Flood vulnerability: Impending danger in Sabon-Gari Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the vulnerability of buildings to flooding and the danger posed at Sabo Gari area of Minna, Niger State. Sabon-Gari which is one of the 22 neighborhoods found in Minna is a highly populated area as people who cannot afford to stay in the low density areas (Government Reserve Area - G.R.A) move to this area in search for cheap accommodation and this has created a lot of housing need amongst the resident of Sabon-Gari. High demand for housing in the study area has prompted the landowners and developers to develop their properties with little or no regard for Government approved codes and standards. Indiscriminate development and erection of buildings along water ways make the inhabitants of such buildings highly vulnerable to flooding during high precipitation. A quick bird image which is a panchromatic of 65 centimeter pixel resolution was used for the study. A vulnerability assessment was carried out using ArcGis 10 software and a vulnerability map was prepared showing the vulnerable buildings within the study area. The coping strategies employed by the inhabitants ofSabon-Gari were also identified through Questionnaires administered. The buildings along the river channels were marked and the study reveals that danger looms in the study area with respect to flood.The result of analysis suggests that quick mitigating efforts be put in place to avert and or reduce this impending disaster. Hence, certain structures on waterways needs to be demolished, silted drainages should be cleared and stiffer measure be put in place by law enforcement agency to check the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal in drainages.

Keywords: Vulnerability, Geospatial, Mitigation, Digital Elevation Model, Flood