Employing Strategic Communication in Managing Flood Menace in Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the communication strategies applied by Federal Ministry of Environment to inform the public about flooding in Nigeria. Three research objectives and research questions guided the study. Agenda-Setting Theory and Social Responsibility Theory provided the foundation for the study.  The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study was carried out on the residents of  Anambra, Kogi and Bayelsa state who have experienced flooding in their areas, with an estimated population size of nine million one hundred and ninety-six thousand three hundred and eighty-six (9,196,386). The researcher used Wimmer and Dominick online sample size calculator to determine the sample size of three hundred and eighty  four (384).The data were collected through a structured online questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with Google statistics in simple percentages and tables. The findings of the study show that: Up to date information about flooding was strategically communicated by the ministry in form of news, adverts, through electronic, internet and print media to reach the target public precautionary measures against the menace of flooding.  The communication tactics applied by the Ministry about flooding in Nigeria were majorly on TV program, radio program and others. The level of proactive measures used by Federal Ministry of Environment to inform people about flooding in Nigeria was low. The study concluded that the Federal Ministry of Environment has not effectively applied strategic communication. The study recommended that more effort should be made by the ministry to inform the citizens on the measures to forestall flooding especially using local languages.