Browsing by Author "Akinlotan, O. M."

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    SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY IN THE SAHELIAN CORRIDOR OF NIGERIA: A GIS-BASED ANALYSIS
    (Published by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria., 2025) Akinlotan, O. M.; Laro, K. O.
    Environmental hazards like floods, soil erosion, and desertification pose significant challenges to Nigeria's northern Sahelian Corridor. Traditional disaster risk assessments focus on physical hazard mapping, overlooking socio-economic determinants that influence community resilience. This study employs a multi-hazard, multi-dimensional approach to develop a socio economic vulnerability index, assess population and infrastructure exposure, and identify regions where vulnerability coexists with hazard-prone environments. The research utilized various datasets, including SRTM DEMs, FAO soil data, and socio-economic data from GRID3/WorldPop and NBS household surveys. The vulnerability assessment disaggregates vulnerability into physical, social, economic, and environmental categories, yielding a composite vulnerability score integrated with exposure analysis. Findings indicate substantial population concentrations in hazard-prone areas, with states like Kano, Borno, Sokoto, and Jigawa exhibiting high densities. Over 1 million individuals in Jigawa reside in high-hazard exposure areas, while in Kano, approximately 38% of cultivated land is situated in these zones, jeopardizing food security and livelihoods. The study reveals that regions with moderate hazard susceptibility can experience elevated disaster risk due to underlying socio-economic weaknesses, including poverty and inadequate infrastructure. The research advocates for a paradigm shift in disaster risk reduction strategies from a hazard-centric framework to a people centred approach, addressing fundamental drivers of vulnerability through poverty alleviation, investment in resilient infrastructure, diversification of livelihoods, and cohesive urban planning.