Evaluation of Residents Capacities for Flood Risk Management in Selected Communities in Rivers State, Nigeria
Anwuri Onward
Abstract
This study evaluation of residents’ capacities for flood risk management in selected communities in Rivers State, Nigeria. The cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. Twelve (12) local government areas (Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Okrika, Akuku-Toru, Degema, Emohua, Bonny, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Ogu/bolo, Asari-Toru, and Ahaoda-East) were selected for the study out of the 23 that constitute Rivers State using the purposive sampling procedure. From these 12 LGAs, 33 communities were selected for inclusion in the study also with the purposive sampling procedure. The sample size of 400 was determined with the Taro Yamane (1967) formula and this was the basis for allocation of the study questionnaire to the selected communities based on proportional allocation technique. The questionnaire was randomly administered to the heads of the household in the communities. A total of 398 questionnaire were returned and used for analyses out of the 400 that were allotted. Descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, percentages and means) were used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that mobile phones were the highest information receiving medium of residents (32.16%). Many basic needs/amenities essential for enhancing flood resilience were lacking in the communities; major institutional capacity driver for flood management was awareness programme/training; and majority did not get any organisational support to management flood. The study concludes that residents capacity to manage flood across the sampled communities have different dimensions amid the absence of basic needs and organisational support. It is recommended that there should be periodic environmental assessment of the areas to help boost the capacity of the population to manage flood disasters.
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