Applicability of Indigenous knowledge and methods in flood risk management in a Nigerian city

This work set out to determine the effectiveness or applicability of indigenous practices in a major Nigerian city, Port Harcourt increasingly facing flooding on a yearly basis. The participants in this work who are experts in the field of Flood Risk Management employed in the public sector shared their knowledge on indigenous methods that have been historically applied in managing flooding in the locality. 

The research findings suggest that the degree of relevance of indigenous practices especially the types that have been elucidated in this work in flood risk management is influenced by urban development and growth. Indigenous knowledge has been applied for centuries in observing flood early warning signs and flood forecasting, coping and adaptation to flooding across the globe. However, based on the research findings, Indigenous knowledge and methods as was practiced in the locality would no longer contribute substantially to managing flooding in the city given the evolution of the city over the years.