Institutional Approach to Flood Disaster Management in Nigeria: Need for a Preparedness Plan

Abstract

The failure of the country’s intervention strategies to satisfactorily ameliorate the sufferings of flood victims and speed-up the recovery processes justify the need for the adoption of a more efficient and innovative response plan to tackle flood emergency conditions in Nigeria. Going through the history of institutional response arrangements during flood episodes, this paper discovered the absence of well-articulated, organized institutional structure to co-ordinate response activities during emergency conditions. Existing response procedures were found to be adhoc, ineffective and poorly coordinated notwithstanding the plethora of agencies involved. Lagos state government has, however, developed a preparedness plan which is currently assisting all stakeholders, including those living in flood-prone areas, to anticipate/ implement recovery measures speedily in order to reduce flood damage potentials. Using the Lagos model as a case study, the paper appreciates the value of a preparedness plan and highlights its centrality in flood disaster management. Based on the positive effects of the Lagos model, the paper suggests that the federal and other state governments in Nigeria to follow the footsteps of Lagos state government by developing similar flood disaster management preparedness plans. This will enhance their ability to develop and speedily implement effective response and recovery measures.