Global Journal of Human-Social Science, B: Geography, Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Volume 22 Issue 3

From Table 3 above, Flood Composite Vulnerability Index (CFVI) is computed as follows: FVI = 4.513 - 3.655 + 1.205 = - 0.347 In terms of total weight of individual vulnerability indicators, the result on Table 4 revealed that Oweto has a relatively moderate adaptive capacity or resilience index of 4.513. Adaptive capacity has an inverse relationship with vulnerability, which means that the higher the adaptive capacity, the lower the vulnerability. This is so because, adaptive capacity has to do with the economic and social capital or resources base of individuals and communities of flood affected areas. This also follows that the higher the socio-economic capital, the higher the resilience of individuals/ communities during flood events. To this end, the result of Oweto residents with lower socio-economic assets is very weak in their capacity to cope with flood disaster. This is evident in the fact that Oweto residents engage predominantly in agriculture (farming and Fishing) which is more vulnerable to flood disaster than other livelihood options. The result of sensitivity or susceptibility shows that Oweto is equally highly susceptible to flooding with the index of 3.655. Generally, the higher the susceptibility index, the higher the vulnerability. This implies that Oweto community, as far as sensitivity index is concerned, is highly vulnerable to flooding; moreso that Oweto possesses weak socio-economic capital to deal with flood disasters in face of high susceptibility. Similarly, the result on the level of exposure to flooding indicates that Oweto is very exposed with exposure index of 1.205. Just like the sensitivity indices, the higher the exposure of a place to flood, the higher the vulnerability. This implies that the percentage of those leaving in close proximity to the river in the study area is higher. Also, the flood duration in terms of the numbers of days flood takes to recede is equally very high in Oweto. Consequently, the cumulative effect of high sensitivity and exposure as against weak adaptive capacity led to very high flood vulnerability as shown in the very low (even negative) CFVI in Oweto community. Overall, the observed negative vulnerability index of Oweto could be connected to the fact that Oweto is rural agrarian community with inadequate social amenities and low income generation ability largely from engaging in primary production. b) Discussion The result of this study is similar to those of Ali, Onah, Mage, Yiyeh, Tarzoho, and Iorhuna, (2022), in their study of “Principal Component Analysis of Household Vulnerability to Flood Disaster in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria” where the author reported low vulnerability index of 0.443 as against a very low index of 0.347 for Oweto. This suggests that both Makurdi and Oweto communities in Benue State are vulnerable, however Oweto is extremely more vulnerable than Makurdi due to higher adaptive capacity in Makurdi and low or weak adaptive capacity in Oweto. Similarly, Abdulhamid (2016) also reported that 67.79% of residents of Lokoja metropolis lived in neighbourhoods with low vulnerability to flooding, while 13.64% lived in areas with vulnerability. This result is however, at variance with the findings of this study due to their rural-urban differences. In all these studies however, high level of exposure and sensitivity resulting from close proximity to water bodies, long flood duration and short frequency were the major vulnerability factors. This suggests that any effective intervention targeted at reducing flood risks and impacts should be focused on addressing these critical determinants of vulnerability to flood disasters in these areas. Elsewhere in Narmada river basin districts in Central India, Shefali, Mukulm andMudit (2021) reports that 76% of the districts in the Narmada river basin remain highly vulnerable to flood-risk, while the socio- economic parameters and physical sizes of districts and their resources play crucial roles in the vulnerability level. This result agrees to a large extent with the findings of this study especially in term of weak socio-economic factor which translates to weak adaptive capacity as reported in these studies. To this end, strengthening of adaptive capacity by diversifying households’ livelihood options, improved education and early warning mechanisms would contribute to reducing vulnerability. IV. C onclusion and R ecommendations The study concludes that households in Oweto community, Agatu Local Government of Benue State are highly vulnerable to flood disasters due to high level of exposure and susceptibility and also weak adaptive capacity to cope with flood hazards, risks and impacts. Consequently, the study recommends that concerted efforts be make to relocate households living in close proximity to River Benue and its tributaries. Also, exploring other livelihood options in addition to agriculture would help boost their resilience capacity to cope with flood impacts and its associated vulnerability. Activation of early warning system should be strengthened in order to scale down the level of households' susceptibility and exposure to flood disasters in Oweto community. R eferences R éférences R eferencias 1. Abdulhamid, I. A. (2016). Assessment of Flood Vulnerability In Lokoja Metropolis, Kogi State . Unpublished B. URP dissertation, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Pp. 100. 2. Ahmad, S. S and Simonovic, S. P. (2013). Spatial and temporal analysis of urban flood risk assessment. Urban Water Journal 10(1), 26–49. Volume XXII Issue III Version I 42 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 © 2022 Global Journals B Assessment Household Vulnerability to Flood Disaster: A Study of Oweto Community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria