FLOODING AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN AKURE (NIGERIA) METROPOLITAN ENVIRONMENT

Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT: In order to extend areas usable in cities, migrants to cities, often reshape the natural landscapes in various forms. In some cases, they reduce hills, reclaim beach regions, fill valleys and wetlands, and sometimes encroach on river valleys not minding the consequences on the environment. These cultural ways of increasing usable lands have some negative impact on the urban physical environment. The major negative impact is change in the micro-climate of urban environment which manifest in various forms including flooding. Based on the above impact, the paper identified the consequences of flooding in Akure and determines ways by which its menace on traffic congestion could be reduced. Structured questionnaire was administered to residents of Akure living within 200 meter radius to areas where flash flood had been witnessed. Result shows positive correlation between flash flood and traffic congestions in the city. Similarly, accident rates were found to increase during heavy downpour in many of the flood hot spots as many vehicles struggle for right of way. Flash flood on traffic corridor was noted to influence numbers of stranded vehicles in the pool of water. The paper recommends regular clearance of drainages at the on-set of rainy seasons especially in areas prone to flooding. Property developers should ensure that gutters are provided in newly developed areas of cities. The paper also advocated the creation of environmental awareness through both formal and Informal forms of education on how to dispose solid as the hallmark of managing traffi