Challenges and Prospects of Participatory Risk Disaster Reduction Approach: Examining Ala-River Flooding, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

In almost every part of the world, flood events are a part of nature, sometime floods are avoidable but most of the time not avoidable, due to its unpredictable occurrence, flood have existed and will continue to exist as long as the earth exist, but in most cases, the devastating effects is referred to as disaster, however, what is crucial, is human interference with nature, which in many cases aids the devastation of flood disaster. This paper reviewed challenges and prospects of participatory risk disaster reduction approach as one of the methods employed to reduced flood disaster risk, in relation to the situation of Ala River flooding in Akure. The paper critically examine some of these challenges which includes, flood risk, disaster management, where various issues relating to, vulnerability to flooding, economic status of residents, state of infrastructure among others were discussed. While on the other hand, some of the prospects examined in respect of this study include the issue of urban agriculture along the river path, which include planting of vegetables and rearing of fish ponds, also the issue of greening the river path to serve as absorber of urban pollutions, were all suggested as parts of the strategies that can reduce flood risk disaster and also disaster management techniques. Recommendations put forward were, establishment of coordinated development management strategy to cover the entire water logged area, extensive construction of drainages and canals to handle river flow, provision of coordinated waste management system and improvement of the economic status of the residents of the study area.