Towards a More Comprehensive and Strong Disaster Management Law for Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Disaster risk and climate change are two of the greatest challenges currently facing human-kind-adversely reinforce each other. In the coming decade, climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as drought and floods. Climate change is also likely to increase people’s vulnerability to already existing hazards in Nigeria. This is largely due to: (1) socio-economic stresses; (2) ageing and inadequate physical infrastructure; (3) weak education and preparedness for disasters; (4) insufficient financial resources to carefully implement the preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery component of integrated management.In Nigeria, climatic change – and the likely increase in related hazardous event-threatens to block people’s effort to escape poverty. Any increase in the number and scale of the disasters will threaten development gains and hinder effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals.For Nigeria as a country, climatic-related risks come not only from direct exposure to natural hazard such as floods or drought, but also from the vulnerability of social and economic system to the effects of these hazards. Climatic change is expected to intensify existing problem and create new combination of risk. Giving the existing widespread poverty and dependence on the natural environment, areas of particular concern include communities with vulnerable livelihoods; food and environmental insecurity; HIV and AIDS; gender inequalities; weak security and governance; the lack of infrastructure and education; and lack of access to appropriate resources and capacities to deal with disasters.Disaster risk management requires urgent action to reduce the impacts of extreme events before during and after they occur. A holistic management approach must include technical preventive measures, especially in the areas of the infrastructure development and aspects of socio-economic development design to reduce human vulnerability to hazards, such as increased income and the diversification of livelihoods. It should also take into account indigenous knowledge at the same time, the management of climate change impacts must consider how to reduce human vulnerability to changing levels of disaster risk.Adaptation efforts must be prioritized in communities with the highest vulnerability and the greatest need for safety and resilience built. Capacity building and capacity development are among the most urgent requirements for addressing climate risk, particularly at local levels. Developing the ability of communities to understand climate risk issues, effectively use available information, develop the necessary institutions and networks, and plan and build appropriate adaptation. Community must also evaluate, and monitor these to learn from experience.Many of these disasters are of the recurring type, and hence may be predictable. As a consequence, their risks may be mitigated through advance planning and preparation, and a number of African governments are doing just that. Inspired by the Hyogo Framework for Action, the flagship global instrument in the area of disaster risk reduction, and the African Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, governments across the continent have been strengthening institutions, plans and mechanisms to increase their capacities for disaster management.In order to establish a firm foundation for these efforts, African countries like Nigeria need comprehensive and strong disaster laws. It is against this background that this paper seeks to achieve the following objectives: i. provide conceptual clarification of relevant key terms; ii. establish the nexus between disaster risk management (DRM) and sustainable development (SD); iii. review NEMA Act, 1999 in order to identify gaps; iv. examine challenges impeding DRM and future prospects in Nigeria; v. provide strategies on how to address the challenges identified and gaps found including lessons learnt from good practices on disaster management legislations; and to vi. conclude with some recommendations.