Some Aspects of a Historic Flooding in Nigeria and Its Effects on some Niger-Delta Communities

Prekeyi Tawari-Fufeyin¹, Megbuwe Paul¹ and Adams Omokhagbor Godleads^1,

¹Department of Animal & Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Prekeyi Tawari-Fufeyin, Megbuwe Paul and Adams Omokhagbor Godleads. Some Aspects of a Historic Flooding in Nigeria and Its Effects on some Niger-Delta Communities. American Journal of Water Resources. 2015; 3(1):7-16. doi: 10.12691/ajwr-3-1-2

Abstract

In recent times, flooding has been a recurrent problem in most parts of the world. In Nigeria, there exist reports of flooding in some towns and cities during heavy downpours but none compares with the flood under review. Flood waters from Cameroun entered Nigeria through the Benue River, into the River Niger on its way to the sea. Lots of physical damages were recorded, including destruction of farmlands and houses. Economic life was halted, people displaced and some lost their lives. Although Cameroun released water from the Ladja dam between July 2nd and September 17th 2012, the waters remained in the Niger delta communities up till November 2012. In this study, towns were chosen from Bayelsa and Delta states for evaluation of the effects of the flood waters. Some physical and chemical parameters were determined, using standard methods. The results revealed that in all the communities, the flood waters were slightly acidic (5.4 – 6.9) and dissolved oxygen was high (3.9 – 6.9mg/l). The heavy metal Chromium was also high. Most of the physical and chemical parameters analyzed were higher in flood water than in Borehole and River Water but generally within allowable limits. Other challenges faced by the people included loss of houses, ponds, farmlands, traditional grounds and means of livelihood, destruction of herbs and vegetation, exposure to wild animals. Wild animals were not spared as their natural habitats were destroyed. Consequently some died, most migrated while some took shelter in abandoned houses. There was an imbalance in the ecosystem and general pollution of the affected communities. The inhabitants of the communities possibly benefitted from some positive aspects of the flood as skill acquisition centres, drugs and food were provided. There was evidence of cooperation and togetherness within the temporary camps erected for victims.

Keywords:
flood water pollution

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	Abowei, J.F.N. and F.D. Sikoki, (2005). Water Pollution Management and Control, Double Trust Publications Co., Port Harcourt, pp: 236.
[2]	Bariweni, P.A., Tawari, C.C., Abowei, J.F.N. (2012). Some Environmental Effects of Flooding in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Intl. Journal of Fish. and Aqua. Sci. 1 (1):35-46.
[3]	Esu, I.E., (1999): Fundamentals of Redology Sterling- Hordon Publishers (Nig.) Ltd., University of Ibadan, Nigeria, pp: 54.
[4]	Henry, P., (2006). Levees and other raised ground. Am. Sci., 94(1): 7-11. Hill, A.R., 1976. The environmental impacts of agricultural land drainage. J. Environ. Mgmt., 4: 251-274.
[5]	Ikomi, R.B., F.O. Arimoro and O.K. Odihirin, (2005). Composition, distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates of the upper reaches of river ethiope, Delta State, Nigeria. Zoologist, 3: 68-81.
[6]	Mclusky, D.S. and M. Eliot, (1981). The Feeding and Survival Strategies on Estuarina Mollusks. In: Jones, N.V. and W.F. Wolff, (Eds.), Feeding and Survial Strategies of Estuarine Organisms Marine Science. Plenum Press, New York and London, 15: 109-121.
[7]	Mmom, P. C., & Aifesehi, P. E. E. (2013). Vulnerability of Niger Delta Coastal Communities to Flooding. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 10(6), 27-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.9790/0837-1062733.
[8]	O'Connor, J.E. and E.E. John, (2004). The World's Largest Floods, Past and Present: Their Causes and Magnitudes/ [Circular1254]. Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
[9]	Oschwald, W.R., (1972). Sediment-water interactions. J. Env. Quali., 1: 360-366.
[10]	Powell, W.G., (2009). Identifying Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Using National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) Data as a Hydrologic Model Input for Local Flood Plain Management. Applied Research Project, Texas State University-San Marcos, Retrieved from: http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/296/.
[11]	Rosenberg, D.M. and N.B. Snor, (1975). Ecological Studies of Aquatic Organisms in the Mackenze and Procupine, River Drainages in Relation to Sedimentation, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Marine Serv. Tech. Report No., 547, pp: 86.
[12]	Saeed, T. U., & Attaullah, H. (2013). Impacts of Floods on Water Quality. British Journal of Environment and Climate Change.
[13]	Sikwaunezwe Community in Kazungula District of Zambia. Unpublished Seminar Paper, The University of the Free State.
[14]	Thompson, M.T., (1964). Historical Floods in New England. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1779-M, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
[15]	Welch, H.E., P.E.K. Symons and D.W. Narver, (1977). Some Effects of Potato Farming and Forest Clear Cutting on New Brunswick Streams,Fisheries and Marine Service. Environ. Can. Technical Report No. 745, St. Andrew’s New Brunswick.
[16]	WHO guidelines. (2011). Guidelines for drinking-water quality (4th ed.).