IGBAKPA, GODWIN OYOVWIKIGHO

Flooding remains one of the most devastating environmental hazards in Nigeria, with severe impacts on lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure. Etsako West Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State is particularly vulnerable due to its low-lying terrain, proximity to rivers, and recurring seasonal rainfall. This study applied Geospatial Information System (GIS) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP) to assess and map flood vulnerability across the LGA. Key geospatial and socioenvironmental indicators including elevation, slope, land use/land cover, distance to rivers,soil type, and population density, were integrated and weighted to generate a composite Flood Vulnerability Index. The resulting map classified the area into four risk categories: very high, high, moderate, and low. Findings revealed that very high-risk zones, occupying about 22% of the land area, are concentrated in riverine communities such as Anegbette, Udaba, and Osomegbe, while high-risk areas (33%) extend across Aviele and Iyakpi. Moderate- and low-risk zones accounted for 27% and 18% respectively, with upland towns like Auchi and Jattu benefiting from higher elevation and better drainage. Notably, nearly two-thirds of the population reside within high or very high vulnerability zones, underscoring the human dimension of flood risk. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of GIS-based multi-criteria analysis for local-scale flood assessment and provides an evidence-based tool to support disaster preparedness, land-use planning, and sustainable development in Etsako West and similar flood-prone regions of Nigeria