Assessment of Socio-Economic Impact of Flood: Evidence from Semi-urban Areas of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract— This study assessed the socio-economic impact of floods in semi-urban areas of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, to identify the causes of flooding in the rural areas and the adaptation mechanisms employed by people in the study area. The study was carried out in the semi-urban areas of Ile-Ife (Esinmirin and Omirin, Eleyele, Ogbon-Agbara, and Akarabata) with a population size of three hundred and sixty-six (366) households, out of which one hundred and seventy-five (175) households constituted the sample size of the study. Slovin’s formula was used to determine the sample size. The data were obtained through the administration of questionnaires to the respondents, and the data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage counts. The results obtained from the study showed that improper drainage systems (81.1%), waste dispositions into the stream (79.5%), buildings on the floodplain (93.7%), and improper building layout (76.5%), respectively, are the major causes of flooding in the study areas. The study also established that improved and respected building structures and codes (80.5%), packing of valuable properties to an area not affected by flood (80.6%), and also use of a protected wall to reduce the speed of flood water (53.3%), respectively are the adaptation mechanism employed in the study areas. The study concluded that the improper building layout, encroachment of flood plain, improper drainage systems, and lack of proper waste disposal centers are the factors responsible for flooding in the study areas.