Evaluation of the Effect of Flooding on Danchitagi Community of Lavun Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Niger State and precisely Danchitagi community in Lavun Local Government Area will continue to labour under the pains of flood disaster unless there is a radical approach to avert the disaster. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of flooding on Danchitagi community in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. The researcher randomly distributed 355 household questionnaires while the instrument of in-depth interviews schedule was administered to the respondents. Frequency percentage statistics was utilized for data analysis and presentation. The Finding shows that 193 (54.4%) of the respondents believed that the main cause of flood in the study area is from heavy rainfall, 148 (41.7%) of the respondents agreed that the main cause of flooding is due to flood plain development, poor drainage system ranked third with 13 (3.7%) of the respondents and blockage in the drainage ranked the least with one respondent. The results also shows chat about 341 (96.1%) of the respondents said that their farmlands were being affected by Hood while 14 (3.9%) said their farmlands were not being affected by flood since their farmlands were heated far away from Hood plain Loss of crops on the farmland ranked the highest with 247 (72.4%) of the respondents, loss of livestock ranked second with 61 (19.9%) of the respondents and wash away of un-mature crop ranked the least with 33 (9.7%) of the respondents. In general, greater proportion (66.8%) of these building observed less than 5 meter setback to the river channel, followed by 24.9% building within 6m to 10m and 11m to 20m record the least setback. Specifically 91.7% of the building have a setback of less than 10 meters. Its therefore, recommended that flood monitoring and management in Danchitagi community should be encouraged and funded by both lavun and Niger State Government and Non-governmental agencies.