The Global Shapers Community Ilorin Hub and Geohazard Risk Mapping Initiative (GRMI) collaborated to map two (2) Local Government Areas (LGAs) by identifying the communities in each of the LGA that might be susceptible to future floods.
The results of the analysis will help the state agencies such as the Emergency Management Agency, physical planning departments, community leaders, residents, and important stakeholders to co-create better flood preparedness, evacuation planning, and early warning communication to settlements within the inferred hazard risk zones.
It will also influence the check on areas that require quick construction of drainage channels capable of putting to check the floodwaters in areas with high and very high risk to flooding as recommended by Ilorin Global Shapers.
Based on the flood hazard maps and reports, Ilorin Global Shapers have created an 8-point action plan (A Strategic Climate Action Plan for Ilorin Communities) to help build resilience and adaptation.
What’s the problem?
Severe climate change impacts especially in the context of floods pose all sorts of challenges for educators and students. It can force schools to shut temporarily and keep kids at home (which, as we are seeing now with coronavirus-related closures, is very disruptive to learning) with 35 schools in Ilorin East local government having a very high flood risk level.
It can cause infrastructure damage, which has been happening in about 31 settlements including Apado, Onikoko II, Gaa Fulani, Akanbi 5 with a very high flood hazard zone.
The immediate impacts of flooding in these areas can also include loss of human life, damage to property, destruction of crops, loss of livestock, and deterioration of health conditions owing to waterborne diseases and can also cause some economic activities to come to a standstill, people are forced to leave their homes and normal life is disrupted. This is regarded as climate-induced loss and damage.
How does the solution address the problem?
Our solution is unique because it leverages Big Data and GIS technology to forecast the possibility of a flood happening in different communities across Ilorin. It does not just address SDG 13 but accelerates progress on other SDGs.
Against the backdrop of the foregoing, stakeholders (government, private sector, and indigenes) must exert collaborative efforts to prevent flooding in the mapped-out areas. We recognize that to fulfill our vision for a green city in Ilorin, Kwara State, a roadmap of specific actions is needed, including early “quick wins” and longer-term strategic actions.
We, Ilorin Global Shapers, recommend concentrating the initial effort on those that are simplest to execute leveraging the project management and People Private Public Partnership (PPPP) approach. Therefore, our solution is an 8-point cost-effective action plan to help the most vulnerable communities build resilience and adaptation against climate crises.