Application of Risk Assessment Techniques in Urban Planning for Flood Management in Lokoja

Flood risk assessment methodologies are increasingly recognized as essential professional tools for urban planners managing development in flood-vulnerable cities. This study examines the application of risk assessment techniques to urban flood management planning in Lokoja, Kogi State, a city situated at the confluence of Nigeria's two major rivers and highly exposed to seasonal and extreme flood events. A professional application design was employed, reviewing existing flood risk assessments, urban development plans, and post-disaster needs assessments produced for Lokoja from 2018 to 2023. Technical interviews were conducted with 10 planning professionals, hydrological engineers, and emergency management officers with expertise in Lokoja's flood management context. The study evaluates the integration of probabilistic flood risk modelling outputs into planning decision-making processes and examines the technical and institutional barriers preventing more effective risk-informed planning. Findings are expected to reveal that while some flood mapping exercises have been conducted, the outputs are rarely integrated into day-to-day planning permit decisions, and that planning officers lack training in interpreting and applying probabilistic risk assessment tools. Recommendations propose mandatory flood risk assessment requirements for all development applications in identified flood-risk areas, training programs for Kogi State planning officers in risk assessment tools, revision of Lokoja's Master Plan to incorporate risk-based zoning categories, and establishment of a formal data-sharing protocol between hydrological agencies and urban planning authorities. Keywords: Flood risk assessment, Urban planning, Lokoja, Risk management, Flood management.