Examining the Role of Transport in Humanitarian Logistics During Flood Emergencies in Jigawa State

Effective transport management is a critical enabler of humanitarian logistics during natural disaster emergencies, determining the speed and reach of relief distribution. This study examines the role of transport systems in humanitarian logistics operations during flood emergencies in Jigawa State, one of Nigeria's most flood-vulnerable states in the North West zone. A professional applied research design was employed, analysing three major flood events between 2021 and 2024 using data from the National Emergency Management Agency Jigawa office, the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, and field interviews with 30 humanitarian logistics coordinators and community emergency response volunteers. The study evaluates pre-positioning of relief supplies, vehicle availability and fleet mobilisation times, route planning under flood conditions, and coordination between government and non-governmental organisations. Findings reveal persistent logistical bottlenecks during emergency response operations, including inadequate pre-positioned vehicle assets, poor road access to flood-affected communities due to damaged infrastructure, and fragmented coordination among responding agencies. The absence of a dedicated emergency transport logistics plan is identified as a systemic gap. The study recommends the development of a state-level humanitarian transport logistics plan, the pre-designation of alternative emergency routes, the pre-positioning of boat and all-terrain vehicle assets in flood-prone local government areas, and a joint logistics coordination platform for all emergency response stakeholders. These findings are directly applicable to emergency transport management across Northern Nigeria. Keywords: humanitarian logistics, flood emergency, Jigawa State, transport management, disaster response.