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

Flood is a notable natural disaster that can severely damage an area'ssocial, economic, and infrastructural facilities and innovation (Rahman et al., 2020). Flooding is defined as an overabundance of water flowing onto normally dry land (Djimesah et al., 2018), for example, when rainfall surpasses the soil'sabsorptivity, resulting insubstantial environmental implications (Nwachukwu et al., 2018). Flooding has become more common in recent years, with 70 % of the population worldwide exposed to flooding each year and over 800 million residing in flood-prone areas (Kundzewicz et al., 2014; Andreadis et al., 2022). During 1-in-100-year flood events, 1.47 billion people, or 19% of the world'spopulation, are directly exposed to noteworthy risks (Johnson, 2023). Natural factors that contribute to flooding include heavy rainfall, storms, and hurricanes (Salhab, 2024). Human factors include land use changes such as urbanization and deforestation, which can increase the amount of runoff and make it harder for water to be absorbed into the ground (Alshammari et al., 2023). Climate change also plays a role, as it can cause sea levels to rise and lead to more frequent and severe floods (Das and Swain, 2024). Additionally, inadequate infrastructure and poor land-use planning can also contribute to flooding in developing countries (Umar and Gray, 2022). Overflowing rivers flood one-fifth to one-third of the country each year during the pre-monsoon (April to May) and monsoon (June to September) seasons (Rahman, 2019). These floods cause physical damage to crops, buildings, and other infrastructure, along with social disruptions and both direct and indirect monetary losses (Baky et al., 2020; Abubakar et al., 2020). Flooding has been the most common natural hazard in Africa over the last decade, and Nigerians have experienced two major floods in the past 50 years, in 2012 and 2018 (Umar and Gray, 2022). Flood hazards are considered among the most significant natural disasters in terms of human impact and economic loss (Jonkman, 2005; Yu et al., 2022). Developing countries, especially those in Africa, face substantial challenges in managing floods (Anwana and Owojori, 2023). While developed nations have emphasized flood control and prevention, many developing countries, such as Nigeria, still struggle with this issue (Olawuni et al., 2015; Eneh et al., 2024). Adeloye and Rustum (2011) also examined urban flooding in Nigeria and found that human activities, including deforestation, indiscriminate waste dumping, and floodplain encroachment, are more significant contributors to the problem than climate change.

Flood disasters, according to Olawuni et al. (2015) and Aslam et al. (2021), are aided by ethically questionable human activities along the floodplain. (Garg, 2010) believes that flood losses are measurable in monetary units and that they can include livestock and cattle losses, as well as personal damage to property. Furthermore, disaster reduction, contingency planning, and prevention must consider socioeconomic factors in addition to geological and meteorological aspects. Flood disasters in Nigerian cities and towns in recent years have caused great concern and challenges for residents, governments, and researchers (Aderogba, 2012). Since August 8, 2011, the government of Osun (Osun Defender, 2011) has listed Ile-Ife town as one of the state'sflood-prone areas due to floods that occur every year during the rainy season. Esinmirin and Omirin, Eleyele, Ogbon-Agbara, and Akarabata are the locations listed in Ile-Ife. As a result, the continuous occurrence of flooding in Ile-Ife virtually every year has prompted the need to investigate the socioeconomic impact of flooding in the areas.

Much of the research on flooding in Nigeria has indeed focused on urban areas such as Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Lagos. However, it is also important to consider the possibility of floods in rural settings, as these areas may be more vulnerable due to factors such as alack of infrastructure and resources to mitigate and respond to flooding. Factors such as improper channeling of drainage, floodplain encroachment, deforestation, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse contribute to urban flooding, but different or additional factors may be responsible for flooding in semi-urban or rural areas. Therefore, conducting research in these areas is crucial for understanding the potential risks and developing effective strategies for flood management and disaster response in Nigeria. This research, therefore, strictly focuses on the factors responsible for the flood, socio-economic impacts, perception, awareness levels, and the adaptation mechanisms of the populace in the Semi-Urban areas of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.