Analysis of Flood Risk Management in Nigerian Urban Environment

Some of the major effects of global climate change are rise in sea level and increased frequency of extreme events. Urban settlements in Nigeria are likely to be seriously affected by flooding as a result of this change. Urbanization processes in Nigeria increase pressure on land use conversion augmenting for population increase. The study observed that climate change frequently take place in flood prone areas such as flood plains and seacoasts. Floods expose the urban population and infrastructure to risk due to the excessive runoff which must be directed to rivers, streams, canals and storm water drainage systems. While a reliable urban infrastructure is vital for human needs, current urbanization trends in Nigeria are defining negative regards to flood vulnerability. Of particular concern is the fact the most impoverished segment of the population who are most likely to settle in flood hazard prone areas are the least able to adopt measures for adaptation in the event of flood disaster. Addressing these problems require effective environmental management agenda. Major causes of flood in Nigeria were identified to include uncontrolled expansion of impermeable surfaces due to physical development and expansion, swamp reclamation for construction purposes, lack of adequate storm water drainage systems, lack of maintenance of existing drainage systems and weak institutional capacity of urban administration and environmental management in Nigeria. Keywords: Climate change, environmental management, flood vulnerability, water runoff, urbanization process.