Flood disaster and its mitigation strategies in Ilaro Formation, Eastern Dahomey Basin, southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Flooding is one of the most common natural hazards, causing disastrous impacts in Nigeria. Based on a systematic review of previous research work, this study highlights the causes of flood disaster and its effective mitigation strategies in Ilaro formation, Dahomey Basin southwestern Nigeria. The findings revealed that in most cases in Nigeria, flood disaster is caused by natural and human activities such as excessive rainfall, poor drainage facilities, poor waste disposal practices and weak policy implementation by institutions concerned with flood management. The study further revealed that increasing deforestation, and inability of land developers to adhere to physical development plans and schemes also caused flood disaster in the study area. The study concludes that flood disaster in Ilaro Formation affect physical developments such as houses, roads and other structures. In cases of serious flooding, lives can be lost in the process. This study recommends more community-based approaches to help raise environmental awareness and support the affected community residents through grants from government and donor agencies as this would enhance their coping strategies for curbing the problems and indeed remediating the flood disaster in the area. It was also suggested that land development control activities should be taken seriously to avoid the erection of developments on flood plains and flood prone areas.