Geospatial Mapping of Flood Hazard in Fufore Local Government Area, North Eastern Nigeria

Flooding causes fatalities, damage to critical infrastructure, an increase in waterborne diseases, and a disruption in human livelihood. This highlights the importance of a flood hazard map, which can assist the government and the general public in determining where they might be flooded in order to be prepared and mitigate this constantly occurring hazard. This paper utilized geospatial techniques to generate flood hazard components; merge the components to produce a final composite flood hazard map; and, identify the various flood hazard zones of Fufore Local Government Area in North-Eastern Nigeria. The datasets include the study area's land use/land cover, distance from rivers, elevation, slope, rainfall intensity, and land use/land cover. There are four hazard zones: very high, high, low, and very low.According to the analysis, the Low flood hazard zone has the most coverage with 2112.5 km2 (49.9 percent), followed by the High flood hazard zone with 1784.6 km2 (42.2 percent), and the Very High with 183.58 km2 (4.3 percent). With 144.89 km2, the Very Low areas have the smallest areal extent (3.42 percent). Very Low and Low areas account for 53.32 percent of total coverage, while High and Very High zones account for 46.68 percent. Four of the 26 communities hosting major markets are located in the Very High Hazard Zone, ten in the High Hazard Zone, twelve in the Low Hazard Zone, and none in the Very Low Hazard Zone. Markets such as Kasuwar Wurobokki, Kasuwar Bilachi Bwatye, Chigari, Chikito, Mayo Ine, Mayo Sadi, Shuwari Market, and Tike Market are highly susceptible to flooding. Generally, about 91 settlements including Mayo Inne, Damboire Nadere, Tunga Agatu, Tudun WadaWuro Fulbere and Gangare Gidan Audu are all located within the Very High flood hazard zone. Some of the most significant are found in the low-lying areas of the Lagdo River and its tributaries. This indicates that in the event of flooding, a large proportion of the population in the study area may be displaced, lose their means of livelihood, children's access to schools may be hampered, and essential infrastructure and buildings may be damaged. The paper demonstrated the ability of hazard maps to communicate information that policymakers, community members, and other stakeholders could use to mitigate flood disasters in the study area.