Community Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Reduction in Some Selected Communities in Minna, Niger State of Nigeria.

Abstract

A critical element of sustainable disaster management is communities’ participation in these activities, because without sustainability, disaster management efforts cannot be preserved. Unless the disaster management efforts are sustainable at individual and community level, it is difficult to reduce the losses and scale of the tragedy. However, every community irrespective of its conditions has some form of capacity, no matter how small, to reduce or avoid the risk of disaster to which they are exposed. This research is aimed at examining the capacities of communities for disaster risk reduction in Minna metropolis. Structured questionnaires were drafted and prepared for one hundred (180) residents through stratified random sampling method. Also, specific questionnaires were designed for the State Emergency Agency (NSEMA). The questionnaire administered and physical survey conducted revealed the following: Majority have not been sensitized on the implications of their daily actions such as dumping of refuse in gutters and drainage channels; Personnel of Niger State Urban Development Board and State Emergency Management Agency interviewed said they lack adequate manpower to monitor and check developments in vulnerable areas; Majority of the respondents lack the means of communicating with/to the relevant authorities; There is no disaster preparedness and planning actions in place. Based on the findings of this research work, the following recommendations were made to strengthen and coordinate the identified community based capacities amongst others: Development of Community Risk Maps and Evacuation plans by NSEMA which is critical in achieving Disaster Risk Reduction; Basic evacuation trainings on how to assist victims at times of disaster should be conducted by NSEMA and the Local Government Authority to ensure disaster preparedness; List of medical facilities and key contact people in the areas should be prepared and kept at strategic locations to ensure efficient disaster preparedness and response in the event of disaster.