FLOODING: CAUSES, EFFECTS AND APPROACHES [A CASE STUDY OF ASA RIVER ILORIN, KWARA STATE]

Flood is a devastating phenomenon aided by mans actions such as, waste dump on river channels, construction on river channels, construction close to water body without adequate setbacks and construction on water ways. Flood does not only damage properties, endanger man’s life and animal’s, it also has some other devastating effects on the built environment as well. The study aimed at assessing the activities of Asa river in Ilorin Kwara state on the built environment and also to examine the seriousness of the problem posed by the flood, the major causes, effects and approaches. The study areas are, Amilegbe, Emir Road, Unity, Opomalu and Gaa-Imaam. The study area fall within the flood plain of Asa river which makes the area to experiencing incessant flooding when Asa River over flow its natural and artificial banks on the normal dry land. The research review existing literatures and carries out a field survey of the affected areas in the case study. The research carried out revealed that a sizable percentage of buildings in the study area have their floor level below the natural ground level and this accounts for easy flooding anytime it rains. The problem of wastes disposal and management is also clearly evident, as majority of the residents in the study area do not patronize or have access to waste management agencies causing them to dispose off their wastes indiscriminately especially on the available drainage channels leading to blockages of these channels and subsequently resulting in flooding. It was also observed that building construction codes and regulations on set back from river were not observed by the building owners in the study area. The paper concludes by emphasizing on the need to sensitize people on the disaster associated with dumping refuse and building along water ways.