Comparative analysis of flood management strategies adopted by rural households in Ondo and Oyo states Nigeria.

Abstract

Actions to reduce the consequences of flooding on the rural dwellers vary from place to place. The study compared the flood management strategies adopted by rural households in Ondo and Oyo states Nigeria with a focus on the forms of flooding, measures to reduce the occurrences and consequences on rural livelihoods. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents used for the study. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and T-test. Findings show that 98.9% and 51.1% of the respondents from Ondo and Oyo states experienced fluvial flooding, 41.1% and 48.9% suffered from pluvial flooding in Ondo and Oyo states respectively while 33.3% of the respondents in Ondo state experienced coastal flooding. The management strategies employed in Ondo & Oyo states respectively include: dredging waterways (62.22 and 61.11%), erosion control (88.9 & 87.8%), construction of barriers (66.67 &65.7%), and construction of bridges (44.1 &30.0%). The t-test established significant differences in the effectiveness of flood management practices adopted in Ondo and Oyo States, (t-value=1.890) at 0.05 level. The study recommends regular sensitization programs to enlighten rural households on preventive measures to flooding, adherence to land policies for constructions and implement punitive measures on lawbreakers.