Assessment of the Environmental Effects of 2012 Floods in Aguleri and Umuleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria (Published)
The study assessed the environmental effects of 2012 flood in Aguleri and Umuleri in Anambra East Local Government Area. In doing this, questionnaire was administered randomly to the residents. The data generated were analyzed using frequency/percentage tabulation. Independent samples T-Test and Mann-Whitney U-Test statistical techniques were used due to the nature of the data generated. The following hypotheses were tested; namely: (1) there is no significant difference between the causative factors of 2012 floods in the two communities and (2) there is no significant difference between the environmental effects of 2012 floods in the two communities. The results showed that there is no serious variation between the causes and health, personal, social, economic and post effects of 2012 flood in the two communities. In addition, the result also proved that anthropogenic activities induced the 2012 flood in the community. Furthermore it also showed that the 2012 flood caused serious social, economic, personal and post effects on the inhabitants of the area. Consequent upon the findings, the study recommended that there should be flood hazard mapping in order to ascertain areas prone to flooding, so as to reduce the occurrence of flood in the area. It further recommended that the river channels in the area be constantly dredged from time to time so as to increase their capacity for retaining water. Moreover, it recommended that the inhabitants of the area be enlightened on the causes and effects of flood. Finally, it recommended that environmental laws, especially those relating to flood occurrence and management, and land-use be enforced. In addition, areas of future research should be: (1) to ascertain the after-effect (post effect) of flooding on agriculture in the area; and (2) to obtain a flood hazard map for the entire Anambra State, especially the Anambra East Local Government Area, so as to know the areas prone to flooding, and to adopt adequate flood management techniques.
Keywords: Agriculture, Environmental Effects, Floods, Nigeria