Impact of Displacements Arising from Climate Induced Erosion Disasters in West Africa – A Case Study of Anambra State Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Climate change has become a challenge in modern history with no part of the World spared. In Nigeria, the impact of Climate Change includes torrential rainfall in the South leading to erosion and flooding and aridity in the North leading to droughts and desertification. Anambra State Nigeria has been at the receiving end on the issue of gully erosion with around 1000 geo-referenced erosion sites. This erosion menace attracted World Bank funded intervention under Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management project in which series of gullies were remediated and studies carried out on the impact of displacements and resettlements arising from this climate induced erosion disasters. Data used were from the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project which includes 13 Resettlement Action Plans, Environmental and Social Management Plans and Baseline Survey Reports respectively. Analysis of the result shows that a total of 33,881 people benefited directly and indirectly from this remediation. A total of 36,959 houses which would have collapsed were saved, a total of 4,255.4 hectares of land reclaimed, 350,677 people living in erosion corridors have their homes rescued and were saved from permanent displacement. Another 959 suffered loss of either land, crops and or houses as a result of this erosion. A total of 13 high profile erosion sites were intervened on. The paper concludes that even with all these done, climate induced erosion and flooding remains a challenge as more actions yet to be done. Recommendations were advanced for adaptation and mitigation of climate change induced gully erosion in Anambra State of Nigeria.