‘We need rain to survive, but it shouldn’t be too much’: a tale of flood victims in Kogi State, Nigeria

Floods have become a persistent phenomenon in Kogi State, transforming into a humanitarian tragedy over time. However, the experiences of victims have not only been insufficiently examined but also not approached from the perspective of the Social Ecological System (SES) theory. Relying on the SES theory, this study explored the experiences of flood victims in Kogi State. Data was elicited from 15 participants and analyzed thematically. The findings reveal recurring themes, including the annual occurrence of floods, heightened susceptibility to malaria and water-related illnesses, and devastated livelihoods. The participants also conveyed feelings of government neglect and insufficient support, a sense of pessimistic fatalism, a shift toward self-reliance due to non-dependence on the government, and a reliance on prayer and hope for a better tomorrow. Analyzed through the lens of the SES theory, these identified themes shed light on the multifaceted challenges faced by flood victims in Kogi State and emphasize the need for adaptive flood governance involving comprehensive and participatory approaches to decision-making and management that involve multiple stakeholders locally, regionally and globally in addressing the flood challenge.