Sustainable Flood Management Framework for Effective Flood Management in Delta State

Flooding poses persistent risks to human settlements, infrastructure and livelihoods in Delta State, Nigeria, necessitating an integrated approach to flood prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. This study developed a proposed Sustainable Flood Management Framework for Effective Flood Management in Delta State. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, combining questionnaire surveys, semi-structured interviews and a review of relevant policies, official reports and published studies. A total of 617 questionnaires were distributed to building professionals, flood management officials and residents, and 580 valid responses were retrieved, representing a response rate of 94.0%. The respondents comprised 181 building professionals, 37 flood management officials and 362 residents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were examined thematically. The findings indicated strong support for the proposed measures, with mean ratings above 4.00 across all 11 items. Sustainable funding and resource allocation received the highest grand mean (4.57), followed by the integration of structural and non-structural measures and the use of research and modern technology, each with a mean of 4.50. Early-warning systems and disaster preparedness recorded a mean of 4.43, while community participation and intergovernmental coordination each recorded 4.40. Effective enforcement of environmental laws and land-use regulations received the lowest mean (4.20), although it remained highly rated. Based on the findings, the proposed framework integrates flood-risk identification and assessment, structural and non-structural interventions, institutional coordination, community preparedness, sustainable financing, and post-flood recovery. The study provides a context-specific basis for coordinating flood-management interventions in Delta State. However, the framework remains unvalidated and requires further stakeholder assessment and empirical testing before its effectiveness can be established.