Flood Risk and Resilience: Evidence from the 2024 Flood in Maiduguri, Nigeria
Ibrahim Abatcha UMAR
*
Department of Geography, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Borno State University, Maiduguri 602104, Nigeria.
Wakil Malah BUKAR
Department of Geography, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Borno State University, Maiduguri 602104, Nigeria.
Abdullahi MUSTAPHA
Nigerian Meteorological Agency-General Muhammadu Buhari Intl. Airport, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
Aisha KYARI
Department of Geography, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Borno State University, Maiduguri 602104, Nigeria.
Mohammed Alhaji BUKAR
Department of Geography, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Borno State University, Maiduguri 602104, Nigeria.
Hassan Hassan IBRAHIM
Department of Geography, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Borno State University, Maiduguri 602104, Nigeria.
Mohammed. Abba JIMME
Department of Geography, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Umar KACHALLA
Department of History, Sir Kashim Ibrahim College of Education Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Flooding poses a critical threat to rapidly urbanizing areas in the Global South, where climate variability and inadequate infrastructure intensify vulnerability. Maiduguri, Nigeria, offers a salient case study, as demonstrated by the 2024 flood, one of the most severe in the city's recorded history. This study triangulates qualitative interviews and quantitative rainfall data (1992–2024) to examine three dimensions of the disaster: (1) repercussions on infrastructure, livelihoods, and marginalized populations; (2) the influence of shifting rainfall patterns on flood severity; and (3) the efficacy of preparedness and response strategies. Results highlight an upward trend in seasonal rainfall (Sen's Slope: 10.27 mm/year) and a Rainfall Anomaly Index of 3.07 2024, confirming the intensification of extreme precipitation events. The flood displaced over 157,000 residents, disproportionately disrupting lives of women, children, and the elderly, highlighting systemic inequalities. Delayed infrastructure maintenance and suboptimal early warning systems were key amplifiers of flood impact. These findings emphasize the need for climate-informed urban planning, reinforced infrastructure resilience, and comprehensive disaster-management protocols. This study enriches scholarly discourse on adapting to and mitigating climate-induced disasters in rapidly expanding urban contexts throughout the Global South.
Keywords: Climate resilience, urban flooding, governance, social capital, global south, Maiduguri