APPRAISAL OF ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO COASTAL FLOODING IN ILAJE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Adaptation in the context of flood management is viewed as a means of strengthening the resilience of people and places by decreasing their vulnerability to flooding. The aim of this study was to appraise adaptation strategies to coastal flooding in Ilaje Local Government Area, Nigeria. In the course of this study Systematic Random Sampling technique was used, data were collected with the use of a set of 287 questionnaires of which 5% was pick of the research population using the annual growth rate of 2.18%. Interviews were also held to complement data from questionnaire survey. Data collected were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were employed to resolve the following objectives: identifying the human-induced factors contributing to flooding in the coastal communities of Ilaje local Government Area; examine the effects of coastal flooding in the communities; consider the adaptive capacities of the residents to cope with the coastal flooding; investigate the local adaptation knowledge in the coastal communities towards flood management; and identify the challenges limiting the adaptation strategies to flooding in the study area; Findings from this Thesis revealed that the incidence of flooding in the study area was very high/often, and this showed the effects of flooding on the study area in terms of high rise of damage of physical structures which has led to causalities and loss of life. Furthermore, findings also reveal that the major challenges limiting the adaptation strategies to flooding is lack of money to acquired modern techniques on adaptation measures. In conclusion, the study recommend Ilaje Local Government Area should shift away from traditional response approach to focus on integrating modern coastal flood management, as it needs to be supported by official flood warning methods and a wider range of support and flood risk management measures. The Government, NGO’s and CBO’s dealing with flood disasters in Ilaje should focus on Implementation of policies and physical planning infrastructural development, social economic improvement, environment and health improvement on flood warning activities and schemes to combat the menace.