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Environmental hazards from flooding and erosion were evaluated across eight communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State. Combining field observations, GPS mapping, geographic information systems, and responses from 377 surveyed residents, the investigation documented the frequency, severity, and spatial distribution of these threats. Results showed significant variation between communities. Odekpe experienced the most severe conditions, recording the highest annual flood frequency at 3.5 events, an inundation duration of 25 days, flood depths reaching 1.8 metres, and prominent gully erosion. Mputu experienced the lowest flood measures. Heavy rainfall, River Niger overflows, and poor drainage infrastructure were identified as the primary causes of flooding. Spatial mapping highlighted Atani Waterfront and Ossomala Riverbank as very high risk flood areas, confirming that disaster management requires targeted, community-specific solutions.
Floods and gully erosion can devastate local infrastructure, displace populations, and disrupt livelihoods. By identifying which communities face the most severe threats and pinpointing specific drivers like poor drainage and river overflow, authorities and planners can direct resources toward targeted drainage improvements and tailored flood defences where they are needed most.
The findings provide applied baseline data that can be used by urban planning authorities, civil engineering firms, and disaster risk agencies to design targeted flood defences, erosion control projects, and drainage infrastructure. Because the work is an applied assessment and spatial mapping study rather than a commercial product, any downstream application remains at the planning and public infrastructure intervention stage.
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Flooding and erosion are major environmental hazards in Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State. This study assessed their frequency, intensity, severity, and spatial distribution across eight selected communities: Atani, Ossomala, Ogbakuba, Odekpe, Akili-Ogidi, Mputu, Ogwuikpele, and Okpoko. A mixed-methods design combining questionnaire surveys, field observations, GPS mapping, and GIS analysis was adopted. Of 422 questionnaires administered, 377 were retrieved, representing an 89.34% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, weighted means, one-way ANOVA, Tukey HSD, and GIS-based spatial analysis. Odekpe recorded the highest annual flood frequency (3.5 ± 1.2 events), longest inundation duration (25 days), greatest flood depth (1.8 m), and highest perceived flood-intensity score (3.17), while Mputu recorded the lowest values. Flood frequency differed significantly among communities, F(7,369) = 8.64, p < 0.001. Heavy rainfall (92.3%), River Niger overflow (88.6%), and poor drainage (79.8%) were the leading perceived flood drivers. Gully erosion was most prominent in Odekpe (48%), which recorded very high erosion severity. Spatial analysis identified Atani Waterfront and Ossomala Riverbank as very-high flood-risk locations, while Odekpe Gully Site, Ogwuikpele River Margin, and Okpoko Drainage Channel were high-risk areas. The study concludes that flooding and erosion in Ogbaru are recurrent and spatially heterogeneous, requiring community-specific interventions, improved drainage and waterway management, erosion control, environmental restoration, and GIS-supported disaster-risk reduction planning.
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DOI: 10.64388/irev10i2-1722450
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