Livelihood assets and socio-economic characteristics of communities to flood hazards in Central Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the livelihood assets and socio-economic characteristics of communities to flood hazards In Niger Delta, Nigeria. The population of the study consists of communities impacted by flood within the Niger Delta States. Purposive and random sampling methods were adopted in selecting the sample size of the respondents for this study as three of those most vulnerable Local Government Areas are selected. A self-designed instruments titled “Livelihood Assets and Socio-economic Characteristics of Communities” were used for data collection. Face and content validities of the instruments were ensured. Its instrument consists of 10-item while grand mean statistics was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found among others that considering the various factors that may have contributed to flooding residents’ strategy to mitigate and survive its effects are imminent. Actions to control and/or cope with the factors that are mainly responsible for flooding in the study area are more than necessary in order to save human lives and forestall loss of properties to flood ravage. Based on the findings, the study recommended that massive campaign against improper dumping of refuse and public awareness of flood risks should be highlighted; creation of awareness among people living in disaster-prone areas of the risk they face and how best to respond when it occurs can be done to enhance local people’s confidence and empower them to act when faced with danger and there should be policies that target the marginalized in society, such as women, children, elderly, or the poor otherwise these groups will remain most vulnerable.