Population Mobility Responses to Urban Flooding: Harnessing Environmental Design Imperatives in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Oluremi Akindele, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso
Amid Tadese , National Population Commission, Abuja, Nigeria

Flooding is the most devastating natural disaster in the world with the highest propensity to force population mobility within a country. Against this backdrop, the study surveys flooding and population mobility responses in Ado-Ekiti Nigeria, to informing environmental design policy options towards amelioration of flood and its impacts. Empirical data are sourced on the incidence, nature and characteristics of flooding and population mobility. Temporal data shall also be sourced from relevant governmental agencies. The study captures two major flood prone areas of Ado-Ekiti based on rivers Elemi and Ureje. A structured questionnaire is administered on all buildings around the flood plane. ArcGIS and HECRAS were used on rasta images of Ado-Ekiti to classify geospatial data and simulate flood events using flow data, DTM and manning values. Likert scaling method is used to scale respondents’ responses to flooding and population mobility. Multiple regression model shall be used to explain the impact of flooding on population flight from the area. The study shall report the incidence, nature and characteristics of flooding, its impacts on the environment especially the mobility responses of the residents and the environmental design possibilities that may stabilize the communities and promote local and regional economic developments.

Keywords: Population and Development, Population, Environment, and Climate Change, Internal Migration and Urbanization, Migrant Populations and Refugees

See extended abstract.