Application of the Water Vulnerability Index in Oke-Ogun Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Access to water is influenced by many biophysical and socio-demographical contexts which can trigger vulnerability or modify adaptive capacity of local communities due to a greater dependence on water resources that are climate sensitive for livelihood supports. The study provides a method of assessing vulnerability to water scarcity by applying the Water Vulnerability Index (WVI) for three case study communities (Iseyin, Okeho and Shaki) in Oke-Ogun region, Nigeria. Data were captured through household survey in the case study communities alongside with a document review. Frequencies of responses to study variables were categorised to form the sub-components of WVI such as access, resources, capacity, and environment. Results indicate that within the study region, there are significant variances in the WVI of each community depending on land and water-related livelihoods and in relation to different socio-demographic characteristics. The critical areas with less WVI are the informal neighbourhoods where residents are predominantly agrarian, pointing to the fact that households living in most biophysically vulnerable places are mostly affected by water scarcity and are in need of critical interventions for adaptation.


Key words: Water access, water scarcity, water vulnerability index, Oke- Ogun