10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

This Study focuses on flood occurrences in risk zones prone to frequent flooding that are posing significant threats to human settlements, Sustainable development in Lokoja with the following objectives: identifying the spatial distribution of household vulnerability to climate change impacts, analyzing the socio-economic and environmental factors influencing household vulnerability, and examine the challenges and opportunities for promoting environmental sustainable development. The study uses Remote Sensing and GIS technique to assess the flood vulnerability zones of the town by using the bench mark minimum and maximum water level from the year 2016 to 2025. Data were collected using both primary and secondary sources. Land-use/land-cover and flood vulnerability maps were generated from the digitized satellite imageries. Five districts were directly affected by the flood and 400 questionnaires were administered as sample sized to respondents across the strata of all the flood affected communities. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (percentage distribution) and inferential statistics (Pearson’s moment correlation) in assessing the relationships between minimum water levels, land uses and population affected by flood. This study revealed that a total land area of 2828.79 Ha (13.64%), 3852.53Ha (18.57%) and 14063.26Ha (67.79%) are of high vulnerability, Moderate vulnerability and Low vulnerability respectively. Descriptive statistics showed that 37.8% of households reported reduced water availability, 33.5% experienced frequent flooding, and 28.7% observed declining agricultural productivity. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed disparities in adaptive capacity (F = 6.27, p < 0.01), particularly in access to drainage, potable water, and energy sources. Findings from the analysis show that there is a strong positive correlation between minimum water level and farmland, open space with the greatest correlation coefficient of 0.986, commercial land uses has a slightly stronger correlation (0.899) with minimum water levels. Buildings within 100 meters buffer distance from the river banks and flood plains are highly vulnerable, those within 200 meters buffer distance is moderately vulnerable while those 300 meters above buffer distance are less vulnerable areas. The study therefore conclude that flooding had a significant impact on residential, commercial, and particularly agriculture and open spaces, inflicting widespread property and infrastructure damage. This study is a critical tool for policy makers, urban planners and stakeholders to priotize on flood risk management and coordinated environmental dynamics in Lokoja metropolis.