CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The world at large has in the recent past developed great concern over environmental issues such as global warming and its effect; flood which constitute a great problem to man, is both human-induced (anthropogenic) and natural disasters. Global warming is as a result of human activities such as deforestation, the release of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere in various ways and thereby creating hole in the ozone layer. The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC, 2007), fourth assessment report reveals that the frequency of heavy precipitation has increased over most land areas that appear to be consistent with the global warming phenomenon. The impact of global warming on specific regions of the world has been estimated and predicted that “heavy precipitation events which are very likely to increase in frequency will augment flood risk”. This means that floods will get more severe in areas that are already prone to such disaster. They also observed increase in atmospheric water vapour, extreme temperature and increase in intense tropical cyclones in some regions.

Natural and Anthropogenic disasters had from prehistoric periods had serious impact on man and his environment. Natural disasters and anthropogenic disasters could come in form of earthquakes, cyclones, volcanic eruptions, landslides and floods. Impact of disasters on men are exacerbated by a number of factors which include poor land use planning, population growth, environmental mismanagement, increasing levels of vulnerability, poor governance and climatic change.

The loss of human lies, loss of assets and rise in the cost of reconstruction efforts as a result of flooding has placed Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) on the policy agenda of many countries especially those areas prone to flooding. The hope of realizing the International Strategy in Disaster Reduction (ISDR)’s aim in reducing disaster is to mobilize the governments of different countries, United Nations (UN) agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), multi and bilateral agencies, regional bodies, private sector and civil societies to unit efforts in building a resilient societies by developing a culture of prevention, preparedness against and managing disaster (UN-ISDR, 2003).

Floods accounted for about 30 percent of all the natural disasters and 40 percent of the fatalities (Schecham & Hewitt, 1969). Flood is the outcome of a rainfall events or cumulative effects of episodic events, that comes man-induced disaster because of violation of the sanctity of the hydrologic cycle through man’s quest to control nature,(Adefolalu, 2008). Flood incidents are becoming annual events in all parts of Nigeria with varying degrees of impacts on man and his environment. The yearly report in various parts of Nigeria has been that of flood causing destruction and the death of many people and rendering people homeless. The destructions of scores of houses and many social infrastructures such as schools, roads and bridges are n the increase. Human factors responsible for flood in many areas are the improper operation of water resources infrastructure such as dams, and reservoirs, which were constructed to contain water and provide means of livelihood in times of need. Such structures introduce elements of risk to people upstream and downstream. These risks include destruction of unique habitats and biodiversity therein. There is also the possibility of levee and drain breakage, improper refuse disposal habit and occupation of the floodplain and imperviousness caused by trampling, roads and bridges constructions.

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