SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY IN THE SAHELIAN CORRIDOR OF NIGERIA: A GIS-BASED ANALYSIS
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Date
2025
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Published by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Disaster Risk Assessment, Environmental Hazards, GIS, Nigerian Sahelian Corridor, Socio-economic Vulnerability.