The impact of flood on the socio-economic status of residents of Wadata and Gado-villa communities in the Makurdi metropolitan area of Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effect of flood on the socio-economic status of residents of Wadata and Gado-villa communities in the Makurdi metropolitan area of Benue State, Nigeria. A sample of five hundred and two (502) displaced residents consisting of males and females camped at St. Theresa Catholic and St. Catherine primary school, Makurdi participated in the study. A questionnaire consisting of six sections measuring demographic variables and impacts of flood on socio-economic status such as agriculture, education, health, housing, water and sanitation was used to collect data. The study established that flood impacted negatively on the socio-economic well-being of residents in the two communities. It is recommended that the government should provide a low-cost housing estate for the flood victims as they have expressed willingness to relocate from the flood prone area so that their children can go back to school as soon as possible. Further allocation of land for residential building in the flood prone areas should be stopped by the government and private land owners. The river banks should be converted to recreation centres and green areas.