Abstract
The coastal regions of Africa are prone to series of environmental disasters arising from vulnerability of climate change. The October 7th and November 3rd, 2012 coastal floods in the Niger Delta region Nigeria, provides an evidence of the persistence and inevitability of climate change vulnerability which has been an issue of global concern with potential for havoc on human existence including environmental security, displacement and their far reaching consequences. Using primary and secondary data sources, the paper foreshadows the imminent dangers of climate change vulnerability. It deployed a participatory methodology through focused group discussions (FGDs), questionnaires and oral interview guide as primary data sources. While secondary data sources included relevant authoritative reports from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), UNDP, UNEP, newspapers, magazines and documents published by governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The sampling technique was largely purposive due in part to the sensitivity of the issues investigated. Two open-ended questionnaires were used to elicit two types of information on coastal flood, environmental security and displacement within the purposively selected areas of study namely; Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States. The findings suggest that the 2012 flooding negatively affected the region with evidence of displacement, out migration, impoverishment, food production decline, etc. The paper made some policy recommendations on mitigation of climate change vulnerability. Key words: Climate change, environmental security, development, Niger Delta, Nigeria.  
Highlights
The African coastal zone consists of a narrow, low-lying coastal belt
On October 7, 2012 a flood disaster affected communities lying on the path of the River Niger and River Benue, this included the people of the Niger Delta area as the River Niger overflew and had disruptive effects on lives and properties (Figure 1)
Flood control in the region needs collaborative efforts including the cooperation of government, policy makers, international and local communities, enlightenment programmes and capacity building through environmental education involving Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), CBOs and the mass media, could reassert the level of awareness of the poor inhabitants of the coastal regions to understand the enormity of the challenges posed by climate change
Summary
The African coastal zone consists of a narrow, low-lying coastal belt. It includes the continental shelf and coasts of 32 mainland countries. We argue that climate change vulnerability remains an issue of urgent policy attention among the poor coastal regions In this context, we seek to examine the recent environmentally induced travail of the Niger Delta people namely; the October and November 2012 coastal floods. We seek to examine the recent environmentally induced travail of the Niger Delta people namely; the October and November 2012 coastal floods This is important in view of the reoccurring incidence of coastal erosion, acid rains, oil minority politics, ozone layer depletion, oil spill, environmental pollution, sea level rise and ocean surge within the volatile region. The essay argues that policy discourse to improve the lots of the poor coastal regions is important
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