Flood Policy and Governance: A Pathway for Policy Coherence in Nigeria

Samir Shehu Danhassan, Ahmed Abubakar, Aminu Sulaiman Zangina, Mohammad Hadi Ahmad, Saddam A. Hazaea, Mohd Yusoff Ishak and Jiahua Zhang ()
Additional contact information
Samir Shehu Danhassan: Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
Ahmed Abubakar: Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Aminu Sulaiman Zangina: National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja 820101, Nigeria
Mohammad Hadi Ahmad: Space Applications Department, Zonal Advanced Space Technology Applications Laboratory Kano, National Center for Remote Sensing, National Space Research and Development Agency, Kano 700103, Nigeria
Saddam A. Hazaea: School of Accounting, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming 650221, China
Mohd Yusoff Ishak: Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
Jiahua Zhang: Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: In recent years, Nigeria is witnessing increasing frequency of flood occurrence with devastating impact translating into significant loss of lives (in Nigeria, over 300 people died in September 2022) and properties. Addressing flood disaster requires holistic approach from policy and governance perspectives, integration of policies and programs and synergies between institutions. Using synergies and eliminating trade-offs, flood governance and policy coherence integrate all relevant policy fields and institutions to achieve common policy outcomes. The objective of this study is to examine and understand how flood governance and policy coherence are approached, as well as institutional design and implementation for coherence in Nigeria. The findings revealed that there is no single flood policy in Nigeria. Due to this, there is no focus and no defined objectives for flood governance, prevention, control, and management, and no imperative for the government to seek both short-term and long-term flood solutions. There is no synergy and coordination among institutions for flood governance in the country. Since the country established the federal ministry of environment in 1999, the environment, floods, and climate-related hazards were given less priority. State and local governments handle most flood disasters and emergencies. Federal assistance is provided, however, when flood disasters exceed the capabilities of local and state governments. This study recommends that across the country, flood policy needs to be designed, formulated, and implemented while assigning governance responsibility and decentralizing policy to state and local governments.

Keywords: flood; policy; governance; institutions; Nigeria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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