Housing Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies in Coastal Communities of the Niger Delta

This study assessed housing vulnerability and adaptation strategies in coastal communities of the Niger Delta, Nigeria, with the aim of proposing sustainable housing resilience measures. Coastal settlements in the region are increasingly exposed to environmental hazards such as flooding, coastal erosion, sea-level rise, tidal surges, and wetland instability, which threaten the safety and durability of residential buildings. In addition to these physical hazards, socio-economic challenges including poverty, rapid urbanization, informal settlements, inadequate infrastructure, oil pollution, and weak institutional responses further intensify housing insecurity. A descriptive cross-sectional mixed-methods case study design was adopted. Selected communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States served as the study area. Data were obtained mainly from secondary sources such as journals, government reports, flood records, satellite maps, textbooks, and related academic materials. Findings revealed that many houses in the Niger Delta are constructed with vulnerable local materials such as timber, bamboo, and mud, making them highly susceptible to flood damage, structural failure, and displacement. The study also found that residents rely heavily on indigenous coping strategies including bamboo stilts, floating houses, chicoco mud embankments, wooden footbridges, and temporary relocation during flood events. While these strategies demonstrate local resilience and innovation, they remain largely temporary and insufficient against increasing climate-related risks. The study concluded that housing vulnerability in the Niger Delta results from the interaction of environmental, economic, and institutional factors. Sustainable solutions therefore require an integrated approach that combines climate-responsive housing design, improved infrastructure, poverty reduction, stronger planning institutions, environmental protection, and the modernization of indigenous building practices. The study recommends inclusive policies and resilient housing programs that actively involve local communities in planning and implementation.