Abstract
Seasonal River flooding is a recurrent environmental challenge in the Niger Delta region, causing widespread socio-economic disruptions and threatening livelihoods, particularly in rural communities dependent on agriculture and fishing. This study aimed to assess the socio-economic impacts of seasonal river flooding, identify the key factors contributing to community vulnerability, evaluate coping strategies and adaptive measures and examine the alignment of flood management practices with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Rivers and Bayelsa States, Nigeria. Using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, 387 respondents were selected through stratified random sampling across the eight LGAs. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize socio-economic impacts, vulnerability factors, coping strategies, and SDG alignment. Hypotheses were tested using ANOVA at a 0.05 significance level, with all null hypotheses rejected, confirming the statistical significance of observed relationships. The results revealed that flooding significantly disrupts livelihoods, farming is heavily affected, income losses and damage to fishing equipment. Also, displacement, health risks, and destruction of homes and infrastructure were widely reported. However, the study recommends the implementation of flood-resilient infrastructure, livelihood diversification programs, community-based early warning systems, environmental conservation initiatives, and the integration of GIS-based flood risk assessments into regional disaster management planning to enhance resilience and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.