relevance and impact of professional counseling on flood and post-flood management programs in the niger delta region of nigeria: structured approach for similar regional deltaic and coastal terrains

Research Article
*Egirani, D.E and Agbede, I.O
DOI: 
xxx-xxxx-xxx
Subject: 
science
KeyWords: 
relevance and impact, professional counseling, flood and post flood, management programs, structured approach, international treaty.
Abstract: 

The relevance and impact of professional counseling on flood and post-flood management programs in the Niger Delta Region (NDR) of Nigeria has been studied using a structured questionnaire. It was administered on 600 urban and rural flood victims residing in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The investigation was carried out under several range condition indices of age, educational level, settlement and mode of flood and post-flood management administered by relevant disaster management agencies. The analytical study reveals that 18% of urban and rural respondents believe in professional counseling before flood and post-flood management programs are administered on victims. The impact of professional counseling on flood and post-flood management programs is still not felt and is evidenced by indiscriminate coordination of flood and post-flood management programs. In addition, victims use their own initiatives to manage flood and post-flood disasters; rather than waiting on relevant agencies to develop and manage flood mitigation strategy. The desire for flood victims to return to their homes without proper structural evaluation and advice requires professional counseling to change the trend. These irregularities could be attributed to the fact that professional counselors are either not enough or they have not made themselves available to flood victims. Flood and post-flood management strategy should be proactive and preventive, aimed at a strategic framework that would address the health needs of victims. In addition, international treaty and memorandum of understanding among catchment nations to the River Niger are required for the formulation of an effective flood management strategy