Flood Vulnerability Assessment of Settlements in the Niger-benue Trough, Central Nigeria

Abstract

Flooding has become a household phenomenon, particularly for communities in close proximity or situated in floodplain areas, although only on extreme cases that serious alarms are given. The brunt of this study assessed the flood vulnerability levels of settlements located in the Niger-Benue Trough of Central Nigeria by considering their livelihood assets. Data were sourced via a random administration of questionnaire in 36 communities in the study area earmarked; water level and discharge data obtained; communities were mapped; and remotely sensed data (Spot 5 and the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) data were retrieved and analyzed using ArcGIS 10.5 and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 25) software. The simulated worst-case scenario of flooding revealed 22 settlements were inundated in the 2019 flood between July – September, covering larger areas before the confluence with more than 50% of the area under the high and moderately high-risk zones. Natural and physical livelihood assets were vulnerable and seriously damaged with indices greater than 3.0, while human, financial and social assets were all below 3.0. Generally, vulnerability index computed for all communities was 2.82, indicating moderate vulnerability of the communities to the flood event of 2019. Also, the Pearson correlation test revealed a strong, positive relationship (r = .769, α = .036) between the level of communities’ flood vulnerability and the livelihood assets in the study. It was therefore recommended that yearly flood events are worth simulating to aid prioritization of decisions and development of a comprehensive flood management plan for the area.