masses which blow over the country. These are the cold dry dusty tropical continental air mass and the associated harmattan winds that originate from the Sahara Desert on one hand, and the warm humid Tropical Maritime (MT) and the associated South-West monsoon winds which originate over the Atlantic Ocean on the other hand (NiMet, 2021). The Inter-Tropical Front (ITF) or Inter- Tropical Discontinuity (ITD) separates the two air masses. The weather condition experienced at any given location in Nigeria during any period of the year is determined by the position of the ITD.

1.7.2      Rainfall, relative humidity and temperature

Niger State according to Ayinde et. al. (2013) experiences distinct dry and wet seasons with annual rain fall varying from 1,200mm in the northern part to 1,600mm in the southern parts which ranges between 150 and 210days of rain or even more. The maximum temperature (usually not more than 608oF) is recorded between March and June, while the Minimum is usually between December and January (usually not more than 482oF). Generally, the fertile soil and hydrology of the State permit the cultivation of most of Nigeria’s staple crops and still allows sufficient opportunities for grazing, fresh water, fishing and forestry development. The generally high temperatures of the area are typical of its tropical location. Air temperatures range from 24.5oC – 37.0oC in the rainy season increasing to between 33.0o and 39.0oC in the dry season.

1.7.3      Description of vegetation

According to Bununu et al. (2013) who claimed that Guinea Savanna as at 1976/78 occupied a greater part of the areas based on his survey. Today, the areas of the original Guinea Savanna have decreased drastically. Most of the previous Guinea Savanna areas have changed due to grazing, agricultural activities and other anthropogenic factors. In many cases, land was intensively cropped, deforested and exposed to erosion. Generally speaking, the vegetation types discovered in the study area could be categorized thus:

i.     Subsistence / fallow farmland

ii.     Vegetation within and around built-up areas

iii.     Gardens and parks

1.7.4      Soil

Three major soil types can be found in Niger State. These include the ferruginous tropical soils, hydromorphic soils and ferrosols. The most predominant soil type is the ferruginous tropical soils which are basically derived from the Basement Complex rocks, as well as from old sedimentary rocks. Such ferruginous tropical soils are ideal for the cultivation of guinea corn, maize, millet and groundnut. Hydromorphic or waterlogged soils are largely found in the extensive flood plain of the Niger River (Bununu et al., 2013). The soils are poorly drained and are generally greyish or sometimes whitish in colour due to the high content of silt. Ferrosols which developed on sandstone formations can be found within the Niger trough (Bununu et al., 2013). Their characteristic red colour enriched with a clay sub soil is noticeable in the landscape. Termite hills dot the landscape, particularly between Mokwa, Bida and Kontagora. These can be seen along the major highways in the state.

1.7.5      Land use

Land use in the area can be grouped into:

i.     Rural settlements: This consists of the villages and hamlets within the study area. They are characterized by low intensity / low density residential, commercial, public and recreational uses.

ii.      Agricultural: Agricultural land use (crop cultivation and animal grazing) consumes approximately 85% of land within and around the study area.

1.7.6      Community governance The study area formation is a collection of villages/hamlets. Individuals in these villages/hamlets surrender themselves to the authority of their village heads known as Zaki. The basis of the people’s submission is traditional because it is mandatory on any persons born in a community to become an automatic member and as well respect all rules of the land. Any visitor or tenant who resides there must respect same rules. Aside the village head and the village elders overseeing the affairs of the village, there are other groups such as the youth group headed by the youth leader otherwise called Sokera, farmer’s group, fishermen group, market men and women groups. These groups play important roles in the flood governance system of the

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