Effects of Climatic Variations and Changing Land Use/Land Cover on Flooding in Southern Nigeria
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Keywords:
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Climate Change, Climatic Variation, Flooding, Land Use, Southern Nigeria
Abstract
The prevalence of flooding in Nigeria in the past few years (with its devastating consequences) has become a source of concern for policymakers and researchers alike. Scholars have attributed the high frequency of flooding, particularly in the southern region of Nigeria, to several factors; climatic variation and land use/land cover changes are themes that fall under the domain of natural and anthropogenic causes of flooding, respectively. This study examined climatic variations and changing land use/land cover in southern Nigeria with the view of determining their synergistic effects on flooding. We adopted a mixed approach for data collection with the use of Geographic Information System (GIS), retrieval of primary data from meteorological stations in the region, and field surveys. Findings show a significant decrease in rural land uses like arable lands, wetlands, and undisturbed forests; while there was a corresponding increase in urban/peri-urban land uses like settlements and tree-crop plantations over the period from 1999 to 2019. The land use/land cover changes have manifested in the destabilization of the microclimate, distortion of the carbon circle, loss of biodiversity, reduction of ecosystem services of the natural areas, and flooding. The decadal rainfall trends over the past three decades show consistent extremities with mean rainfall duration decreasing while the mean intensity increases; aggravating soil erosion, urban runoff challenges, and flooding. Climatic variations (mainly extreme rainfall patterns) synergize with inefficient land use management to exacerbate flooding in southern Nigeria. While policymakers in this region may not have the standalone capacity to significantly control climate change and the consequential variations in the local microclimate, they can re engineer land use policies to eliminate or substantially degrade anthropogenic factors that exacerbate flooding.
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Agbonkhese, O., E. Agbonkhese, E. Aka, J. Joe-Abaya, M. Ocholi, and A. Adekunle (2014). Flood Menace in Nigeria: Impacts, Remedial and Management Strategies. Civil and Environmental Research, 6(4); 32–40
Akande, A., A. C. Costa, J. Mateu, and R. Henriques (2017). Geospatial Analysis of Extreme Weather Events in Nigeria (1985–2015) Using Self-Organizing Maps. Advances in Meteorology, 2017; 8576150
Anabaraonye, B., J. C. Okafor, and J. Hope (2018). Educating Farmers in Rural Areas on Climate Change Adaptation for Sustainability in Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 10(4); 1391–1398
Chikwendu, L., E. Jenkwe, E. Eleazu, and C. Ogbonna (2017). Spatial Appraisal of Problems and Prospects of Fertilizer Use for Agriculture on the Environment in Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State Nigeria. Review of Environment and Earth Sciences, 4(2); 42–50
Dinsa, T. and D. Gemeda (2019). The Role of Wetlands for Climate Change Mitigation and Biodiversity Conservation. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 23(7); 1297–1300
Ebele, N. E. and N. V. Emodi (2016). Climate Change and Its Impact in Nigerian Economy. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 10(6); 1–13
Echendu, A. J. (2022). Flooding, Food Security and the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria: An Assemblage and Systems Thinking Approach. Social Sciences, 11(2); 59
Elisha, I., B. Sawa, and U. Ejeh (2017). Evidence of Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies among Grain Farmers in Sokoto State, Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSRJESTFT), 11(3); 1–7
Elum, Z. A. and M. Snijder (2023). Climate Change Perception and Adaptation among Farmers in Coastal Communities of Bayelsa State, Nigeria: A Photovoice Study. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 15(5); 745–767
European Commission Joint Research Centre (2018). Update on Floods in Nigeria. JRC Emergency Report
Fashae, O. A., M. N. Tijani, A. E. Adekoya, S. A. Tijani, E. G. Adagbasa, and J. A. Aladejana (2022). Comparative Assessment of the Changing Pattern of Land Cover along the Southwestern Coast of Nigeria Using GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques. Scientific African; e01286
Federal Government of Nigeria (2021). 2050 Long-Term Vision for Nigeria (LTV-2050), Towards the Development of Nigeria’s Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT-LEDS). UNFCC
Gbiri, I. A. and N. O. Adeoye (2019). Analysis of Pattern and Extent of Deforestation in Akure Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Geography, 12(1-2); 1–11
Komolafe, A. A., S. A.-A. Adegboyega, and F. O. Akinluyi (2015). A Review of Flood Risk Analysis in Nigeria. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 11(3); 157–166
Kughur, P., V. Otene, and O. Audu (2015). Effects of Intensive Agricultural Production on the Environment in Benue State, Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 8; 2319–2372
Leon, M., G. Cornejo, M. Calder´on, E. Gonz´alez-Carri´on, and H. Florez (2022). Effect of Deforestation on Climate Change: A Co-Integration and Causality Approach with Time Series. Sustainability, 14(18); 11303
Louw, E., C. C. Olanrewaju, O. A. Olanrewaju, and M. Chitakira (2019). Impacts of Flood Disasters in Nigeria: A Critical Evaluation of Health Implications and Management. J`amb´a: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies, 11(1); 1–9
MacLeod, D. A., R. Dankers, R. Graham, K. Guigma, L. Jenkins, M. C. Todd, A. Kiptum, M. Kilavi, A. Njogu, and E. Mwangi (2021). Drivers and Subseasonal Predictability of Heavy Rainfall in Equatorial East Africa and Relationship with Flood Risk. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 22(4); 887–903
Matemilola, S., O. H. Adedeji, I. Elegbede, and F. Kies (2019). Mainstreaming Climate Change into the EIA Process in Nigeria: Perspectives from Projects in the Niger Delta Region. Climate, 7(2); 29
Merem, E. C., Y. Twumasi, J. Wesley, M. Alsarari, S. Fageir, M. Crisler, C. Romorno, D. Olagbegi, A. Hines, and G. Ochai (2019). Regional Assessment of Climate Change Hazards in Southern Nigeria with GIS. Journal of Safety Engineering, 8(1); 9–27
National Bureaux of Statistics [NBS] Nigeria (2020). Demographics Statistics Bulletin. Nigerianstat.gov.ng
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Nigeria (2022). 2022 Flood Reports. NEMA.gov.ng
Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (2020). 2020 Annual Flood Outlook. NIHSA.gov.ng
Njoku, C. G., J. Efiong, and N.-A. N. Ayara (2020). A Geospatial Expose of Flood-Risk and Vulnerable Areas in Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research (IJAGR), 11(3); 87–110
Njoku, J. D., T. E. Ebe, and E. C. Pat-Mbano (2010). Detection and Mapping of Land Use and Land Cover Classes of a Developing City in Southeastern Region of Nigeria, using Multi-band Digital Remotely-sensed Data. African Research Review, 4(3); 315–330
Nkiruka, E. M., A. D. Chinedu, and U. N. Smart (2023). Landuse, Landcover Change Dynamics and Flooding in the Lower Niger Basin Onitsha, South Eastern Nigeria. Land Use Policy, 131; 106748
Nkwunonwo, U., M. Whitworth, and B. Baily (2020). A Review of the Current Status of Flood Modelling for Urban Flood Risk Management in the Developing Countries. Scientific African, 7; e00269
Nwachi, C. C., C. G. Ogbonna, and M. A. Wushishi (2023). Usability of Road Infrastructure for Persons with Mobility Impairment. Transactions on Transport Sciences, 14(2); 32–47
Ogbonna, C. G., E. U. Ahuchaogu, C. C. Nwachi, I. O. Okeoma, and R. C. Emeana (2023). Total Suspended Solids Loading of Stormwater from Different Land Use Areas in an Urban Watershed. Journal of Innovations and Sustainability, 7(2); 09
Ominabo, W. D. (2022). 2022 Flood: A Tragedy Foretold. THISDAY
Richard, J. U. and F. I. Okeke (2023). Climate Change and Urban Flooding in South-South Nigeria from 1990-2020. World Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology and Sciences, 8(1); 69–89
Sayne, A. (2011). Climate Change Adaptation and Conflict in Nigeria. JSTOR
Seun, A. I., A. P. Ayodele, D. Koji, and S. O. Akande (2022). The Potential Impact of Increased Urbanization on Land Surface Temperature Over South-West Nigeria. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 4; 100142
Sidek, L., H. Basri, L. Lee, and K. Foo (2016). The Performance of Gross Pollutant Trap for Water Quality Preservation: A Real Practical Application at the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Desalination and Water Treatment, 57(52); 24733–24741
Sugianto, S., A. Deli, E. Miswar, M. Rusdi, and M. Irham (2022). The Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Flood Occurrence in Teunom Watershed, Aceh Jaya. Land, 11(8); 1271
Tramblay, Y., G. Villarini, E. M. El Khalki, G. Gr¨undemann, and D. Hughes (2021). Evaluation of the Drivers Responsible for Flooding in Africa. Water Resources Research, 57(6); e2021WR029595
Ulor, C., I. Ekevwe, M. Ugwuanyi, C. Duru, B. Diagi, K. Ukaegbu, N. Cajetan, and M. Iwuji (2022). Spatial Assessment of Temperature, Rainfall and Land Cover Change as Climate Change Monitoring Techniques in Okigwe and Its Environs. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 12(11); 3042–3055
Umar, N. and A. Gray (2023). Flooding in Nigeria: A Review of Its Occurrence and Impacts and Approaches to Modelling Flood Data. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 80(3); 540–561
United States Geological Survey (2022). Earth Explorer, 2022. USGS
Authors
Nwachi Christy Chidiebere, Ogbonna Chukwuemeka Godswill, Ekwe Chidumebi Anthony, & Umegboro Johnbosco Ikechukwu. (2024). Effects of Climatic Variations and Changing Land Use/Land Cover on Flooding in Southern Nigeria. Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability, 8(1), 16-24. https://doi.org/10.26554/ijems.2024.8.1.16-24
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