Addressing environmental management through flood assessment based on institutional and capacity building efforts in Lokoja Metropolis of Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Flooding has been a major environmental and urban management problem in most of the cities found in Nigeria, especially in the Lokoja metropolis of Kogi State, which is found in the area of the confluence of the Niger and the Benue rivers. This paper analyses the management of floods in the region by looking at the opportunities presented by the environment, institutional setup and capacity building at the individual, household and institutional levels. The mixed-method approach was chosen. The primary data were collected by means of questionnaires that were conducted among 400 participants and field observations; the secondary data were collected using the pertinent literature sources, government publications, and institutional reports. The analysis of the data was performed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, tables, Likert scale analysis and Relative Importance Index. It has been found out that the human activities that contribute greatly to the flooding in Lokoja are unchecked urban growth, settlements, and poor drainage systems. The secondary contributing factor was identified to be heavy rain. The research also indicates that household and individual preparedness is minimal. Flood preparedness activities are rarely practised by many residents, and awareness, insurance cover, and emergency planning are still poor. Government agencies and disaster management authorities at the institutional level portray poor capacity-building mechanisms. Their activities are not well coordinated, under-financed and limited by a lack of active planning and enforcement of the environmental regulations. Such failures enhance the susceptibility of people to recurrent flooding, which causes disturbances in livelihoods, economic operations, population health, and social stability. The paper hence emphasizes on the need to have integrated flood management practices that reinforce institutional structures, enhance urban planning culture, create awareness among communities, and reinforce capacity-building activities. These are critical towards enhancing the disaster preparedness and sustainable environmental management of the flood-prone urban centres.