SIAR-Global Jou nal o Enginee ing & Ag icul u al Re iew (GJEAR)
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in o@sia publica ions.o g Vol. 1 Issue 1 Sep .-Oc . 2025
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Assessmen o D ainage In as uc u e and i s Role in U ban Flood
Mi iga ion in Dama u u
Nazi u kasimu1, Aisha Dhulqa nain2, Muhammad Bala Id is3 Bello Abubaka Disina4
1, 2, 3, Depa men o A chi ec u al TechnologySchool o En i onmen al S udies, Fede al
Poly echnic Dama u u, Nige ia
4,Depa men o Quan i y Su eying, School o En i onmen al S udies, Fede al Poly echnic
Dama u u, Nige ia
Co espondence: [email p o ec ed] o [email p o ec ed] +2348036563031
Abs ac
U ban looding has become a c i ical challenge in Nige ian ci ies, d i en by inadequa e d ainage
in as uc u e, apid u baniza ion, and weak ins i u ional amewo ks. This s udy assessed d ainage
in as uc u e and i s ole in u ban lood mi iga ion in Dama u u, Yobe S a e. The objec i es we e
o e alua e he condi ion and capaci y o exis ing d ainage sys ems, examine he e ec s o human
ac i i ies and ins i u ional p ac ices on hei e ec i eness, and p opose sus ainable s a egies o
educing lood isks. A mixed-me hods app oach was employed, in ol ing household su eys o
200 esponden s, key in o man in e iews, di ec ield obse a ions, and GIS mapping.
Desc ip i e and hema ic analyses we e applied. Findings e ealed ha 60% o esponden s a ed
d ainage sys ems as poo , while 45% o channels we e obse ed o be physically blocked.
Indisc imina e was e disposal (68%) and enc oachmen on d ainage pa hs (42%) eme ged as majo
human-induced challenges. Ins i u ional weaknesses, including inadequa e unding (75%) and
poo en o cemen o egula ions, u he limi ed d ainage e ec i eness. Flooding impac s included
p ope y damage (65%), loss o income (58%), and heal h isks such as mala ia and chole a (72%).
The s udy concludes ha d ainage inadequacy, human beha io , and weak go e nance a e cen al
o Dama u u’s lood ulne abili y. I ecommends upg ading d ainage in as uc u e, adop ing
Sus ainable U ban D ainage Sys ems (SUDS), and imp o ing was e managemen and policy
en o cemen .
Keywo ds: D ainage In as uc u e, U ban Flooding, Dama u u, Flood Mi iga ion, Sus ainable
U ban D ainage Sys ems (SUDS).
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CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Backg ound o he S udy
U baniza ion is a global phenomenon, wi h a g owing numbe o people mig a ing o ci ies in
sea ch o economic oppo uni ies and be e li ing s anda ds. While his end is a ca alys o
economic g ow h and de elopmen , i o en places immense p essu e on exis ing in as uc u e,
pa icula ly in de eloping na ions. One o he mos signi ican and ecu ing challenges s emming
om his apid u ban g ow h is u ban looding. This is exace ba ed by clima e change, which has
led o mo e equen and in ense ain all e en s, o e whelming adi ional d ainage sys ems. The
consequences o u ban looding a e mul i ace ed, including signi ican economic losses, damage
o p ope y, dis up ion o anspo a ion ne wo ks, displacemen o communi ies, and a high isk
o public heal h due o he sp ead o wa e bo ne diseases.
This s udy ocuses on Dama u u, he capi al o Yobe S a e. Despi e i s signi ican ole as an
adminis a i e and comme cial hub in no heas e n Nige ia, Dama u u is no immune o he
challenges o u ban looding. The ci y, like many o he s, has expe ienced a apid expansion o i s
buil -up a ea wi hou a co esponding upg ade o e ec i e managemen o i s d ainage sys ems.
P elimina y obse a ions sugges ha he exis ing d ainage channels a e o en unde sized, poo ly
main ained, and clogged wi h solid was e, ende ing hem ine ec i e du ing hea y ain all. This
esea ch aims o p o ide a comp ehensi e assessmen o his si ua ion, highligh ing he c i ical
link be ween he s a e o he ci y's d ainage in as uc u e and i s ulne abili y o looding.
1.2 S a emen o he P oblem
Dama u u has aced inc easing incidences o u ban looding, pa icula ly du ing he ainy season.
This p oblem is p ima ily a esul o he ci y's poo d ainage in as uc u e, which is a legacy o
apid and o en unplanned u ban de elopmen . The exis ing ne wo k o d ains is la gely inadequa e
o handle he olume o su ace uno gene a ed du ing in ense ain all e en s. Fu he mo e, a
combina ion o human ac i i ies, such as indisc imina e disposal o solid was e and he
enc oachmen on na u al wa e channels, has se e ely comp omised he unc ionali y o he
al eady de icien d ainage sys em. The ins i u ional amewo ks o u ban planning and
en i onmen al managemen a e also weak, leading o a lack o main enance and en o cemen o
egula ions.
The consequences o his p oblem a e e iden and se e e. Floods cause damage o homes, public
in as uc u e, and businesses, leading o signi ican economic losses o esiden s and he
go e nmen . They also dis up daily li e, impeding mobili y and access o essen ial se ices.
C i ically, s agnan loodwa e s c ea e b eeding g ounds o disease-ca ying ec o s, posing a
di ec h ea o public heal h. While hese issues a e widely ecognized by he local populace, he e
is a lack o empi ical da a and a sys ema ic analysis o he speci ic ac o s con ibu ing o he
p oblem. This esea ch seeks o b idge his knowledge gap by p o iding a de ailed assessmen o
he d ainage in as uc u e and i s ole in u ban lood mi iga ion in Dama u u.
1.3 Aims and Objec i es o he S udy
The gene al objec i e o his s udy is o assess he d ainage in as uc u e in Dama u u and i s ole
in u ban lood mi iga ion.
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The speci ic objec i es a e o:
1. To desc ibe he condi ion o he in as uc u e.
2. To analyze he human and ins i u ional ac o s.
3. To ecommend solu ions.
1.4 Resea ch Ques ions
This s udy will be guided by he ollowing esea ch ques ions:
1. Wha is he cu en s a e and unc ionali y o d ainage in as uc u e in Dama u u?
2. How do human ac i i ies and ins i u ional/policy amewo ks a ec d ainage
e ec i eness and con ibu e o u ban looding?
3. Wha sus ainable s a egies can be adop ed o s eng hen lood mi iga ion in Dama u u?
1.5 Jus i ica ion o he S udy
This esea ch is o signi ican impo ance o se e al easons. Fi s ly, i p o ides a c ucial empi ical
assessmen o he d ainage challenges in Dama u u, o e ing a da a-d i en basis o decision-
making. The indings will be in aluable o u ban planne s, enginee s, and local go e nmen
au ho i ies in designing and implemen ing e ec i e lood managemen s a egies. Secondly, by
highligh ing he link be ween human beha io (was e disposal) and looding, he s udy can in o m
public awa eness campaigns aimed a os e ing communi y pa icipa ion in lood mi iga ion.
Thi dly, he ecommenda ions on Sus ainable U ban D ainage Sys ems (SUDS) will p o ide a
oadmap o mo ing beyond adi ional, igid in as uc u e owa ds mo e en i onmen ally
iendly and esilien solu ions.
1.6 Scope o he S udy
The s udy is geog aphically limi ed o Dama u u me opolis. The assessmen will ocus on he s a e
and unc ionali y o he ci y's p ima y and seconda y d ainage channels. I will also examine he
ins i u ional and policy amewo ks ele an o u ban d ainage and lood managemen a he s a e
and local go e nmen le els. The s udy will no include a de ailed hyd ological model o he en i e
i e basin bu will concen a e on su ace uno and s o m wa e managemen wi hin he u ban
a ea. The indings will be based on da a collec ed h ough ield su eys, spa ial analysis using GIS,
and in e iews wi h selec ed s akeholde s.
1.7 De ini ion o Te ms
i. U ban Flooding: The inunda ion o land o p ope y in a buil -up en i onmen caused by
he accumula ion o ain all uno a a a e as e han i can be abso bed o d ained away.
ii. D ainage In as uc u e: The enginee ed sys em designed o collec , con ey, and
discha ge su ace uno . This includes d ains, channels, cul e s, and gu e s.
iii. Flood Mi iga ion: The measu es aken o educe he impac o loods, including bo h
s uc u al solu ions (e.g., dams, le ees) and non-s uc u al measu es (e.g., land use
planning, ea ly wa ning sys ems).
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i . Sus ainable U ban D ainage Sys ems (SUDS): A collec ion o wa e managemen
p ac ices ha aim o manage s o m wa e in a way ha mimics na u al p ocesses, educing
he isk o looding and p o iding en i onmen al bene i s.
. S akeholde s: Indi iduals, g oups, o o ganiza ions wi h an in e es in he ou come o he
esea ch. In his s udy, his includes esiden s, local go e nmen o icials, and u ban
planne s.
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Concep ual F amewo k
U ban looding is one o he mos p essing en i onmen al haza ds in apidly g owing ci ies ac oss
he globe. I occu s when s o mwa e uno exceeds he capaci y o na u al o man-made d ainage
sys ems, esul ing in inunda ion o oads, p ope ies, and public spaces. The e ec i eness o u ban
d ainage in as uc u e is he e o e a c i ical de e minan o a ci y’s esilience o looding. This
esea ch adop s he amewo k ha u ban lood isk is a unc ion o h ee in e ela ed ac o s:
1. D ainage in as uc u e condi ion and capaci y
2. Human and ins i u ional ac o s
3. Adop ion o sus ainable mi iga ion s a egies
This amewo k p o ides a lens h ough which he si ua ion in Dama u u can be assessed
sys ema ically.
2.2 D ainage In as uc u e and U ban Flooding
D ainage in as uc u e e e s o enginee ed sys ems designed o collec , channel, and dispose o
s o m wa e . Common componen s include open d ains, cul e s, gu e s, and s o m sewe s. The
capaci y and e iciency o such sys ems a e in luenced by hei design, main enance, and
adap a ion o u ban expansion.
In many A ican ci ies, d ainage ne wo ks a e o en unde sized ela i e o cu en le els o
u baniza ion. S udies in Lagos, Ibadan, and Po Ha cou ha e shown ha poo ly designed and
blocked d ains exace ba e lood haza ds du ing hea y ain all (Adelekan, 2016; Nkwunonwo,
2020).
Fo Dama u u, whe e u ban expansion has been apid, he misma ch be ween in as uc u e g ow h
and popula ion p essu e p esen s a simila challenge. A c i ical unde s anding o he cu en s a e
o d ains is necessa y o iden i y whe e ailu es occu .
2.3 Human Ac i i ies and Thei Impac s on D ainage Sys ems
Human beha io plays a pi o al ole in de e mining he pe o mance o d ainage in as uc u e.
Enc oachmen on na u al loodplains and wa e ways is ano he ac o . In o mal se lemen s o en
sp ing up in low-lying a eas, educing in il a ion su aces and inc easing uno olumes. Weak
en o cemen o u ban planning egula ions u he compounds he p oblem (E uono be, 2011).
In Dama u u, simila issues ha e been epo ed, whe e d ainage channels a e clogged wi h e use
and illegal s uc u es obs uc na u al wa e pa hs. This highligh s he di ec link be ween human
ac i i ies and he ine ec i eness o d ainage sys ems.
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2.4 Ins i u ional and Policy F amewo ks o U ban Flood Managemen
Ins i u ional capaci y is cen al o ensu ing unc ional d ainage sys ems. Nige ia has policies such
as he Na ional Wa e Policy (2004) and he Na ional U ban De elopmen Policy (2012), bu
hei implemen a ion emains weak. Challenges include inadequa e unding, agmen ed
ins i u ional esponsibili ies, and low communi y pa icipa ion. Case s udies om Lagos and Abuja
e eal ha whe e local go e nmen s ac i ely en o ce en i onmen al laws, lood isks a e educed,
bu whe e ins i u ions a e passi e, u ban looding in ensi ies (Ologuno isa, 2004).
Assessing he policy en i onmen in Dama u u is he e o e c ucial o unde s anding go e nance
gaps ha hinde e ec i e d ainage managemen .
2.5 Socio-Economic and Heal h Impac s o U ban Flooding
U ban looding has wide- anging socio-economic and public heal h consequences. Economically,
loods des oy p ope ies, dis up business ac i i ies, and inc ease cos s o in as uc u e epai .
Heal h isks a e also signi ican . S agnan loodwa e s p o ide b eeding g ounds o mosqui oes,
inc easing mala ia incidence, while con amina ed wa e sou ces heigh en isks o chole a and
yphoid ou b eaks (Adeloye & Rus um, 2011).
In Dama u u, whe e heal hca e and sani a ion in as uc u e a e al eady unde p essu e, lood-
induced heal h haza ds can ha e disp opo iona ely se e e e ec s. These impac s jus i y he
u gency o e ec i e lood mi iga ion s a egies.
2.6 Sus ainable U ban D ainage Sys ems (SUDS) and Global Bes P ac ices
Sus ainable U ban D ainage Sys ems (SUDS) a e inno a i e, eco- iendly app oaches o
s o mwa e managemen ha mimic na u al hyd ological p ocesses. Unlike adi ional “ha d”
enginee ing solu ions ha ely solely on conc e e channels, SUDS emphasize in il a ion,
e en ion, and euse o s o mwa e . Techniques include:
i. Pe meable pa emen s ha allow in il a ion o ainwa e .
ii. Re en ion ponds and we lands ha s o e uno and suppo biodi e si y.
iii. G een oo s ha abso b ain all and educe uno a he sou ce.
i . Rainwa e ha es ing o educe p essu e on d ainage ne wo ks.
2.7 Empi ical S udies on D ainage and Flooding in Nige ia
Se e al empi ical s udies ha e highligh ed he d ainage- lood nexus in Nige ian ci ies:
i. Adelekan (2016) ound ha d ainage inadequacy was he leading cause o ecu en
looding in Ibadan.
ii. E uono be (2011) epo ed ha un egula ed u ban g ow h and poo was e managemen
con ibu ed signi ican ly o looding in Lagos.
iii. Nkwunonwo (2020) emphasized ha policy gaps and ins i u ional weaknesses ampli y
u ban lood ulne abili y ac oss Nige ia.
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Howe e , he e is a pauci y o loca ion-speci ic s udies in no heas e n Nige ia. This unde sco es
he ele ance o conduc ing a sys ema ic assessmen o d ainage in as uc u e in Dama u u, as
indings could ill a signi ican knowledge gap.
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Resea ch Design
This s udy adop s a desc ip i e su ey esea ch design complemen ed wi h spa ial analysis. The
design is app op ia e because i enables sys ema ic assessmen o d ainage in as uc u e, human
ac i i ies, and ins i u ional amewo ks, while also cap u ing pe cep ions and expe iences o
esiden s conce ning u ban looding in Dama u u. Field obse a ions, ques ionnai es, in e iews,
and Geog aphic In o ma ion Sys em (GIS) ools will be employed o collec bo h quan i a i e and
quali a i e da a.
3.2 S udy A ea
The s udy will be conduc ed in Dama u u, he capi al o Yobe S a e, no heas e n Nige ia.
Geog aphically, Dama u u lies be ween la i ude 11°44′N and longi ude 11°57′E. The ci y has
expe ienced apid u ban expansion o e he las wo decades, accompanied by ecu en looding
du ing he ainy season. The d ainage sys em comp ises open channels, cul e s, and oadside
gu e s, many o which a e epo edly unde sized and poo ly main ained. These ea u es make
Dama u u an app op ia e case s udy o assessing d ainage in as uc u e and i s ole in lood
mi iga ion.
3.3 Popula ion o he S udy
The a ge popula ion includes:
i. Residen s o Dama u u me opolis, pa icula ly hose li ing in lood-p one a eas.
ii. O icials om ele an go e nmen agencies, such as he Yobe S a e Minis y o Wo ks,
Minis y o En i onmen , and Dama u u Local Go e nmen Au ho i y.
iii. U ban planne s and communi y leade s, who play key oles in d ainage managemen
and lood esponse.
3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Technique
A mul i-s age sampling app oach will be used:
i. S age One: S a i ica ion o Dama u u in o majo dis ic s/wa ds (e.g., Nayinawa,
Gwange, Maisanda i, and Sabon Pegi).
ii. S age Two: Selec ion o lood-p one neighbo hoods wi hin hese dis ic s based on p io
lood eco ds and local epo s.
iii. S age Th ee: Random sampling o households wi hin selec ed neighbo hoods.
The sample size will be de e mined using Yamane’s (1967) o mula o ini e popula ions:
n=N1+N(e2)n = ac{N}{1 + N(e^2)}n=1+N(e2)N
Whe e:
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i. n = sample size
ii. N = popula ion size (es ima ed households in Dama u u)
iii. e = ma gin o e o (0.05 o 95% con idence le el)
Addi ionally, pu posi e sampling will be used o selec key in o man s such as go e nmen
o icials, planne s, and en i onmen al o ice s.
3.11 Limi a ions o he S udy
Po en ial limi a ions may include:
i. Inaccessibili y o some lood-p one a eas du ing peak ain all.
ii. Reluc ance o some esponden s o p o ide accu a e in o ma ion.
iii. Limi ed a ailabili y o upda ed seconda y da a on d ainage ne wo ks.
These limi a ions will be mi iga ed h ough ca e ul planning, use o mul iple da a sou ces, and
iangula ion echniques.
4.0 CHAPTER FOUR DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 In oduc ion
This chap e p esen s he esul s o ield su eys, key in o man in e iews, GIS mapping, and
di ec obse a ions conduc ed in Dama u u me opolis. The indings a e analyzed in line wi h he
h ee esea ch objec i es.
4.2 Socio-Demog aphic Cha ac e is ics o Responden s
A o al o 200 esponden s pa icipa ed in he household su ey ac oss Dama u u. Table 1
shows hei basic cha ac e is ics.
Table 1: Socio-Demog aphic P o ile o Responden s
Va iable
Ca ego y
F equency
Pe cen age (%)
Gende
Male
118
59.0
Female
82
41.0
Age
18–30 yea s
62
31.0
31–50 yea s
91
45.5
51 yea s and abo e
47
23.5
Educa ion
P ima y
54
27.0
Seconda y
88
44.0
Te ia y
58
29.0
Occupa ion
T ading/Business
64
32.0
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Va iable
Ca ego y
F equency
Pe cen age (%)
Ci il Se ice
56
28.0
A isans/Skilled
47
23.5
S uden s/Unemployed
33
16.5
In e p e a ion: The sample is balanced ac oss gende and ep esen s economically ac i e
esiden s who a e mos a ec ed by looding impac s.
4.3 Condi ion and Capaci y o D ainage In as uc u e in Dama u u
Field obse a ions and GIS mapping e ealed ha many d ainage channels a e unde sized,
clogged, o absen in some neighbou hoods.
i. 60% o esponden s a ed he condi ion o d ains in hei a ea as poo .
ii. 25% conside ed hem ai , while only 15% a ed hem as good.
iii. Mo e han 70% epo ed ha d ains o e low wi hin 30 minu es o hea y ain all.
Table 2: Residen s’ Pe cep ion o D ainage Condi ion
Condi ion o D ains
F equency
Pe cen age (%)
1
Good
30
15.0
2
Fai
50
25.0
3
Poo
120
60.0
Obse a ion: Many d ainage channels we e ound illed wi h sil and e use, wi h o e 45%
physically blocked a he ime o ield inspec ion.
4.4 Human Ac i i ies and Thei E ec s on D ainage E iciency
The s udy e ealed ha was e disposal p ac ices and enc oachmen we e majo d i e s o
d ainage blockage.
i. 68% o esponden s admi ed ha esiden s in hei neighbou hood dump e use in open
d ains.
ii. 42% epo ed buildings cons uc ed ac oss na u al wa e channels.
iii. 55% said local au ho i ies a ely conduc ou ine desil ing o d ain cleaning.
Table 3: Human-Induced Fac o s A ec ing D ainage Sys ems
Fac o
F equency
Pe cen age (%)
1
Was e dumping in d ains
136
68.0
2
Enc oachmen by buildings
84
42.0
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Fac o
F equency
Pe cen age (%)
3
Lack o communi y pa icipa ion
72
36.0
4
Poo main enance by au ho i ies
110
55.0
4.5 Ins i u ional and Policy F amewo ks
Key in o man in e iews wi h o icials om he Minis y o En i onmen and Dama u u Local
Go e nmen highligh ed gaps in ins i u ional capaci y:
i. Funding: 75% o o icials s a ed ha budge a y alloca ions o d ainage main enance
we e insu icien .
ii. En o cemen : Only 30% o esponden s belie ed building egula ions and en i onmen al
laws a e s ic ly en o ced.
iii. Coo dina ion: O e laps be ween agencies esul in poo coo dina ion o lood
managemen e o s.
Figu e 4.1: Responden s’ Views on Ins i u ional E ec i eness
i. E ec i e: 18%
ii. Pa ially E ec i e: 40%
iii. Ine ec i e: 42%
4.6 Socio-Economic and Heal h Impac s o Flooding
U ban looding in Dama u u has signi ican consequences o households and businesses:
i. 65% o esponden s epo ed p ope y damage in he pas h ee yea s.
ii. 58% epo ed income loss due o dis up ion o business ac i i ies.
iii. 72% iden i ied heal h isks such as mala ia, chole a, and yphoid ollowing loods.
Table 4: Repo ed Impac s o Flooding in Dama u u
Impac Type
F equency
Pe cen age (%)
P ope y Damage
130
65.0
Income Loss/Business Dis up ion
116
58.0
Heal h Risks
144
72.0
Displacemen om Homes
82
41.0
4.7 P oposed S a egies o Flood Mi iga ion
Responden s and expe s sugges ed he ollowing measu es:
