FLOOD THREAT TO AKURE URBAN SPINE: Ala River as a Case Study

Abstract

The Urban environment has always been an area of high population concentration in Nigeria ma.nly because, people tend to believe that the only hope of improving their standard of living is to live in an Urban environment. Among the problems of high concentration of people in limited Urban spac., is excessive development on vast lowlands areas of Ala river. Despite the high risk of flooding on the valley lands there, the flood - prone area offers the poor of Akure a place to build the homes. Floods are the waters which cover an area of land that is normally dry Ala river (a prominent river in Akure) floods annually during the rainny season from July to September. It affects. almost every development in the flood - prone area of Akure. The study therefore uses open-end and closed-end types of questionnaire to obtain useful information from the flood prone area inhabitants and from other individuals T!-:;: suidy also involves field checks and the review of flood related literature to obtain facts and useful information from the local government data bank. Causes of floods in the study area include: inadequate storm drains, dumping of refuse in drains, excessive rain fall, impervious urban land surfaces, and building along water now path. The effects on the urban dwellers include clogging of drains, damage to household property, damage to landed property, traffic congestion, water po.lution and business slow down. Although floods can never be completely prevented, a variety of measures can be adopted to reduce their devastating impact. This thesis intends to proffer solutions to Urban flood and erosion hazards in Akure through land-use zoning and planning strategies. Such measures include channelization of Ala river, sewage and drainage facilities provision for areas ripe for urban development as basic urban formulationwell ahead of development.