Community-Based Adaptation Strategies to Flood: Settling the Issue of Sustainable Urbanisation in Ringim

Flooding poses a significant threat to urban areas in semi-arid regions, particularly in Ringim, where rapid urbanisation, climate vulnerability and socio-economic factors exacerbate the impacts of floods. This study explores the role of community-driven approaches in addressing flooding issues to advance sustainable urbanisation in Ringim, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Sustainable urban development in such flood-prone regions requires adaptive strategies that respond to local needs and capacities, aiming to address and resolve challenges in achieving urban sustainability. This research evaluates the effectiveness of current Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) strategies in mitigating flood impacts in Ringim, focusing on how these strategies contribute to the goal of sustainable urbanisation. Data were collected through five Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with community leaders, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) representatives, public officers, professionals, and academics, ensuring diverse perspectives from key stakeholders. The data were analysed qualitatively in QSR NVivo to identify codes and common themes, successes, and persistent challenges. Findings reveal that community involvement significantly improves adaptation efficacy, especially when local knowledge and cooperative action guide flood preparedness and response. However, gaps remain in resource allocation and technical support, limiting long-term sustainability. This study highlights the critical role of locally informed adaptation strategies in fostering resilient urban development and suggests that policymakers and development agencies prioritise community engagement within urban planning. The study is limited to qualitative insights from a single semi-arid community, which may not represent all flood-prone urban areas. Future research could expand to comparative analyses of similar semi-arid regions to refine adaptation strategies across diverse urban landscapes.