AWARENESS OF THE 2020 FLOOD AND GOVERNMENT POLICY RESPONSE IN THE SOUTH-SOUTH REGION

This research examined incidents of flood in Nigeria and the nature of response by relevant government agencies. It explored the occurrence and extent of implementation of government policies with regard to mitigating the impact of the 2020 flood in Nigeria. The study assessed the awareness of victims in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States and explained policies of government towards addressing the problem in Nigeria. It also ascertained whether the strategies were implemented. The study used both primary and secondary sources of data to obtain relevant information for analysis and adopted the Systems Theory as theoretical framework. It presented the data in Tables’ and applied the simple percentage method of data analysis to explain results obtained, while content analysis was used to explain responses from Ministries and Agencies. The responses from the field show that 100% of the victims were affected by the flood, while the relevant Ministries/Agencies responded to the situation within the limits of their capacity. As part of the findings, relevant government Agencies and Ministries made frantic efforts to carry out their statutory responsibilities in the matter of flooding. They were, however, constrained by a number of factors that were external and internal in nature. Specifically, lack of sufficient funds and trained personnel hindered these Agencies and Ministries from operating at full length towards addressing the problems created by the flood. Among the recommendations made in the study is the need for government to restructure these Agencies and Ministries, as well as ensuring that local government authorities be mandated to set up Local Emergency Management Agencies (LEMA).