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THE IMPACT OF
FLOODING ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE DELTA REGION
ABSTRACT
The study
takes a critical look at the concept of environmental flooding and its impact
on the economic development of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria where the bulk
of the nation’s wealth is derived. Over the years, the poor economic
developments of the region have been linked to environmental challenges
prevalent in the region. The objectives of the study are to assess the impact
of environmental challenges flooding on the environmental degradation of the
Niger Delta region, to establish the relationship between flooding and economic
development in the region and to evaluate the role of government n mitigating
the consequences of flood in the Niger Delta region. The data for this study
was collected mainly through the use of structured questionnaire and personal
interviews with key players in the communities studied. Secondary data were
also sourced from official documents of the agency saddled with disaster
management and prevention. The sample size was determined using the Yaro-Tamen
formula. Frequency tables, simple percentage and the chi-square (X2
a non-parametric statistical tool) were employed to analyze the data collected.
The findings of the study revealed that the relationship between flooding and
economic development in the Niger Delta region is not strong enough as to be
responsible for the slow and poor economic development of the region. It also
revealed that though flooding contributed to the environmental degradation of
the region, it is not solely responsible for the bulk of the environment crisis
in the region. The study concluded that the poor implementation of government
policy, insensitivity and neglect on the part of oil companies and other
multinationals operating in the region. It also concluded that the strategies
adopted in the Niger Delta to curb flooding are not efficacious. The study
therefore recommends the need for government to see environmental issues in
more conventional terms as degradation is the basis of many economics problems
besetting the region today.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Abstract iv
Table of Contents v
List of Tables vi
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the study 1
1.2 Statement
of the problem 4
1.3 Objective
of the study 6
1.4 Research
question 6
1.5 Research
hypotheses 7
1.6 Scope
and significance of the study 7
1.7 The
setting: the Niger Delta region 8
1.8 Organization
of the study 11
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Theoretical
literature 12
2.2 Empirical
literature 26
2.3 Evaluation
of the literature reviewed 36
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research
design 39
3.2 Population
of the study 41
3.3 Sample/sample
size determination 42
3.4 Data
collection, source and method of data collection 44
3.5 Data
analysis techniques 44
CHAPTER
FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Data
presentation 46
4.2 Test
of hypotheses 51
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS,
RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE
5.1 Summary
of major findings 60
5.2 Conclusions 62
5.3 Recommendations 62
5.4 Recommendations
for further research 63
References 65
Appendix 1: introduction 69
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1: Summary of response
Table
4.2: What extent does flooding
contribute to the environmental degradation of the Niger Delta region?
Table
4.3: To what extent is the
relationship between flooding and economic development in the Niger Delta
region.
Table
4.4: To what extent have
government programs helped to curb flooding in the Niger Delta region?
Table
4.5: Chi-square contingency table
for estimating frequency for research question 1
Table
4.6: Chi-square matrix for
estimating the value of X2 calculated.
Table
4.7: Chi-square contingency table
for estimating frequency for research question 2.
Table
4.8: Chi-square matrix for
estimating the value of X2 calculated.
Table
4.9: Breakdown of the economic
loss as a result of the floods.
Table
4.10 An analysis of the source of
fund for the affected inhabitants.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Development
is seen in terms of positive change on the level of poverty, unemployment and
inequality among other indicators. According to the United Nations Development
report (2001), “the mid 1980. The issue of the environment is increasingly
becoming a focus and great concern to world leaders, environmental, economists,
stakeholders, and the general public. Such great concern has led to the
organization of high profile conferences and summits geared towards addressing
the horrifying implication of the unsustainable use of the world natural
resources. This change of attitude can be adduced to a number of factors.
Firstly, humans are increasingly realizing that treats from environmentally
induced problems are as serious as nuclear threats if not more serious.
Secondly they are also beginning to realize that the conventional
conceptualization of natural disasters which includes flooding and erosion is
fast becoming a threat on the economic development of the affected area. Hence
there is need to investigate the impact of flooding on economic activities. As
a dependent variable, the classical definition of flooding which posits an over
flowing of water over land not usually submerged is experiencing demise as
greater emphasis is now being placed on the environment and the economic loss
associated with flooding.
Environment
issues like global warming, climate change, decertification, flooding and
trans-boundary pollution affects not just the polluter but also neighborin and
associated infrastructures. The complexity of anthropogenic activities of man
without adequate attention to geological structure of most developed and
developing nations has undoubtedly contributed to reoccurrence of disaster and
consequently poses threat to environment sustainability in most the nations
(Oludare et al, 2012). These irrefutably have led to unresolved challenges.
Among the unresolved challenges being faced are vicious flood incidences
experienced in the last decades. The occurrence is stern in third world
countries where intensity in land use is, haphazard development are
unprecedented.
In
Nigeria, reports have shown that devastating flood disaster had occurred in
Ibadan (1985,1987, 1990 and 2011), Oshogbo 1992, 1996, 2002 and 2012), Yobe
(2000), Akure (1996, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006) and the coastal cities of
Lagos, Ogun, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Warrii amongst others (Olaniran 1983). These
incidences claimed many lives and properties worth millions of Naira. Flood has
been reported as a major and devastating problem in some sectors of the economy
(Petak and Atkisson 1982).
Its
effect if very severe to virtually all forms of land use. The severity of its
impact is also reflected on the rate of development of most nations that
experience such. According to Oyebande (1990), water will always find its way
if not well channeled. Their choice routes often possess problems to man by
tampering with his physical environment, health, agricultural productions,
urbanization and industrialization. This has created a lot of social and
economic cost on the environment and the citizenry.
Flood
problems within the communities of the Niger Delta appear to be increasing.
This does not necessarily imply increasing rainfall but changing landscape.
Flooding in Niger Delta has local and area wide origin, with occurrences
increasingly frequent and affecting human activities and livelihood in many
ramifications. Although mainly the poor in high density areas are affected, the
spate of disruptions known no social boundary.
In
the Niger Delta, a relationship has been found to exist between the facets of
man’s environment, sustainable development and flooding. One of the major
factors, which, influences the infiltration capacity of the soil is
urbanization. Unplanned and haphazard economic, political and social
development, which is in conflict with the environment, must be checked because
humanity at present is confronting a self-generated environment crisis, where
he is the initiator and the oppressed.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The
Niger Delta region is one of the poorest and most threated regions in the
world, though paradoxically it is also one of the richest regions in terms of natural
resources. In fact, aside oil the region can boast of other resources like
agriculture, steel, tin, rubber, palm produce and many more. However the
neglect of these other resources which followed the discovering of crude oil in
commercial quantity in the region has witnessed the un-development of these
other resources and the emergence of a mono cultural economy anchored on the
aggressive exploitation of oil and this, has also created negative
externalities on the environment. Consequently, as the region inhabitants find
themselves at the mercy of these giant oil companies and their activities which
have eroded their means of livelihood as their lands, rivers and air continue
to be under attack, more importantly the incident of flooding has generated ill
feelings and anomie attitude among the people. Predictably, various violent
means of expressing the anger felt has being employed. This in turn has led to
instability which has further hampered economic growth and development. This
paper therefore takes a critical and systematic look at environmental flooding
and its implication on economic growth within the context of sustainable
development. In other words, how does the unsustainable natural disaster
(flooding) which degraded the environment impact gravely on the economic
activities?
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The
main objective of this paper is to assess the impact of environment flooding on
economic development in Nigeria and specifically in the Niger Delta region.
Specifically, its aim will also include the following.
1. To
assess the impact of flooding on the environmental degradation of the Niger
Delta.
2. To establish
a linkage between environmental flooding and economic development in the Niger
Delta region.
3. To examine
the role of government and other multinationals activities toward flood control
and prevention in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Given
the above objectives, the research questions for this study are:
i. To
what extent does flooding impact on the environment degradation of the Niger
Delta region?
ii. What
is the relationship between flooding and economic development of the Niger
Delta region?
iii. To
what extent has government and other agencies has been able to curb flooding in
the Niger Delta region?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
The
study is guided by the following null hypotheses:
i. Flooding
has no impact on the environment degradation of the Niger Delta region.
ii. There
is no relationship flooding and economic development in the Niger Delta region.
iii. Governments
and other agencies have not played a major role in curbing flooding in the
Niger Delta region.
1.6 SCOPE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
With
the increasing menace of flooding and its effects on the socio economic life of
the Niger Delta people today, the need for a deliberate and concise policy and
programs to deal with disaster cannot be over-emphasized. Therefore this study
is significant in the following ways;
i. It will
provide government, policy makers, donor agencies and the inhabitants in the
region necessary information on the impact of flooding.
ii. It serves
as a reference material to the academic and those with interest in further
research work.
It
is purely an academic exercise and is scope is limited to information gathered
from the communities visited as well as information obtained from government
agencies. Due to a number of constraints involving time and resources, the
study will be using data generated from four communities to draw conclusions
which will be generalized to the entire region.
Though
the study is restricted to rivers state, it is important to note that the
generalizations made within the study affects the nation as a whole and much of
the literature talks generally of issues affecting the entire country. Effort
has been made as much as possible to ensure that all relevant information and
data are used for near authentic results.
1.7 THE
SETTING; THE NIGER DELTA REGION
The
Niger Delta is located in the Atlantic Coast of southern Nigeria comprising the
littoral states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross Rivers, Edo, Imo,
Ondo and Rivers States. Most of the people in the region depend on their
natural environment for their source of livelihood. They make their living from
the exploitation of the resources as farmers, fishermen and hunters. The region
is endowed with massive oil deposits which have been extracted for decades by
the government of Nigeria and by other multinational corporations.
Despite
this; the majority of the populace in the Niger Delta lives in abject poverty
with no access to clean and safe water, good road, health care facilities etc.
An analysis of the depth and severity of poverty in Nigeria showed that the
Niger Delta rural areas were the most affected despite the huge deposits of
natural resources (crude oil) in the region. See Oyegun (2005). This poverty in
contrast with the wealth generated by oil has become one of the world’s
starkest and most disturbing examples of the world’s “resources course”.
Widespread and unchecked human right violations relating to the oil industry
have further pushed many rural dwellers in the Niger Delta into poverty and
deprivations.
The
Niger Delta is highly susceptible to adverse environmental change occasioned by
climate change and flooding because it is located in the coastal region of the
world. Coastal regions of the world are already experiencing flooding due to
rise in seal level. Amid the impact of climate change, the Niger Delta region
is faced with myriads of environmental problems resulting from oil exploration
and exploitative activities. The rise in seal level has been linked with global
warming by the IPCC. According to their report, (IPCC 1990) working with
records over the last one hundred years have shown that a strong correlation
exists between climate change and flooding in the coastal regions.
However,
in the midst of all these challenges in the region, the economic activities and
the social life of the people of the Niger Delta were distorted as a result of
flooding that sacked some villages and communities in the year 2012. Though
flooding has over the years affected most communities in the Niger Delta, the
incidence of flood in 2012 took another dimension as the economic activities of
the communities are yet to return to normal after the incidence. The
devastating effects on their farmlands, crops, creeks, lakes, and rivers was so
severe that the people could no longer engage in productive farming, fishing
and hunting as they use to do and this has gone a long way in depleting their
income base and in general the economic growth and development of the region.
This
study shall therefore examine the impact of flooding on the economic
development of the Niger Delta region.
1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The
research work is designed or arranged into five chapters, chapter one covers a
general introduction to the study, research question, scope of the study,
research hypotheses, significance of the study, the organization of the study,
and a brief overview of the Niger Delta region. Chapter two covers the
theoretical literature, the empirical literature and the evaluation of the
literature reviewed.
Chapter
three covers method of study which reflects design, sampling procedures, data
collection method, data analysis and techniques. Chapter four covers the
presentations and analysis of data while chapter five presents the conclusions,
findings and recommendations for future research.
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