Paper Details

Flooding is a natural environmental disaster that can be worsened by uncontrolled human development. In Nigeria, floods have caused significant damage including loss of life, building collapses, property destruction, harm to agricultural produce, land loss and increased government spending. This paper focused on the causative factors and preventive measures of flood in Akure. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Primary data were sourced through structured questionnaires while secondary data were sourced from literatures on flooding. A total of three hundred questionnaires were administered to the respondents in the study area randomly. Data collected were analysed through the use of descriptive statistical analysis. The study revealed that heavy rainfall, impervious urban surface, inadequate drainage systems, dumping of refuse in drains and drainage paths, lack of pre-flooding warning and increase in development are causes of flooding in the study area. Preventive measures for flooding were proper dumping of refuse, proper land use planning, reduction in concretization of urban surface, empowerment of government agencies to monitor residential and commercial building construction. The study recommends environmental appropriate environmental laws that will restrict indiscriminate refuse disposal into the water body and sponsoring of public awareness and educative programs on how man’s activities has contributed to flood occurrence, repair and construction of drainage system should also be sponsored by the government at various level and appropriate response techniques in mitigating flooding via implementation of flood control policies. Keywords: Flood, Environment, Development, Causative factors, Preventive measures Sub-Theme: Flood prediction, forecasting, risk management and food security