FLOOD PHYSICAL PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON HUMAN IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

FLOOD PHYSICAL PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON HUMAN IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Flood physical processes and Environmental impact on human, has impact on  Natural surfaces that were damage by more impermeable erosion roads cause by rain and concrete which have very low infiltration capacity, which have hydrological consequences of resulting into flooding problems in the Benin City metropolis. Data for this study were collected through the administration of 200 questionnaires, using the random sampling technique on respondents and through the physical survey of the study area. Simple percentages were used to analyze the data. Two hypotheses were formulated. The student ‘t’ test statistical method was used to test the hypotheses. Results from this study show that illegal disposal of refuse on drainage channels, high intensity of rainfall, the absence or infective drainage channels, poor construction of roads and building of houses on stream channels were identified as the causes of flooding on transportation land use in the study area. The study recommends that good drainage channel constructions, controlled dump sites, and timely response of the town planning authority to flooding menace should be carried out as a matter of urgency to tackle Flood physical processes and Environmental impact on human in benin city, nigeria.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In general, the environment provides all life support system in the air, water, on land and in the forests (Glasson et al; 1999). However, the Nigeria environment generally, and Benin City in Edo State in particular, today presents a grim litany of woes across the length and breath of the country. Flooding physical process causing Environmental problems therefore manifest as a result of different land use activities of man to earn his living and his livelihood. In the urban land use, deforestation has become a peculiar problem in Nigeria and Benin City in particular, which results from uncontrolled logging and tree felling for the purpose of urban development. In many parts of the Southern States of Nigeria, this goes with its loss of precious biological diversity. Afolabi (2005) noted that the environment is itself, the point in which one is found ata time, the surroundings, the more distant places, other earth components, conditions, prospects and problems which account for its flourishing or otherwise. Flooding can be described as high water stage in which water overflows its natural or artificial banks on the normally dry land, such as stream or river  inundating its adjacent lowlands.

In this regard, geophysical hazards can be wrought on civil artifacts, facilities, other aspects of human activities and occasionally loss of human lives may be incurred, (www.vision 2010.org, 2009).  Adebayo (1987) recognized four major mechanisms for the increase in the flooding potentials of urban catchments.

FLOOD PHYSICAL PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON HUMAN IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA