Assessing the Impact of Seasonal Flooding on Fleet Transport Disruption and Road Infrastructure Damage in Orashi Region, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Seasonal flooding in the Orashi Region of Rivers State, Nigeria, poses persistent challenges to transport networks, road infrastructure, and local livelihoods, yet the scale and specific impacts on affected stakeholders remain poorly documented. Recurrent overflow of the Orashi River, combined with inadequate drainage systems, frequently submerges roads, isolates communities, and disrupts daily economic activities, highlighting an urgent need for empirical assessment of these impacts. This study investigated the effects of seasonal flooding on transport operations, road conditions, and community well-being in the region. A structured survey was administered to a diverse sample of stakeholders, including fleet operators (50.0%), commuters/passengers (42.9%), local residents (28.6%), and officials/local leaders (10%). The majority of respondents were aged 20–39 years (especially 30–39 at 44.3%), representing economically active adults most vulnerable to flooding-related disruptions. Findings indicate that inadequate drainage and river overflow significantly disrupt fleet operations and accelerate road degradation through erosion, potholes, and washouts. Travel delays, economic losses, and safety hazards were commonly reported, with many respondents residing or operating within 2 km of flood-prone roads and 42.9% using affected routes daily. Road damage was predominantly critical (30.0%) or severe (41.4%), while moderate to severe erosion was reported by 64.3% of participants, reflecting widespread deterioration of transport corridors. Mean Likert scores further revealed high perceptions of flood frequency (overall 4.35) and associated impacts, with fleet operators reporting the highest severity for travel delays and the need for improved drainage. Correlation analyses demonstrated very strong positive relationships (r = 0.894–0.975, p ≤ 0.041) between flood frequency and all measured impacts, including mobility disruption, economic loss, safety risks, and demand for drainage improvements. These results confirm that recurrent flooding is a primary driver of cascading negative effects on transport networks, livelihoods, and community well-being. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted flood mitigation strategies, resilient road design, and systematic drainage maintenance to enhance transport reliability, safeguard livelihoods, and improve resilience in flood-prone riverine areas of the Niger Delta.