Human Factors and Floods in Nigeria

Floods have become a common occurrence in Nigeria in recent decades. The country has witnessed devastating floods that have toppled livelihoods, disrupted communities, and displaced thousands of people. The frequency of these floods has made Nigeria one of Africa’s most flood-prone countries. At the end of August and the beginning of September 2012, most parts of the country experienced severe floods, making it one of the worst. By the end of October 2012, 7.7 million people were affected by the flood, with 2.1 million people displaced, 363 reported dead, and almost 600,000 houses damaged or destroyed. The subsequent years have seen devastating floods that have caused much damage and destruction. The latest flood, which occurred in Borno state, killed 30 people, displaced over 400,000, and affected 1 million people.

The aftermath of recent floods in Nigeria paints a troubling picture. While experts in flood risk management acknowledge the role of climate change, they agree that preventable human factors largely drive frequent and severe flooding. Poor urban planning, troublesome dams, and over-reliance on foreign expertise and technologies are some of the key contributors. These issues exacerbate the flooding and complicate efforts to manage what could otherwise be a more avoidable crisis.

Nigeria’s rapidly increasing population is projected to hit 400 million by 2050. This rising population will drive the need for urbanisation. However, ineffective government planning has led to various challenges in urban planning. The country faces a critical shortage of town planning experts, which hinders effective flood mitigation. The National President of Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, Nathaniel Atebije, stated that, unlike developed countries with at least one town planner for every 3000 residents, Nigerians could only boast one town planner per 70,000 persons. The shortage of competent town planners leads to haphazard building practices. For example, in Port-Harcourt, a city in Rivers State and other state capitals, people erect structures on canals and other water channels. These obstructions block water flow, resulting in devastating floods. Furthermore, the absence of proper drainage systems and inadequate maintenance of existing ones worsen the nation’s flood management efforts.

Nigeria’s poor management of dams significantly contributes to the country’s devasting floods. Most dams are built to serve multiple purposes. Dams such as the Kainji and Jebba dams on the Niger River, the Shiroro Dam on the Kaduna River, and the Kiri Dam in Adamawa State were designed for multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation, fisheries, and flood control. However, flood management requires reservoirs to have adequate capacity before the rainy season. In Nigeria, the emphasis on hydropower generation often leaves these dams at full capacity year-round, compromising their ability to manage excess water during floods. Additionally, the government’s inadequate maintenance of these dams exacerbates the problem, leading to structural failures. For instance, the Alau Dam collapse, which triggered the Maiduguri flood of September 10, 2024, is not an isolated event. The Alau Dam had previously collapsed in 1994, and similar incidents, such as the Bunkure Dam collapse in the early 1990s, have caused extensive damage, including the destruction of farms along riverbanks. These recurring failures highlight Nigeria’s urgent need for better dam maintenance and flood control measures.

In flood risk management (FRM), Nigeria heavily relies on foreign expertise and technologies, often overlooking more cost-effective and eco-friendly non-structural alternatives. Foreign contractors managing FRM projects frequently lack an in-depth understanding of local conditions. Additionally, the projects they oversee often neglect soft components such as community advocacy, education, stakeholder engagement, and consultation. This approach hinders the transfer of knowledge to local communities and fails to foster a shared sense of responsibility in flood prevention, ultimately weakening the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of flood management efforts.

The Nigerian government has, in previous times, taken action to manage floods. In 2018, the government inaugurated five Emergency Operation Centres. These centres were responsible for providing humanitarian support to 12 states that were affected by the 2018 flood, and they were responsible for providing, planning, organising, directing, and supervising the deployment of resources to affected state governments, local authorities, and communities. In 2019, the government turned to a more proactive approach, and together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) was created. The fund helped with cash transfers to support livelihood needs and provide water, sanitation and hygiene services (WASH). In 2021, the Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan was inaugurated to enhance interagency coordination. The Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NHSA) created a web-based flood mitigation and response planning app. While these measures have been implemented, they have yielded few results. There is a need for the government to become more proactive than reactionary in its approach to flood mitigation and response.

Nigeria’s growing population requires the government to make adequate urbanisation plans to respond to and mitigate flood risk. Nigeria’s urban planning should be geared towards green engineering, which will be effective in flood prevention. Green engineering is using engineering processes and methods to minimise pollution and improve the environment. It reduces risk to human health and the environment. A good example of green engineering is underground infiltration trenches. This was used in Minnesota, United States and reduced water runoff volumes by 77 per cent.

One of the main issues with the response to floods in Nigeria is the lack of coordination. Improved coordination among federal, state, and local government agencies will be crucial for effectively responding to floods and mitigating the risk. Also, there is a need for transparency and accountability among all sectors of government involved in flood management to ensure proper management and response. Regarding FRM, coordination and collaboration between foreign contractors, local communities, and relevant stakeholders will be vital in preventing future floods. Moreover, soft components, including advocacy, education, involvement of stakeholders, and consultations, should be included in project development to build a sense of ownership and responsibility in flood prevention.

The government must also ensure proper maintenance of dams. Regular inspections will help identify and rectify any issues promptly. Additionally, it is vital to manage dam operations effectively; once reservoirs reach maximum capacity, water should be released before the onset of the flooding season, with adequate measures in place to protect nearby communities.