Anticipated ecological disaster: Climate change, perennial floods and urban resilience in Makurdi City, Nigeria

Climate change, which is manifest in changes in rainfall patterns and increased levels of precipitation and sea level rise, has contributed to the perennial flood disaster which affects the resilience of people in Makurdi city, Nigeria. Factors impacting the resilience of urban residents include urban expansion, poor infrastructural development, social networks, weak government policies and disaster management strategies, and people’s poor attitude to early warning systems. The study is informed on the basis that flooding is a yearly disaster in Makurdi city, which stretches residents’ resilience capacity despite existing policies and interventions. This article presents findings to inform policy on disaster management, particularly on climate-induced floods and their impact on the resilience strategies of urban inhabitants in Makurdi city. This article is evidence-based research conducted on 384 respondents using a questionnaire and interviews with five key stakeholders. The study was conducted with the assistance of local researchers in eight selected areas affected by flood disaster in Makurdi city. The research investigates climate change impact on perennial floods and factors impacting urban resilience to floods. The article argues that to achieve resilience in Makurdi city, proper disaster management strategies, including building infrastructure and effective urban planning systems, should be strengthened and implemented by the government to absorb the shocks of flood disasters.