ANALYSIS AND MAPPING OF AREAS VULNERABLE TO FLOOD IN YOLA METROPOLIS.
ANALYSIS AND MAPPING OF AREAS VULNERABLE TO FLOOD IN YOLA METROPOLIS.

Summary/Abstract: Intensification in the occurrence of floods globally and indeed in Nigeria with their devastating impacts on lives and properties is worrisome. To this end, the study involved Analysis and Mapping of Areas Vulnerable to Flood in Yola Metropolis. The purposive sampling technique was applied to select five judged worst flood vulnerable areas. Data were acquired through field observation, historical records, and hydrological data. Geographic Information System and Global Positioning System were applied in processing acquired spatial information. The result showed that the bulk of the study area is exposed to flood due to its low altitude, most of the areas are made up of planes with a gradient less than 1.6 thus highly vulnerable, areas with a gradient of 1.7 to 4.5 were marginally vulnerable and most of the areas were already developed, thereby increasing the susceptibility of the inhabitants to flood. Most parts of the communities were within a kilometre to river Benue and Chonji which is high vulnerability to flood. Doubeli, Jambutu, Limawa, and Rumde areas are within the zones with a high tendency for flow accumulation while the Bole-Yolde Pate ward is within areas with low tendency. Also, identified that clay soil is highly vulnerable due to its low infiltration, clay-loam is vulnerable, while sandy and sandy-loam which have high infiltration are not vulnerable. The study concludes and recommends that Government should come up with a policy that restricts development along with or around flood vulnerable areas and advice those already living in such areas to relocate. Also, results obtained in this study could be used by stakeholders and the government as a guide for effective flood management.

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