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Analysis of Household and Community Flood Resilience in Makurdi Town of Benue State, Nigeria
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Environment
Abstract
This study focuses on analyzing household and community resilience in Makurdi town of Benue state, specifically in flood-prone areas. A purposive sampling method was used to select a sample size of 300 respondents. Data collected through a structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were analyzed using frequency tables, percentages, line graphs, pie charts, and bar graphs. The findings revealed that 60% of respondents perceive flood occurrence as always, while 30% perceive it as sometimes. Additionally, 45% of respondents state that flood begins in August, with 38% indicating that they end in October. Factors such as excessive rainfall and poor drainage network were considered significant contributors to flood occurrence, whereas flood as an act of God were rated least important. In terms of flood intensity, 46% of respondents considered it high, while 10% considered it low. The duration of flood varied, with 56% of respondents stating that it lasted between two and more than four months. The effects of flood reported by respondents included property and infrastructure loss, damage to farmlands, and business disruptions. Permanent relocation of residents and communal crises were perceived as rare consequences of flooding. Residential houses were identified as the most affected land use, while schools were considered least affected. Furthermore, the study analysed the socioeconomic characteristics and resilience levels of the respondents. The results show that the majority of households have a low income, large household sizes, and limited livelihood strategies. Institutional resilience was found to be weak, with a lack of flood mitigation plans, insurance coverage, and community/government schemes for emergencies. Infrastructural resilience revealed a lack of government-approved building plans and limited access to health facilities. Social resilience indicated a lack of support for children, low representation of members with disabilities, and limited health insurance coverage. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the level of household and community flood resilience is weak in the flood-prone areas of Makurdi. This vulnerability reduces the ability of households and communities to recover and adapt to flood-related challenges.
Keywords
Households, Community, Flood, Resilience, Makurdi town
References
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How to cite this paper
@article{1707898,
author = {Terwase Shabu, Irene Mngutyo; Laraba Rikko, Victor Idakwo; Davidson Alaci, Edward Tom; Rhoda Mundi, Adewale Olatunde; Uvirkaa Akumaga},
title = {Analysis of Household and Community Flood Resilience in Makurdi Town of Benue State, Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2025},
volume = {8},
number = {10},
pages = {1422-1442},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1707898.pdf},
abstract = {This study focuses on analyzing household and community resilience in Makurdi town of Benue state, specifically in flood-prone areas. A purposive sampling method was used to select a sample size of 300 respondents. Data collected through a structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were analyzed using frequency tables, percentages, line graphs, pie charts, and bar graphs. The findings revealed that 60% of respondents perceive flood occurrence as always, while 30% perceive it as sometimes. Additionally, 45% of respondents state that flood begins in August, with 38% indicating that they end in October. Factors such as excessive rainfall and poor drainage network were considered significant contributors to flood occurrence, whereas flood as an act of God were rated least important. In terms of flood intensity, 46% of respondents considered it high, while 10% considered it low. The duration of flood varied, with 56% of respondents stating that it lasted between two and more than four months. The effects of flood reported by respondents included property and infrastructure loss, damage to farmlands, and business disruptions. Permanent relocation of residents and communal crises were perceived as rare consequences of flooding. Residential houses were identified as the most affected land use, while schools were considered least affected. Furthermore, the study analysed the socioeconomic characteristics and resilience levels of the respondents. The results show that the majority of households have a low income, large household sizes, and limited livelihood strategies. Institutional resilience was found to be weak, with a lack of flood mitigation plans, insurance coverage, and community/government schemes for emergencies. Infrastructural resilience revealed a lack of government-approved building plans and limited access to health facilities. Social resilience indicated a lack of support for children, low representation of members with disabilities, and limited health insurance coverage. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the level of household and community flood resilience is weak in the flood-prone areas of Makurdi. This vulnerability reduces the ability of households and communities to recover and adapt to flood-related challenges.},
keywords = {Households, Community, Flood, Resilience, Makurdi town},
month = {April},
}