GIS-Based Vulnerability Assessment of Coastal Communities in Akwa Ibom State

Coastal communities in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria, face compounding vulnerabilities from sea level rise, coastal erosion, and flooding. This study assesses the physical and socioeconomic vulnerability of coastal communities in Ibeno, Oron, and Mbo LGAs using a GIS-based composite vulnerability index. Physical indicators including elevation, shoreline change rate, slope, coastal geomorphology, and proximity to tidal creeks are computed from digital elevation models and Sentinel-2 imagery. Socioeconomic indicators including poverty index, population density, housing quality, and access to emergency services are sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics and field surveys. Each indicator is normalised and weighted using the Coastal Vulnerability Index framework before spatial aggregation. Results classify 38 percent of mapped coastal area as highly vulnerable, particularly low-lying barrier islands and estuarine communities. The study recommends elevating coastal resilience through mangrove restoration, early warning systems, and community evacuation route planning. Keywords: coastal vulnerability, GIS, Akwa Ibom, sea level rise, community resilience