Achieving Sustainable Development Goals through Effective Flood Management in Nigeria: Lessons from the Netherlands

It is a known fact that, from time immemorial, flood has been ravaging many communities across the globe, and Nigeria is no exception. Flooding comes with many devastating effects and could negatively affect the laudable sustainable development goals (SDGs). The paper was an attempt to find lasting solution to the challenge of perennial flooding in Nigeria. The paper examined some of the causes, the consequences and reviewed some of the government interventions on flooding in Nigeria. There was a comparative review of several articles on flood management in Nigeria and the Netherlands. Three findings were deduced from the materials reviewed on flood management in Netherlands Spatial Planning; Flood Defenses Mechanism; and Flood Forecasts, Alerts and Evacuation. These findings and implications were discussed within the purview of general systems theory (GST) towards effective flood management in Nigeria. And the following were recommended: government agencies should carry out the sensitisation and enforcement of policies for people to desist from blocking waterways and buildings on flood plains; proactivity and investment in flood mitigation methods such as dam building, dredging rivers, clearing of drainages and natural canals; and finally, relevant flood prevention agencies should be well funded and monitored to avoid mismanagement.