Current Research on Geography, Earth Science and Environment Vol. 4

The worldwide population is fast urbanising, with towns undergoing extraordinary growth. Gombe Metropolis, one of Nigeria’s major urban centres, has been meaningly affected by the adverse impacts of persistent annual flooding, leading to prevalent environmental issues and damage to urban societies. Rapid urban development in the city, motivated by the conversion of vegetated areas, open spaces, farmlands, and bare lands into built-up environments, has increased the city’s annual flood risk. Notwithstanding numerous interventions by the government, communities and private efforts to control and mitigate the urban flooding have not been effective. Hence, this study examines the urban development variables contributing to the growing flood risk and frequency in Gombe Metropolis. Data were basically collected through field surveys, including questionnaire administration, and analysed using correlation and regression techniques. Spearman’s Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression models were used to establish statistical relationships between flood risk and independent variables of the urban development, and these include social vulnerability, geographical characteristics, and urban development factors. The findings expose that rapid and unplanned urban development dynamics are the prime drivers of cyclical flooding and the heightened flood risk in Gombe Metropolis. Significant factors prompting flood occurrence include inadequate flood control measures, insufficient and poor drainage systems, failure to obtain building plan approvals, substandard housing structures, and poor solid waste management practices.