Flood Risk and Resilience: Evidence from the 2024 Flood in Maiduguri, Nigeria

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.