SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING SYSTEM: NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA AFTER TWO DECADES
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Management and Administration
Abstract
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) came into existence
in 1999, with the intention to expand the operational scope of the National
Emergency Relief Agency (NERA). The Establishment Act of NEMA,
saddled the Agency with the responsibilities of overseeing
emergency/disaster management activities in Nigeria through policy
formulation and the coordination of other agencies and stakeholders. Two
decades after its establishment, the Agency has struggled to meet its
formulation goals, as disaster management in the country is still inefficient.
This article therefore assesses NEMA using flood mitigation, preparedness,
response and recovery as cardinal variables. To achieve this objective, the
survey research designed with mixed method approach was found suitable and was adopted. To generate primary data, three States: Kogi, Bayelsa
and Oyo were purposively selective as a result of their histories/prevalence
of floods. Using the multi-stage sampling technique, one local government
each was selected from the states as samples. With the use of Taro Yamane
method, one thousand, one hundred and ninety-eight respondents were
selected for the administration of questionnaires, while in-depth interviews
and Focus Group Discussions were conducted with survivors of flood
emergencies/disasters in selected communities. Also, KIIs were conducted
with relevant NEMA officials and those of State Emergency Management
Agency in the selected States. The research found-out that the legislative
instrument that established NEMA was weak. Besides, the Agency operated
in a complex policy environment which negatively impinged its operations.
Apart from ecological variables, the Agency was plagued by poor funding,
low institutional capacity and bureaucratic corruption. Considering the
overall consequences of disasters on the Nigerian State, it was
recommended that NEMA should be repositioned to play more active roles.
Description
Staff Publication
Keywords
Public policy;, Disaster management;, Flood mitigation,, preparedness,, response and recovery.