Assessing The Roles Of Local Communities In Sustainable Urban Drainage For Flood Mitigation In Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Urban flooding is a growing concern exacerbated by inadequate drainage infrastructure and poor flood management practices in Azare. This research aimed at assessing the roles of local communities in sustainable urban drainage for flood mitigation in Azare, Bauchi state, Nigeria. It explores the extent to which community involvement contributes to the maintenance of drainage systems aimed at reducing flood risks as it has become recurrent event, having devastating effects on ecosystem, human livelihood and infrastructure. Data were collected using questionnaire, direct observation and interview involving community members, local authorities, and other stakeholders. Geospatial with majorly secondary datasets were also used for the study. The data were analysed using SPSS software and results were presented using descriptive statistics of frequency tables and content analysis. Majority (75%) of respondents confirmed that poor state of drainage was exacerbated by nonchalant attitudes of community members, mismanagement and indiscriminate waste disposal into drainages which led to blockage. The findings highlight that while local communities play an essential role in maintaining drainage infrastructure and raising flood awareness, limited resources, lack of technical knowledge, and minimal government support have restricted their capacity to implement long-term solutions. The findings also revealed that most of the respondents reported that efficient drainage systems aid in prevention of flood which is the major cause of water borne diseases in the study area. The study recommends that enhancing community participation, supported by government initiatives and capacity-building programs, is critical to achieving sustainable urban drainage and effective flood mitigation in the study area.