AN INVESTIGATION OF FLOODING AND ITS EFFECT ON MICRO BUSINESSES IN IJEGUN-ISHERI OSUN (A FOCUS ON 2024).

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Around the world, flooding is an environmental issue that has inherent dangers. This occurrence has resulted in significant casualties and damage to infrastructure in several cities, regardless of their level of development. Flooding is a prevalent and recurring environmental issue in Nigeria, particularly in coastal and urban regions. It is a significant calamity that occurs annually and requires a collaborative approach from the government and environmentalists to find a solution (Echendu, 2020). A flood is the inundation of a typically arid region by a substantial volume of water. Nwafor (2018) provided a definition of flood as a natural hazard that shares similarities with drought and desertification. Floods are characterised by extreme hydrological events, specifically runoff. Abam (2019) defines flood as a substantial amount of water that rapidly enters and fills the stream channel and floodplain, causing detrimental effects on economic activities such as residential properties. Flooding is the predominant environmental peril in Nigeria (Abolade et al., 2023). 

Furthermore, the lack of consideration for the geological structure of cities in developed and developing nations has led to the complexity of human activities and has contributed to the recurrence of disasters. This, in turn, poses a threat to environmental sustainability in these nations (Oludare et al., 2012). However, the phenomenon is particularly prevalent in developing nations characterized by high levels of land utilization, unplanned development, and rapid urbanization, among other factors. Adeyinka et al. (2008) state that these cities are characterised by uncontrolled development, substandard and inadequate housing, poor infrastructure provision and development, poor planning process and administration, weak urban governance, and poor land use structure resulting in slums. 

Oludare et al.  (2012) asserts that multiple human-caused variables have contributed to the occurrence of floods. One of the issues is the expansion of development into areas that are susceptible to flooding. The encroachment into these regions has been steadily advancing due to unparalleled urbanisation and industrialization, leading to extensive deforestation, the depletion of surface vegetation, and the loss of cropland.  Contextually, flooding has been a persistent problem in Nigeria, particularly since the 1950s (Nkwunonwo et al, 2018). According to reports, significant flood calamities have taken place in Ibadan in 2017 and 2016, Osogbo in 2012 and 2016, Yobe in 2000, and Akure in 2016, 2000, 2012, and 2019. The coastal cities of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Uyo, Warri, and others have repeatedly encountered situations resulting in the loss of numerous lives and millions of naira worth of property (Adebayo, 2020).

Statement of the Problem

The incidence of floods, notably in Lagos, has been a significant issue in certain areas or local governments, including  Ijegun-Isheri Osun. Ijegun-Isheri Osun is very susceptible to flooding due to its location in a floodplain, rendering it vulnerable to both riverine and pluvial floods. Recent years have seen a rise in the severity and occurrence rate of flooding. This is attributed to the amplified intensity of rainfall patterns associated with climate change, as well as the unregulated growth of urban areas. The expansion of urban areas disrupts natural waterways and diminishes the land's ability to absorb water (Adelekan, 2010; Nkwunonwo et al., 2020).These floods stem from the disorganised and unplanned growth. Ffurthermore, floods have been identified as a significant and destructive issue in several areas of the economy. Some of the social and economic implications on the environment include the occurrence of health problems, infrastructure failure, mental health effects, building collapse,  damage of agricultural farmland and products and operational disruptions of business enterprises.

Notably, micro enterprises in Ijegun-Isheri Osun are of great importance to the local economy as they offer employment opportunities and provide critical services to the community. These enterprises, frequently managed by families and operating on a limited scale, include retail establishments, food sellers, craftsmen, and service providers. These entities are commonly distinguished by their restricted financial resources, informal organizational frameworks, and dependence on daily cash inflows. These characteristics render them especially susceptible to environmental disturbances, such as flooding. According to Gbenga (2023) enterprises have severe obstacles due to flooding, resulting in substantial economic losses and disruptions to their operations. Flooding can result in significant physical harm, leading to the destruction of company resources, supplies, and machines and can have a severe impact, often leading to temporary or permanent shutdown. The shutdown of micro firms has a ripple effect on the local economy, resulting in job losses and decreased income for families who rely on these enterprises (Adelekan, 2024).

Moreover, if sufficient measures are not taken to control the sporadic occurrence of this phenomenon and its associated impacts, especially during the rainy season, it can cause a developed nation to regress into a developing nation (Oludare et al., 2012). Against this backdrop, a survey will be conducted in order to investigate flooding and its effect on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun. According to Nkwunonwo et al. (2020), the interruption of everyday activities intensifies the financial burden on these enterprises, which are already functioning with limited profit margins. The unpredictability and anxiety linked to possible flooding incidents impact the psychological well-being and cognitive capacities of entrepreneurs. The stress is intensified by the absence of support structures and resources to assist them in managing the consequences of floods. However, the combined effects of these factors result in a decrease in the ability of businesses to withstand and maintain their operations, causing a significant number of families to fall further into poverty (Ajibade et al., 2023). Hence, it is in the light of these that the study seeks to investigate flooding and its effect on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun.

 1.3  Objectives of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to investigate flooding and its effect on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun. Specifically, the study will;

Investigat the causes of flooding in Ijegun-Isheri Osun

Evaluate the impact of flooding on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun.

Investigate the factors contributing to flooding in Ijegun-Isheri Osun.

Examine the strategies adopted by micro businesses to mitigate the impact of flooding in Ijegun-Isheri Osun.

1.4  Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study:

What are the causes of  flooding in Ijegun-Isheri Osun?

What are the impact of flooding on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun?

What factors contribute to flooding in Ijegun-Isheri Osun?

What are the strategies adopted by micro businesses to mitigate the impact of flooding in Ijegun-Isheri Osun?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

H0: Flooding has no significant effect on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun.

Ha: Flooding has no significant effect on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun.      

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study focuses on various challenges encountered by micro enterprises as a result of floods, including harm to property, loss of inventory, and disruption of economic activities. Local government authorities will use the findings to improve urban infrastructure, including drainage systems, in order to effectively manage floodwaters and safeguard vulnerable business districts. Additionally, the study will offer practical advice on flood resilience techniques designed especially for micro enterprises. Moreover, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This means that other students who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of academic knowledge with regard to the effect of flooding on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun.

1.6 Scope of the study   

The scope of this study is boarded on the effect of flooding on micro businesses in Ijegun-Isheri Osun. Empirically, this study will evaluate the impact of flooding on micro businesses, investigate the factors contributing to flooding, examine the strategies adopted by micro businesses to mitigate the impact of flooding.

Geographically, the study will be delimited to residents of Ijegun-Isheri Osun.

1.7 Limitation of the study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents. In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed. More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other schools, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

 1.9 Definition of Terms

Flood: an overflow of water that submerges land which is usually dry. Floods can occur due to various reasons including heavy rain, rivers overflowing, dam breakages

Rainfall: the amount of rain that falls over a certain period in a specific area.

Drainage: a natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area.

Micro-business: is a small business typically characterized by its limited size in terms of employees, revenue, and market reach.