Abstract

This study characterises the pattern of flood incidences in the year 2012 across Nigeria with the aim of establishing the implications on land degradation. The results revealed 52 major flood incidences within 88 days: 20 incidences occurred on separate days, 16 as double per day, and 12 as triple events while 4 occurred in a day. The spatial distributions are: North Central geopolitical zone recorded 31%, South South 21%, North West 17%, North East 15%, South East 12% and South West 4% respectively. Other characteristics are the duration of the flood: 38% of the flood incidents lasted for more than 14 days, 27% for 1 – 3 days, while 27% for 4 – 7 days respectively and 8% was recorded for 8 – 14 days duration, while the frequency of occurrence revealed that July has 2 incidents, August (16), September (24) and October (10). The floods affected mostly states adjacent to the major rivers and in many instances aggravated land degradation through erosion, pollution and removal of vegetation, though the pattern and intensity differed across the various geopolitical and ecological zones of the country. Consequently, it affected food production and many farmers were left with nothing or little to harvest for food and to cater for their well being. This makes food insecurity unavoidable both in the short and long run. Therefore, there is the need for government at various levels and communities to be proactive in the management of floods in the country in order to avoid greater problems in the future through land use planning, education and adequate warning system.

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