Hazard Reduction Strategies for Flood Vulnerable Communities of Anambra State, Nigeria: Towards Sustainability

Abstract

Anambra state was designated as the most acutely flood-affected state in Nigeria after the unprecedented flood hazards of year-2012 which was seen as a national disaster in the history of the country. 57 communities in 8 local government areas of the state were affected. Reports has it that 7 million people were affected, 363 people killed and 2.3 million fell victims of internal displacement and evacuated to the available 24Flood Refugee Camps provide by government for Internally Displaced People. Federal, State and Local Governments spent billions of naira on relief materials. International donor agencies like UNICEF, UN and EU as well as non governmental organizations and philanthropists also supported the flood victims with relief materials worth billions of naira. The flood has come and gone; leaving behind irreparable effects on the people and government. Uncertainty, untold hardship and severe living condition are some of the resultant impact on the residents of the affected areas who currently dwell in deplorable conditions. Major loses include human and animal lives; agricultural products; housing, educational, health, transportation, commercial and other infrastructural facilities. Family and social ties and activities were hampered while daily livelihood activities were disrupted, water sources were polluted and the environment degraded thereby resulting to hunger, high cost of living and high morbidity rate. This study seeks out sustainable strategies for enhancing the structure and mode of operations of flood management agencies in Nigeria as a whole, and in the flood vulnerable communities of Anambra state in particular. Secondary data from the records of national, state and local Emergency Management agency and primary data through structure interview of the staff of the agencies used as respondents; were utilized. Sustainably creating, reviewing and implementing, flood control and management policies while incorporating public participation among other mitigation measures were recommended, towards ensuring social, economic and environment empowerment of the people.

Key words: Hazard Reduction Strategies, Flood Vulnerable Communities in Anambra State and Sustainability