Post-Flood Recovery and Adaptive Livelihood Strategies Among Vulnerable Households in Makurdi and Guma LGAs of Benue State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47514/kjg.2026.08.01.018Keywords:
Post-flood recovery, Adaptive livelihoods, Household vulnerability, Guma, Makurdi, Benue StateAbstract
Recurring flooding in the Benue Valley continues to undermine the socio-economic stability of riparian communities, yet the sustainability of household recovery strategies remains insufficiently understood. This study examined post-flood recovery and adaptive livelihood strategies among households in flood-prone areas of Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas, Benue State, Nigeria. A quantitative approach was adopted, using structured questionnaires administered to 396 households. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Findings indicate that flooding is a recurrent and severe phenomenon in the study area, with 55.1% of respondents experiencing displacement three or more times within a decade. Key impacts included structural damage to housing (36.0%), loss of stored crops and seeds (30.6%), and widespread loss of primary income sources (66.2%). Recovery efforts were largely self-financed, with 44.9% relying on borrowing and 62.1% still in debt. Institutional support was limited, as 71.2% of households received no government assistance, while 98.0% had no insurance coverage. Households adopted various coping mechanisms, including livelihood diversification (45.0%) and complete shifts in income sources (24.0%), reflecting adaptive responses to persistent flood risk. However, 63.9% of respondents reported that the strategies were temporary and unsustainable. Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations between occupation and location (χ² = 200.7, p < 0.001) and between survival strategies and location (χ² = 209.7, p < 0.001). Rural households relied more on farming and distress-based coping strategies, while urban households exhibited more diversified and financially oriented responses. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that enhance long-term livelihood recovery and resilience.
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