The data collated from the study including Focused Group Discussions (FGD) questionnaires and oral inter-views provided objective significant relationship between flooding, environmental security and displacement.
Similarly, a recent empirical study in this direction equally corroborates this result (Amadi, 2013). On October 7, 2012 a flood disaster affected communities lying on the path of the River Niger and River Benue, this included the people of the Niger Delta area as the River Niger over-flew and had disruptive effects on lives and properties (Figure 1). Data collated from the study revealed 95% damage on farms lands and animals, while several houses submerged and many people were rendered homeless especially in the Delta and Edo states axis. This phenomenal occurrence was historic and significant to the growing discourse on vulnerability of climate change as corroborated in a similar study (Amadi, 2013; NEMA, 2012).
In Rivers State, a subsequent occurrence was witnessed the Orashi river a tributary of river Niger overflew on November 3, 2012. Our data confirmed that “about three persons: an infant and two women died”, several others displaced, as “no fewer than 24 com-munities and several houses were submerged” (Agbu, 2012). Most affected included Udoda, Igovia, Kunsha, Ikodi Town, Mbiama, Akinima, Okolobiama, Okparaki, Okarki town, Akiogbologbo, Agbo, Ishiaye, Akioiso, Isusu, Isua, Odqwa, Edagberi and Betterland as well as Oshiebele, Oshi, Odiereke-Ubie, Enito, Akara-mini, all in Ahoada-West local government area of the state.
One of the displaced flood victims in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr. Ikediukwu Adiele, lamented that people in his village lost many property and many of them are now homeless. “For three days now, we have been wading through the water to pick some valuable items from our flooded homes. As
you can see, we are now using canoe to move around (Agbu, 2012). Several dimensions of hazards and challenges were experienced by the affected communities.
“Also, areas badly hit by the disaster included, Okwuzi, Ase-Azaga, Isukwa, Odugiri, Agwe, Onikwu, Ugbaja, Isala, Ogbe-Ogene, Utu, Adiawai, Obiofu, Kreigani, Obrikom, Idu and Ebocha as well as Umu-Onyema quarters in Ndoni, all in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state. Unfortunately, the Rivers State government, the authorities of two affected local government councils as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was not in the know of the flooding in the com-munities until the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology raised the alarm” (Daily News, 2012).
While families parked out of the affected communities in the area, farmers in the area began early harvesting of their root crops, especially cassava and yam so as to avoid losing them to the flood. (Amdi, 2013). An indigene of Edageberi community, Bonny Otatie Ulolo, said although, people of the area usually experience minor flooding every November as a result of over-flow of the Orashi River, the present situation was unprecedented in the history of the communities (Leadership Newspaper, 2012).
According to some victims, “the intensity of the disaster has never been experienced in recent times in the area as floods usually come and go but this persisted magnificiently” (Leadership Newspaper, 2012).
The Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties,
Chief Emeka Nwogu, in company of the chairman of the council, Hon. Raymond Nwokeocha has visited the affected communities to ascertain the level of damage. Nwogu, who was deeply touched by the plight of the victims, expressed sympathy over the incident, describing it as a great loss to the state and appealed to those that are yet to evacuate to do so to avoid more loss of lives (Leadership Newspaper, 2012).
Indigenes of the affected communities blamed the cause of flood on the over flow of the River Niger, explaining that the last time they experienced such flooding was in 1994 and 1998 respectively and described this year’s disaster as exceptional (Leadership Newspaper ,2012).
To Emenike Umesi, the South-South co-ordinator of NEMA, the agency had been aware of the flood situation in the affected communities in Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state and had been working on the affected areas. He said they had concluded assessment of the affected communities to determine the level of assistance that could be given to the victims, adding that the agency identified a camp for victims but it was swept off by flood (Leadership Newspaper, 2012).
In Delta State, communities have been sacked, farmland destroyed from Asaba, the Delta State capital to Oko, down to Utchi to Aboh, Abari and Bomadi, residents were displaced even as over 1,000 houses are believed to have collapsed. “We thought it will not come to some of us who were some distances away from the river. “We kept vigil all night and it was when the tide increased that we decided to move our things upland in the open.
“It is amazing to us that the water is increasing this time of the year”, Mr. Ifeanyi Okafor, a tenant at OgbeOfu/Jarret area of Asaba, said (Leadership Newspaper, 2012). “Areas that were spared at the initial time, have now been submerged. For instance, the former secretary to the then Bendel State government and Iyase of Asaba, Chief Patrick Onyeobi was hit severely as his palace compound and others were submerged. Before now, the shoreline around his house by the River Niger was very secured and no one ever thought the vexatious Niger could have been so offended to rise to such a level as to sack the former SSG and many others in Delta Capital” (The Tribune, 2012).
One of the earlier sufferers of the flood in Asaba was the Nigeria Immigration service office and the tourist Ganda hotel by the bridge head. The riverine people braved the odds, paddling canoes to their homes, retrieved their property and ferrying them to the highways which have become home for them (The Tribune, 2012). The Asaba experience speaks for several communities now devastated by the ravaging flood especially in Aniocha North, Ndokwa land, Isoko, Patani, Bomadi and Burutu communities amongst others. The case of Ewulu community in Aniocha South Council is Pathetic in the sense that over 100 houses, were pulled down, and both elderly and the sick ones trapped as water from River Umuoni, a tributary of the Niger overflowed its bank, The Ase River, which traversed the Ndokwa nation was also a channel through which the rising Niger flood unleashed more troubles on inhabitants (The Tribune, 2012).
Scores of displaced farmers in Ndokwa East of Delta are now seeking refuge on the upland of Ashaka and Utagba-Ogbe, Kwale towns following the washing away of their communities, farmland and crops by flood from the River Niger and its tributary, Ase Creek (The Tribune, 2012).
A visit to the area revealed that the water rose in fury and submerged farmlands and crops on the alluvial rich islands and adjoining farms on both sides of the River Niger thereby sacking the farmers and destroying their fish ponds, homes and markets. “We have never had it this bad in a life time, government and its agencies should come to our rescue” (The Tribune, 2012). Communities most affected along the River Niger are, Aballa-Oshimili, Utchi Communities of Okwumedo, Umuochi, Owelle, Obalu and Obeche, Okpai, Abalagada, Aboh, Abuato, Ugbene, Agwe-Iyom, Ise-Onokpo, Onuobiuku, Umu-Ugbome, Umu-Uti, Afiankwo, Umuolu, Adiai, Utuoku, Oworubia, Wari-Irri, and Onyah. Other communities affected included Aballa-Obodo, Aballa-Uno, Inyi communities of (Umu-Inyagbo, Obeche, Umu-Agwuyam, Isiolu, Umuoga, Ezinyi, Utuke, Ude, Ogigogwe, Ezeagba), Umu-Eche, Ogwasi, Umugwo, Umuazu, Ozala, all in Onuaboh. The flood also ravaged Akarai, Azagba, Ekpe, Ibedeni, Osafu, Ase, Asaba-Ase, Onogbokor, Iyede-Ame and Anyama (Kiagbodo, 2012). “Chief Nnamdi Olise-Atuoku and Mr. Raphael Nwammana who are now seeking refuge at Ashaka and Kwale respectively said that yam, cassava, plantain, vegetables, garden eggs and pepper among others were completely destroyed in their farms” (The Tribune, 2012).
Camps were opended in Asaba, Tuomo in Burutu Bomadi, Okwagbe in Ughelli South, Patani and Aboh among other places to take in the displaced persons. On a daily basis, the camps received more victims, even in Asaba, another camp was opened at I.C.E to take in people from Utchi and Oko communities to compliment the St Patrick College camps for hundreds of displaced persons in Asaba (The Tribune, 2012).
According to the Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, “After the aerial overview, I started the ground assessment by vehicle and boat. The situation is pathetic. My first encounter with the victims was at Oko communities in Oshimili South Local Government Area of the state. The three communities of Oko Amakom, Oko Ogbele and Oko Anala were flooded and the villagers gathered as refugees by the roadside. I had to talk to them that we will open camps to offer them temporary accommodation from the rage of nature, but some of them were reluctant to come to the camp, one of which was already opened at Saint Patrick’s College, Asaba” (The Tribune, 2012).
“The displaced persons occupied half of the Benin-Asaba-Onitsha expressway and it was obvious that there would not be movement from either Asaba to Onitsha or vice versa if the situation was not taken care of” (The Tribune, 2012).
According to a rural farmer, “our farms are badly damaged we are faced with dual challenges of hunger and housing” (Ifejika, 2012).
The situation in Oguta was no less distressing several victims of the flood in Oguta and Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Areas of Imo State were equally lamenting. About eight communities were affected in Egbema. According to the director of administration of the Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Barrister Alloy Obinna, “eight communities were affected in the Egbema area alone. Our fish ponds, farm lands, plantain, cassava, economic trees and crops are now under water. Over 123 farm settlements and satellite towns are under water and about 8,000 persons have no homes now”, he said (The Vanguard, 2012).
In Edo State, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubure counted the intensity of the disaster in the communities in the area (Daily News, 2012).
In Cross-River State, Mr Fabian Okpa, the Special Adviser to Gov. Liyel Imoke on Special Duties, recounted that, “ nine of the 18 local government areas of the state were affected” (Daily News, 2012).
‘In an interview, Obi Emmanuel Obiechina, a leader of the Aika community in Ndokwa East local government area, said his residence was submerged by the flood. In addition, he stated that the lives of members of his com-munity were shattered, with most of them refugees in various communities in Delta and Anambra States. Mr. Obiechina had taken refuge in a hotel in Asaba’ (Daily News, 2012). ‘The traditional ruler said that he refused to send his people to camps for displaced people set up by the state government because those in the camps were being dehumanized. He blamed the excessive flooding on dereliction of duty by the government’. “We have lived in that community for more than 500 years and we have not had this kind of disaster before. It’s the opening of the dams that have now brought this flooding on us. We are so devastated and everything that the Aika people have– land, crops, houses have been washed away” (Daily News, 2012).
Till date, rehabilitating the impacted areas have been a challenge. Awosika et al. (1992) study foreshadowed this concern as they observed that, “In Nigeria, a potentially massive "environmental refugee" migration will occur. For a 1-m rise, more than 3 million people are at risk, based on the present population. The estimated number of people that would be displaced ranges from 740,000 for a 0.2m rise to 3.7 million for a 1m rise and 10 million for a 2m rise”.
Also, the presence of crude oil and its exploitation means further environmental degradation and hazards for the region. These are threats to environmental sustain-ability.
Experts have noted that, riverine flooding, is often a function of precipitation and water runoff volumes within the watershed of the stream or river; also there is the Coastal flooding, which is typically a result of storm surge, wind-drive waves, and heavy rainfall (Awosika et al., 1992). They contend that storm surges may overrun barrier islands and push seawater up coastal rivers and inlets, blocking the downstream flow of inland runoff. Also, there is the Urban flooding, which occurs where there has been development within stream flood plains, these are indicators that the Niger Delta region like most African coastal areas are volatile and prone to environmental hazards.
The growing discussion is that several coastal com-munities are prone to dangers of climate change vulnerabilities in several disruptive manners.
Challenges and effects of the flooding
There are divergent challenges of the effects including peasant food production decline in the region (Amadi, 2013), hunger, displacement and migration.
The United Nations says Nigeria will need $38 million (about N5.7 billion) in emergency aid to help 2.1 million people uprooted from their homes by flooding (Channels Report, 2012)..According to Jens Laerke the spokesperson for the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, explaining the aid plan said, “the plan includes help with food, water, shelter and schools mainly in farming and fishing communities along the Niger River” (Channels Report, 2012).
There are several dimensions to the effects of the flood disaster. A close observer on the Delta State incident recounts: At least five people, including two children and a traditional ruler, have died as a result of continued massive flooding that has ravaged parts of Delta State in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta. In addition, the floods have submerged a multi-billion naira Okpai Independent Power Plant (IPP). Large parts of Ndokwa East local government area are also under water”. The still rising flood has affected parts of Asaba, the state capital, as well as such communities as Ovrode, Ofagbe, Okpe-Isoko, Lagos Iyede, Igeh, IkpideIrri, Ivrogno, Onogboko, Itebioge, Iyede-Ame and Azagba. Other flooded areas include Otoka-Ekegbresi, Egbeme, Okrama-Oyede, Warri, Iwrie Ogbokor, Ekpe, Asafo, Umeh, Aviara, Uzere, Asaba-Ase, Aboh, Kwale and Ashaka. Isoko South and North and Ndokwa East local government areas are the most devastated. In Aboh community, the flooding led to the death of a local monarch and two children. Three other persons reportedly lost their lives at the relief camp in Ivrogbo, Isoko South council area. Survivors of the flood were then relocated to St. Michael’s College in Oleh, the headquarters of the local government area. The flood wreaked havoc on farms, schools, courts, health centers, markets and electricity installations. People now use canoes as the only means of getting about in the flooded communities (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
According to the National Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress, Mr. Robinson Esite, “some of the residents of Patani who struggled to get some valuables from the flooded community were just standing by the road side not knowing what to do. He said, “I can tell you that there is a serious humanitarian crisis in this part of the Niger Delta now. The town of Patani, Adagbabiri and Bomadi have been sacked by flood. “In Patani, the flood is such that no building is spared and the people of Patani are in a terrible state. Many of them are just standing by the road side with the few properties they were able to rescue from the flood (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
Also, a Niger Delta activist from the town Mr. Presidor Ghomorai, said, “Patani is gone, it is a hopeless situation, only the youths are left there. And as it is, the flood is threatening Bomadi seriously” (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
“In Bayelsa, for instance, much of government business has been limited to managing the flood fall-outs. Even the Creek Haven, Yenagoa, the seat of the state government is not on safe grounds. The state has been marooned by flowing water for close to a month now into an island” (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
In Yenogoa (capital of Bayelsa State) where the ex-militants were undergoing a rehabilitation training, the spokesperson for the presidential aid on amnesty, expressed concern over the magnitude of destruction inflicted on Niger Delta by the recent flood, saying; “the greatest challenge facing the region would be how to manage the disaster caused by the deluge”. Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, in Yenagoa while presenting three truckloads of relief materials to the state government for victims of the flood, said the aftermath of the disaster would be more challenging than the disaster itself. Represented by Mr. Tawari Dortimi, Kuku called on all the affected states to map out strategies to contend with the challenges ahead (In
News, 2012). The ex-militants undergoing rehabilitation donated some money from their allowances to alleviate the sufferings in the affected areas.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), said the government had held series of meetings to develop post disaster management, saying that government was also worried about transporting relief materials to displaced persons in remote areas. “Our post flood management strategies will include policies in agriculture. We are thinking of how to get our food back to avoid food shortage. We are brainstorming to know how to reduce the pains”, he said (In
News, 2012).
Other areas affected included the Niger Delta University at the Wilberforce Island in Amassoma. The flood destroyed several offices, lecture halls, hostels, students properties-including credentials, textbooks/materials, vehicles, farm-lands, etc .In a statement by the Registrar of the institution Mr. Tonbra Morris-Odubo a notice of indefinite suspension of resumption date for the 2012/2013 academic session’ supposedly fixed for 8th October 2012 was made (In
News, 2012). There was fear of outbreak of epidemic in the flood-ravaged Obuwari settlement, equally referred to as Mile I, in Sagbama, headquarters of Sagbama Local Government Area in Bayelsa. About 300 buildings, including public and private schools in the area, were submerged.
Equally affected are those living along the Rivers Niger and Benue and with the volume of water from the two biggest rivers confluencing in Lokoja, Kogi State, if the water rose above sea level toward the south down to the creek mostly of Delta and Bayelsa State. Communities on both sides of the river Niger as well as those along the distributional became victims (In
News, 2012).
In Rivers State, the impact is mainly in the areas traversed by the Orashi and Sombreiro Rivers in the west sena-torial district. Specifically, Ahoada West and East, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Abua/Odua councils were in the bull’s eye. From Akabuka and westward through Oboburu, Obagi, Edu, Obigbo and Etu, down to Ohali, the road had become part of the Orashi River. Eastward to Erema, Ibewa and Ituli, there is respite, thereby forcing adrift in that direct from the western end. Both sides, demographically, constitute Egi clan, which is part of Ogba Kingdom, where about 90% of the upstream operations of French oil giant, Total, is concentrated (The Guardian, 2012).
Chibuzor Ugwoha, the immediate past managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), whose father’s house in Erema has since been taken over by distant relations and even unknown persons sacked by the flood in the west end of the Egi kingdom, said: “I have never seen a thing like this since I was born. In situations like this, you do not ask questions or even probe the clans and identities of persons flooding in. The first and most logical thing to do is to let them in and then do whatever is possible to offer them immediate hope” (The Guardian, 2012).
Several heart-ripping stories came from the impacted communities several animals including pythons, antelopes and grasscutters were seen floating” (Wokocha, 2012). Ojumite, who claimed he had remained separated from his children and wife since the flood began, explained: “Our people are not conversant with canoes; we cannot swim, we conduct all our businesses on land and so what we are currently witnessing is like asking us to adopt new ways of life after centuries of existence” (the guardian, 2012). That helplessness was most tragically expressed in the event involving one Odoka Benson from Obagi a rural community in Rivers State. He had returned to Obagi from Omoku, where he was taking refuge. At sunset, he was ready to go. As if actually bent on departing finally, he turned down entreaties to stay the night anyhow in the flooded town, because it had become late and the boat operators had closed business for the day (The Guardian, 2012). He reportedly got to the anchorage, forced out a boat and boarded, in company of his pregnant wife and daughter of one Pastor Blessing Dikogwo, their two children, a lady and himself (The Guardian, 2012). Apparently, Benson might have reasoned that the business of moving canoes on water was all mechanical without any form of mental calculations. But midway or midstream, because the Akabuka-Obagi road had also become a stream, ‘the captain’ got what he did not bargain for. He was up against the forceful tide of the water flowing across the road (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
It became an ill-fated voyage, as everyone on board, except himself, was swept away by the tide. The lady on board was the elder sister of Wisdom Nwoko-Omere, who is among persons awarded scholarship by the NDDC to pursue post-graduate studies in universities abroad (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
‘One Azubike Nwaoga returned from Babcock University in Ogun State, where he is studying hard to become a better priest of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, to begin from the scratch’. ‘The flood overwhelmed his home while away in school and the folks he left behind reported that all his belongings went
with the water, except his motor-bike. He took solace in the Bible: “In all things, we give thanks to God” (Sahara Reporters, 2012). OjumIte could not also do much when his house was overrun in Ahoada. “The only thing I could
take out of my house is my certificate,” he bemoaned. His ponds were flooded and the fishes in them spilled into the wild.’ The collective loss is equally enormous (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
‘Many of the social facilities provided by Total as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to its host communities are endangered. For instance, the health centre in Ogborgu stood submerged as at last week. The water scheme at Akabuka was itself under water and it was not likely it was still giving good water to the com-munity’ (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
‘The grand benefactor itself, Total, is battling for a life-line. It has been forced to temporarily closed shop in Ogba Kingdom. Its External Communications manager, Charles Ebereonwu, neither confirmed nor denied out-rightly the claim that the oil company had shut down operations. He only said: “We are talking about lives here and I think life is more important than production” (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
‘In real terms, this means that about 40,000 barrels of crude, representing Total’s contribution, have been cut back from the 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd) national output. One environmentalist in Port Harcourt added a frightening dimension’. He said: “Total’s waste pits and other disposal sites have been flooded. Chemicals and other harmful substances that the company uses in its operations have all been washed into flooded homes and farmlands. “We cannot measure the extent of impact until a proper assessment is conducted” (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
‘Reacting, Ebereonwu sounded more like a lawyer in court, saying whoever that was asserting should offer proofs’. He said: “This is a nationwide tragedy, not restricted to Total, and so whoever that is alleging pollution should provide the evidence” (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
‘All the same, the company has been part of the coordinated efforts by the Rivers State government at rehabilitating the victims, donating materials to the various relief camps in the area. Unlike fire, water can hardly be contained. It dissipates on its own and it is not different in the current situation’ (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
With several persons displaced and living in temporary camps, their daily subsistence has been a challenge. An observer on the allocation of the relief materials provided by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said, “We are not satisfied based on what the masses are facing in the hands of those feeding us. They are mismanaging the relief materials that are given to them; even though government supply those things in quantity; they economise them,” one of the victims complained. The representative of the Agency, Prof. Aminigo advised the people to always cooperate with those managing affairs in the camps, noting that the materials donated by the agency would go a long way to ameliorate their plight. The materials were provided in most affected communities in the various Niger Delta states’ (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
“Flooding in the oil rich Niger Delta, has disrupted oil production to the tune of around 500,000 barrels per day (bpd)– more than a fifth of nation’s oil output according to the Department of Petroleum Resources” (Sahara Reporters, 2012).
Managing the issue has been a complicated affair for both the victims and the governments of the region. Most of the camps established for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), could hardly contain them, others are not in good habitable conditions. The temporary camp has been described as worse and could lead to outbreak of diseases as most of them are over-stretched.