Role of Governmental and Non-Governmental Agencies towards Disaster Risk Reduction in Rivers State, Nigeria

Globally, the impact of disasters has risen rapidly over recent decades affecting almost all sectors and rich countries and poor countries alike. Several hundred million people are affected annually and losses reached a record US$ 371 billion in 2011(Annual Disaster Statistical Review, 2012). This figure may underreport the true losses by 50% or more. It does not incorporate knock-on impacts across economies and it undervalues the relative economic impacts on individual and particularly poor households. In some regions numerous smaller-scale and unreported events are a major source of aggregate loss, especially in developing countries and poor communities. A particular concern is that disaster-damaged livelihoods and economies can set the preconditions for further rounds of excessive exposure, susceptibility and loss, blocked escapes from poverty and negative spirals of development failure. This may occur at any level, from household to state (Annual Disaster Statistical Review, 2012). Abstract: This study looked at the role of governmental and non-governmental agencies towards disaster risk reduction in Rivers State, Nigeria with the view to ascertain if disaster Risk Reduction activities have contributed to meaningful development in the study area.Data for the study was collected through questionnaire survey and interviews while population for the study was 715 respondents which included (youths, women and men) from selected communities in Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGAs of Rivers State, Nigeria. Given the nature of the research and efficacy of the study, five officials from Total E&P Emergency Response Team and Shell Emergency Response Team who are under non-governmental Agencies were interviewed while officials from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Rivers State Ministry of Special Duties representing the governmental Agencies were also interviewed. Results of the study shows that the most prevalent disasters in the study areaare flooding (AWELGA) and Oil spillage (ONELGA). Majority of the respondents from the Agencies that carry out DRR activities and those residing in the communities where DRR is being carried out in both local government areas had their opinion that DRR activities have led to a remarkable sustainable development. The results further revealed that, adequate funding, partnership, training and retraining of staff are the major factors that have led to the success of DRR activities and sustainable development with adequate funding taking topmost priority. It was recommended that officials of governmental and non-governmental Agencies involved in DRR activities should be well trained in line with global standard; the administration of DRR policies should be better supported financially for effective monitoring and enforcement of DRR laws. The study concluded that DRR policies should embrace inputs from indigenous people in terms of participation and consultation to help in the implementation process especially in the area of monitoring for compliance. Community or public awareness campaign was strongly advocated as a means of information by the government and non-governmental Agencies to disaster prone communities while a more robust and all-inclusive partnership and collaboration with other stakeholders involved in DRR activities across the globe was suggested in order to ensure compliance with global best practices in the country.