Evaluating Flood Management and Mitigation Strategies in Reducing Market Vulnerability in Kantin Kwari Market, Kano, Nigeria

Flooding is a persistent challenge in urban centres, particularly in Kano, Nigeria, where Kantin Kwari Market, West Africa’s largest textile hub, faces recurring flood-related disruptions. This study evaluates the effectiveness of flood management and mitigation strategies in reducing the market’s vulnerability. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 150 traders through surveys and 10 urban planners through in-depth interviews, supplemented with secondary datasets from NiMet, NIHSA, and NEMA covering flood events from 2010 to 2023. Findings reveal that 85% of traders suffer financial losses during floods, consistent with NEMA’s (2022) estimate of ₦2.1 billion cumulative flood damage across Kano markets between 2015 and 2022. The average reported loss per trader per flood event was ₦501,012.76 Furthermore, only 40% of the market is served by functional drainage, while 72% of traders lack insurance coverage, reflecting NAICOM’s (2023) data on low national micro-insurance penetration rates. A Vulnerability Index score of 0.47, benchmarked against similar markets in Lagos (0.52–0.68), highlights Kantin Kwari’s moderate yet rising vulnerability. These findings underscore the urgent need for drainage system upgrades, stricter enforcement of policies, and expanded micro-insurance coverage. This study offers a framework for urban market resilience through integrated drainage and insurance reforms.