PERCEPTION AND THE EFFECTS OF FLOODING AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF LAFIA TOWN, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The study assessed the perception of flooding among the residents of Lafia town, Nasarawa State. Data for this study were obtained with the help of structured questionnaire, photographs and personal observation,. Multistage sampling techniques were employed to systematically select 210 respondents. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The stud)' revealed that. 49.5% of the sample population reported that inadequate drainage is the major causes of flooding in the study area. 22.9% attributed it to heQ1~1" and prolong rainfall. 21.9% attributed to heavy prolong rainfall and inadequate drainage while 5. 7% believed that flooding is caused by nature. The effects of flooding on the residents of the study area are blockage and destruction of road network, destruction of household properties, washing away of crops and farmlands, loss of human and animal life. Residents are of the view that, government should enforce law against building along the water ways and there should be adequate sensitization campaign of people who are often affected by flood disaster toward adopting environmental best practices and any violator should be sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others. The measure employed by the residents to mitigate the effects of flood disasters are clearance of waste from drainage, sand filling to raise building foundations and temporary evacuation of persons and properties to places unreachable to flood. The study recommended concerted effort towards adequate city planning, policy formulation, enhanced public enlightenment programmes, integration of environmental planning in the curriculum of schools at all levels, capacity building towards adaptation and mitigation of climate change.