Socio-Economic Impact of Flooding on Edo State: Case Study of Anegbette, Osomegbe, Udaba Communities and Environs

Abstract

Flooding is a growing menace all over the world. The people of Udaba, Anegbette, Osomegbe and Agbabu-Ekperi of Edo North, Nigeria have had some share of the flooding experience having had two bouts – 2012 and 2018 as at the time of this research; causing severe loss of crops and source of income. This study was done to reveal the socio-economic impact of flooding on these people. A sample size of 1000 respondents was randomly selected among the residents of these communities. The data so gathered was analysed using SPSS. The findings revealed that flooding of these communities was caused by the heavy rains and the overflowing of the river Niger; the help rendered by the government was inadequate; the impact of the flood was much because of lack of information concerning the movement of the flood and that there is a significant difference between the economic life of the people before and after the flood. This paper recommends among others that there be adequate and timely information sent to these communities and that government intensify interventions to permanently better the life of these people. Keywords : flooding, Udaba, Anegbette, Osomegbe, Agbabu-Ekperi, government intervention DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-22-03 Publication date: November 30 th 2020