Adaptive capacity and coping response strategies to natural disasters: A study in Nigeria

Much of the strategies employed in managing natural disasters in Nigeria have been reactive, while efforts at embracing preparedness have been lean. Evidence from literature as well as global experiences however shows that factors which increase adaptive capacity to disasters are ex-ante risk reducing strategies. In this light, the study focuses on factors influencing adaptive capacity of households and individuals and describes level of preparedness to natural disaster occurrences. A sample of 1116 individuals was obtained from six states spread across the geopolitical zones of Nigeria for a questionnaire survey. With the use of a binary logit model, we attempt to explain the severity or non-severity of the negative effects of natural disaster outcomes using adaptive capacity/vulnerability variables. The results show that households making use of unapproved dump sites for solid waste disposal, those with inferior roof construction materials, and those located in the rural areas were more likely to experience increased severe negative effects from natural disaster occurrences. Moreover, factors such as a lack of personal savings, agriculture based livelihoods and a single income source increased the odds of experiencing severe negative effects from natural disasters for individuals. We also discuss coping strategies adopted by individuals and households in the aftermath of natural disasters. Much of these represent informal mechanisms and we find that some of these strategies may not be entirely beneficial to individuals and households in the long run.