Assessing the Role of Ecowas in Addressing Disaster Risk Among Member States: A Case Study of Nigeria
Abstract
Disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impact, which exceeds the ability of the affected or society to cope using its own resources. Globally, African countries are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters with West Africa ditto Nigeria, having increasing numbers of people over the years faced with disaster risks associated with drought, desertification, floods, the spread of disease, desert locust plagues, food insecurity, coastal erosion, volcanic eruptions, technological accidents, including transport and industrial accidents. ECOWAS, however developed a regional disaster risk management strategy for its member countries and the strategy was reviewed and a roadmap was developed for its finalization. Thus, the 1st ECOWAS Hydromet Forum and Disaster Risk Reduction Platform was held in September 2018 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and this created a platform for more than 230 participants from West Africa and global partners to discuss status, challenges and opportunities of the hydromet and early warning signs in the region. In Nigeria, Emergency management agencies play a critical role in mitigating and responding to these disasters. Therefore, the National emergency management agency , which is responsible for managing disaster emergency situations in Nigeria needs to be more effective. However, the effectiveness of these agencies largely depends on the synergy between partners such as Economic Community of West Africa among others. This study therefore, assesses the role of ECOWAS in addressing disaster risk among member states with Nigeria as a case study and concluded that there is absolute need for synergy and symbiotic relationship between ECOWAS and Nigeria if any meaningful progress would be made with emphasis on mitigation of disaster in the country. The study therefore suggested that partnership should be the path way and t
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