Empırıcal Analysıs of Flood Impact on Food Securıty in Nıgerıa’s Coastal Regıons

Abstract

One common and recurrent natural disaster associated with the coastal region of
Nigeria is flooding. The disaster created by flooding is exacerbated by climate
change and rising sea levels with huge consequences on food availability,
accessibility, stability and utilization. The impact of flood is profound and
multifaceted in the region. Therefore, this study seeks to empirically explore and
examine the impact of flooding on food security in the coastal region of Nigeria.
Mixed statistical methods of Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) and
Geographically Weight Regression (GWR) were utilized to assess the relationship
between flooding and food security indicators. Data for the study was collected
from the coastal communities in Nigeria affected by flooding over the years. The
findings demonstrated a significant negative impact of flooding on food security
in the coastal region of Nigeria. GWR analysis reveals that the severity of food
insecurity is more pronounced in communities with lower social economic status
and limited adaptive capacities. The study established that the selected
independent variables are statistically significant, an indication of the negative
impact of flooding on crop yields. Thus, the study underscores the critical need
for targeted intervention to enhance food security in flood affected coastal
regions of Nigeria.