International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management
Quarterly Publication

Attenuating the volume of storm runoff flow through sustainable practices: A potential solution for flood-prone areas

https://doi.org/10.22034/IJHCUM.2026.02.12
Volume 11, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 417-434
International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management

Document Type : REVIEW PAPER

Authors

G. U. Fayomi 1
E. K. Onyari 1
S. R. Funsho 2
F. J. Odekunle 2

1 Civil and Environmental Engineering and Building Science, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa

2 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Nigeria

Abstract
Floods in urban areas remain a critical threat to human life, health, and economic stability. This study focused on Nigeria's urban flooding, which has become a yearly occurrence. Recently, floods have been deepened by the climate change situation, urban planning lapses, and overwhelmed drainage infrastructures. Other factors intensifying urban flooding in Nigeria include rapid urbanization, choking off the natural spaces and vegetation with impervious surfaces, and accelerating stormwater runoff. The Nigerian government has implemented various flood risk management strategies, including the National Disaster Response Plan and flood control measures such as flood warning, preparedness, and responses. However, studies from the literature confirmed the insufficient understanding of flood events, such as the driving variables and uncertainties about watershed characteristics and climatic variability that impede flood risk management and prediction skills. Therefore, more proactive, sustainable strategies to handle floods are desperately needed in light of the numerous recent climate and flooding-related calamities ravaging the low-lying regions. Similarly, there is a paucity of empirical research on sustainable solutions for attenuating the volume of runoff that is seemingly resulting in flooding. This review fills this gap in the literature. More so, aligning with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable flood risk solutions touch on several SDGs, targeting all sustainable practices, resilient infrastructure, water management, sustainable cities and communities, and the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. This review equally focuses on harnessing the potential embedded in the sustainable practices that can fit into other purposes.

Keywords

Sustainability
flooding
storm water runoff
SDGs target
Subjects

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  • Receive Date 17 April 2025
  • Revise Date 24 June 2025
  • Accept Date 23 September 2025

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