Disaster refers to an emergency arising from either natural phenomena or human activities, causing substantial upheaval within a short timeframe. Examples include casualties, displacement, illness, agricultural losses, infrastructure damage, depletion of resources, weakened institutions, and disruption of societal functions. A comprehensive definition acknowledges their sudden, unforeseen nature, often accompanied by significant human suffering, societal distress, and temporary breakdown of essential services. Such events inflict substantial material harm and disrupt the normal operations of economies and societies.
The severity of disasters often stems from a combination of natural hazards and human factors, such as poverty, inadequate housing, lack of disaster preparedness, deficient infrastructure, which exacerbate events like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions. Large-scale evacuations are hindered by insufficient infrastructure or cultural barriers. Despite nations being aware of potential disaster scenarios, their occurrence and impact are typically sudden, unpredictable, and widespread, resulting in physical damage, loss of life, disability, displacement, and socio-economic disruption.
Disaster specialists focus on assessing both the vulnerability of populations to disasters, including their exposure and coping mechanisms, and the vulnerability of critical institutions and systems like power and water supplies, hospitals, and emergency response networks.
Over the past few decades, hazards like earthquakes, droughts, floods, storms, fires, and volcanic eruptions have caused significant loss of life, livelihoods, infrastructure, and environmental damage, posing threats to sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts. These disasters, often exacerbated by human activities or technology, can set back urban development by years, destroying infrastructure, housing, and causing widespread casualties.
Developing nations, in particular, face significant risks of devastation, including loss of life and property, stemming from both natural and human-induced disasters. This heightened risk can be attributed to socio-economic strain, aging and inadequate infrastructure, insufficient education and preparedness for disasters, and a lack of fiscal and economic resources to effectively implement emergency management measures.
The prevalence of disasters poses a clear obstacle to development, primarily because certain natural events, especially those of hydro-meteorological, geological, and vulcanological origins, disproportionately affect developing countries compared to their developed counterparts. Additionally, factors associated with low levels of development exacerbate the impacts of these events, further hindering long-term development prospects.
The increasing frequency of disasters in Nigeria has significant implications for national sustainability. Regardless of their causes, disasters result in various adverse effects such as loss of life, income, homes, farmlands, social connections, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
The rapid urbanization and expansion of urban-industrial activities in developing-country cities exacerbate environmental strains and increase the vulnerability of urban populations to natural, technological, and other human-induced disasters. The push for more urban space often forces the poor into marginal and environmentally vulnerable areas. Factors like overcrowding, poverty, unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure further weaken urban resilience to natural hazards.
Considering the long-term repercussions, disasters significantly impede a country’s development prospects. This underscores the importance of investing resources in preventing and mitigating the impact of natural phenomena, which yields high returns economically, socially, and politically in alignment with long-term growth objectives. Moreover, post-disaster spending and decisions should aim to reduce vulnerability through a combined approach of reconstruction and transformation, progressively improving resilience and future development prospects.
Institutional Framework for Disaster Management in Nigeria
Several intrinsic factors within a nation, society, or economy play an important role in determining the efforts required to address emergencies, carry out reconstruction, and ultimately overcome the aftermath of a disaster. These factors include the size of the affected economy, the scale and severity of the event, and the prevailing economic and socio-political conditions within the country at the time. In response to the increasing frequency of disasters, the Nigerian Federal Government established the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) through Decree No. 12 of 1999, modeled after the USNEMA law. However, NEMA’s effectiveness has been hindered by various challenges such as inadequate funding and equipment, limited executive capacity, and lack of decentralization.
Although the legislation empowers NEMA to coordinate, liaise, monitor, and collect information, the agency’s Director-General highlighted that it bears responsibility for managing any emergency, regardless of its scale. The situation is particularly concerning for Nigeria due to predictions from global climate models indicating rising sea levels, exacerbating risks for coastal areas where vital oil and gas installations, industrial plants, and densely populated cities like Lagos, Port-Harcourt, and Warri are located. Nigeria faces additional challenges from tropical storm surges, coastal erosion, and seasonal flooding, particularly during the rainy season.
Despite Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) and recognition of its vulnerability to climate change, there remains a need to enhance local awareness, knowledge, and expertise in this regard. While NEMA faces structural limitations, the situation is even worse at the state and local levels, where fully equipped emergency management agencies, as mandated by the 1999 NEMA Decree, have not been established.
Although a National Disaster Response Plan was developed three years ago, it has yet to be implemented. The utilization of data gathered by Nigeriasat-1 satellite on environmental conditions and resources holds promise for participatory and sustainable environmental emergency management. Despite commendable government initiatives, a comprehensive assessment of the framework, relationships, logistics, and public awareness and engagement in disaster prevention and management is crucial.
Disasters Occurrence in Nigeria in the Last Ten Years
- Flooding: Intense flooding occurred in 13 Nigerian states between August and October 2022, triggered by the opening of Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam. Identified states at risk include Kogi, Benue, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe. Over 600 deaths and 4.4 million were affected by the floods.
- Fire Incident: On 16 January 2024, Fire Guts Mosque In Ilorin and rendered at least 120 People homeless. On 29 December 2023, fire destroyed N273 Million properties in Zamfara.in the past 5 years, over a 100 cases of fire outbreak has occurred destroying lives and properties.
- Industrial/Technological Accidents: In November 2019, a factory worker at landcraft Industry Nigeria Limited in Lagos State, died from injuries sustained in an industrial accident at the Odogunyan Industrial Estate; he fell into a melting pot while operating a company machine, leading to his immediate death, as confirmed by Bala Elkana, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer.
- Several incidents of urban violence occurring frequently in major urban centers, claiming hundreds of lives and property.
- There have been instances of oil and gas explosions occurring when individuals were collecting oil from a train derailment, and this has been a recurring occurrence.
Disaster Management in Nigeria: The Challenges Ahead
Establishing a Disaster Management Information System (DMIS) is essential, which involves creating a template covering seven key areas.
- A comprehensive database is needed to catalog resources, skills, and services necessary for rapid relief efforts, including safety equipment and other essential items.
- Addressing logistics challenges requires organizing a reliable supply chain for tracking and distributing relief materials.
- Addressing technological requirements, such as building structures and implementing rescue practices, is crucial.
- Leveraging community self-help experiences entails compiling a database of volunteers available for immediate deployment.
- Ensuring effective communication infrastructure, including radio networks and helplines, is vital.
- Conducting emergency preparedness drills is necessary to keep society informed and prepared, especially in vulnerable areas.
- Forecasting potential disasters whenever feasible is imperative.
Conclusion
Sustainable disaster risk reduction in Nigeria necessitates a multifaceted approach encompassing proactive measures, institutional strengthening, and community engagement. Addressing socio-economic disparities, bolstering infrastructure resilience, and enhancing disaster preparedness are paramount. Despite challenges, concerted efforts at all levels can mitigate the impact of disasters, fostering long-term sustainability and resilience.
