Perceived Impact of Annual Flooding on Residential Buildings in Bayelsa State

Abstract

The study investigated the perceived impact of annual flooding on residential buildings in Bayelsa 
State. In course of achieving the above, six (6) objectives, research questions and six null 
hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population 
of the study consisted of three hundred and eighty two (382) corporate and non corporate members 
of Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Nigerian 
Institute of Architects located within Yenagoa, Sagbama and Ogbia Local Government Areas. 
Census sampling technique was adopted. The instrument adopted for the study was a selfstructured questionnaire, structured on a four point rating scale of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), 
Disagree (D) and Strongly Disagree (SD) respectively. The instrument was validated by three 
experts; the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts from the Department of Vocational and 
Technology Education and Department of Business Education; all in the Faculty of Education, 
Rivers State University. Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient method was used to measure the 
internal consistency of the instrument. Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard 
deviation while Z-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The 
findings of the study revealed amongst others that there was no significant difference between the 
mean responses of corporate and non corporate members of Nigerian Institute of Builders regarding 
the perceived impacts of annual flood on building foundations, shear walls, building beams, 
columns, building roofs, finishing activities of buildings and building floor slabs in Bayelsa State. 
Hence, it was recommended that for property development to be sustainable there is need for soil 
test to be carried out before any construction work, the foundation type should be considered, and 
the construction of any building should be above the flood plain. Moreso, there should be a 
specified datum level for every construction; buildings should be constructed, adopting indigenous 
technology; that is (vernacular architecture). This is a situation whereby buildings are erected on 
pillars and there is space underneath, to be used as car park and for recreational activities.