Flooding And Socio-Economic Development In Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Ebonyi state one of the state that make up the South East geopolitical zone is a key producer of food for the nation but suffers drastically agriculturally because of incessant flood occurrence. Flood is a common phenomenon whose occurrence often takes man by surprise. It occurs when water bodies rise into areas above their normal level, spread within the environment and destroy lives and properties. The inhabitants has often suffered negative social economic and environmental consequences each time flood occur as lives are lost, agricultural land destroyed and all social life come to a halt each time it occurs. This work examines the impact of flood on socio-economic development of Ebonyi State as a factor militating against sustainable development. The main objective of this research work was to determine the impact created by the yearly flood, its effect on socio-economic life, the impact of anthropogenic factors and to adopt strategies capable of reducing the impact of flood. It was discovered that the major cause of flooding rest on the impact created by both physical and anthropogenic factors which either occur naturally or through such actions introduced by man. Hence, the research recommends enlightment, mitigation and control measures such as afforestation, zero tillage in the affected proper town planning, improving maintenance culture, proper drainage, proper legislation, and preventing people from building on water ways are highly recommended as strategies to be adopted to avert this menace to educate the people, formation of professional committees and proper legislation to improve and control its occurrence, so that the incessant loose of lives and properties will be minimized.