Urban flood event and associated damage in the Benue valley, Nigeria

Abstract

Flooding events in the Lower Benue valley of Nigeria are often associated with huge damage to properties and loss of life in the adjoining communities. Specific objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of 2017 flood event as typical of the study area. Method used was an integrated environmental approach that combines analysis of rainfall and discharge data with social surveys, remote sensing and geographical information system. Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) as well as flood damage curves were analysed with landuse/cover change and soil data to establish the nature of the flood and its impacts. Result showed that the flood in the study area is essentially saturation overland flow, which is more associated with saturation-excess than infiltration excess flow, and that the flood events are recurrent and predictable. 85% of the affected residents are however poor, earning an equivalent of US $4.3 daily, and live in non-reinforced concrete masonry (64%) and wooden buildings (24%). Many of the affected communities lived within flood plain and most buildings were structurally deficient. Victims received no compensation, and the properties were generally uninsured. The study recommends extensive flood control policy for the area and similar floodprone communities.

How do Climate Change and Environmental Degradation contribute to Violence against Children?

“…The Benue region of Nigeria consists of minority ethnic groups whose major occupation is farming and fishing. Due to heavy rainfall swelling the River Benue and neighbouring water bodies like the Niger River and the Lagdo reservoir in Northern Cameroon, Benue has in recent times witnessed major floods (Brooks et al, 2020;Ologunorisa et al, 2022). As a region with extensive arable farmlands and grasslands, it has also experienced recurrent herder-farmer clashes which are now intensifying as a result of CC (Njoku et al, 2023;Vanger & Nwosu, 2020).…”

An Evaluation of the Impact of Urban Growth on Runoff in Abeokuta, Southwestern Nigeria

“…Runoff also appeared to be positively correlated with monthly runoff in both years studied, as both variables fluctuated simultaneously. Existing studies (e.g., Shuster et al, 2005;Singh et al, 2006;Eludoyin et al, 2017) showed that a positive relationship between precipitation and runoff could indicate the importance of overland flow mechanisms (Ologunorisa et al, 2021). Overland flow mechanisms (particularly the infiltration-excess type) are prevalent in various soil and vegetation environments, largely impermeable or loosely vegetated but dry surfaces, riverine wet and vegetated surfaces, and areas characterized by natural or artificial moles or pipes (Beven, 1986;Eludoyin, 2013;Eludoyin et al, 2017).…”

A fuzzy logic approach for measuring flood resilience at community level in Nigeria

“…These vulnerabilities have been further exacerbated by the lack of proper flood management infrastructure and the predominant informal settlement culture in urban areas (Giri et al, 2021). For instance, according to Ologunorisa et al (2021), the 2017 flood event, which inundated communities in Benue, Kogi and Lagos, led to the displacement of more than 100,000 people and the destruction of social infrastructure worth billions of Naira. Another example is the 2022 flood incidence in Kogi, Bayelsa and Enugu State, which displaced about 50,000 residents Disclosure: The authors report there are no conflicting interests to declare.…”