Abstract

Flooding has emerged as a persistent environmental challenge in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, driven by rapid urban expansion, land-use transformation and alterations in natural drainage systems. This study assesses the spatial pattern, magnitude and distribution of flood impact in Nsukka using an integrated Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems approach. Seven conditioning factors comprising elevation, slope, drainage density, flow accumulation, land use and land cover, the Normalized Difference Water Index and the Topographic Wetness Index were generated and analyzed within a multi-criteria evaluation framework. Each factor was reclassified and weighted using the Analytical Hierarchical Process supported by consistency assessment to determine its relative influence on flood susceptibility. The weighted overlay procedure produced a flood-hazard map delineating five classes of vulnerability. The spatial results reveal that moderate hazard zones dominate the landscape, while high and very high hazard zones occur mainly within low-lying and densely settled areas characterized by gentle slopes, high runoff concentration and extensive surface exposure. The study demonstrates that terrain configuration and anthropogenic land-surface modification remain the strongest drivers of flood impact in Nsukka. The findings provide a scientifically grounded basis for flood-risk mitigation, land-use regulation and developmental planning across the LGA.