Abstract:
The Kede floodplain faces an annual threat of devastating floods, prompting both rural dwellers and the government to adopt strategies to address disaster risks. The government’s response is primarily governed by the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF), established by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). However, this study reveals that substantial success in managing flood disasters has not been achieved. The objective of this research is to investigate the government’s response strategies to flood disasters in the Kede floodplain community and provide recommendations to enhance flood risk reduction and management.
To achieve the research objectives, the study assesses the occurrence trends of flood disasters in the community, examines the response strategies adopted by the people, and evaluates the implementation of NEMA’s National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF) in the study area. Quantitative data were collected and interpreted using descriptive statistics.
The research involved 340 respondents, constituting 90% of the sample, who indicated that the government’s early warning response has not effectively reduced the loss of human lives and assets to floods. Only 10% agreed that it has been effective. Additionally, the study identified a significant lack of government efforts in maintaining and upgrading infrastructure, with 86.8% of respondents stating no maintenance and upgrade on damaged community infrastructures. However, 13.2% mentioned the World Bank RAMP project, which included some road maintenance.
Furthermore, the research unveiled that 95% of respondents claimed that the government currently lacks any prevention, preparedness, and mitigation plan for the flood-prone area. In contrast, only 5% asserted that there is an adequate plan in place. These findings suggest that the government’s response to disaster risk reduction in the Kede floodplain area is grossly inadequate, which hinders the development of a resilient community. The absence of effective government response weakens local governance and exacerbates the risk and vulnerability of rural livelihoods.
To address these issues, the study recommends building the technical capacities of the people for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) at the local government level and promoting community-based strategies for disaster risk reduction. These efforts are crucial in fostering a more effective and comprehensive approach to managing flood disasters and building a resilient Kede floodplain community.
Evaluating the Government’s Response to the Flood Disaster in Kede Floodplain, Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State. GET MORE, ACTUARIAL SCIENCE PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS
