Evaluation of Governance Systems for Response and Recovery Measures During Flood Disaster in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Situated around the confluence of Niger and Benue Rivers, Niger State experiences annual flood episodes. The Niger, Benue and Gurara Rivers overspill their channels annually during the wet season thereby causing damages. If well planned, rescue and recovery processes should protect the lives and property of flood- prone areas, reduce vulnerability to flood hazards, safeguard the health of rescued people, promote social learning among affected persons by reoccurring floods and provide better understanding of the local economy to determine how different interventions may affect the local people. Against this backdrop, the study examined the rescue and recovery measures from Niger State flood disasters and the impacts of floods on the entire state. Specifically, the study seeks to identify formal and informal organizations involved in flood rescue and recovery measures during flood disasters in Niger state. This study was survey- based research and the data used for the study were collected from both primary and secondary sources. Two sets of questionnaire were used to obtain information. The first set centred on information concerning households on their perception of emergency institutional responses/ rescue operations during flood disasters in the study area while the second set of questionnaire were administered on both public and private emergency management institutions and agencies. In all, a total of six hundred (600) copies of questionnaire were administered in the twenty five (25) local government Areas of Niger State but five hundred and eight (582) copies were successfully completed and retrieved from the respondents. Statistical techniques used for data analysis and testing of hypotheses include the student T- test, Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Factor analysis, principal component analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC). The computer programme employed for the PCA was statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 20 for window The result of data analysis revealed that the rescue and recovery operations have a mean and standard deviation (SD) of 1.59 + .492 indicating that the level of effectiveness in rescue and recovery measure during flooding were ineffective at 231(39.7%) The study recommends the critical need for synergy between public and NGO/CBOs emergency management operation, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of rescue operations, maximize the use of available resources during flooding and devote more resources to the medical needs and restoration of livelihood activities of residents to enhance early recovery of normal life. Keywords: Evaluation, Governance System, Response, Recovery, Flood Disaster, Niger State. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-22-11 Publication date: November 30 th 2020