The Role of Community-Based Planning in Disaster Risk Management in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria: Implications for Guidance

Abstract

Disaster risks are increasing in urban areas due to rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, climate variability, and inadequate disaster preparedness mechanisms. This study examined the role of community-based planning in disaster risk management in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria, with implications for guidance in promoting effective disaster preparedness and community resilience. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised secondary school students in the FCT, Abuja, while a sample of 206 respondents was selected through stratified and random sampling techniques based on gender and location. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled Community-Based Planning on Disaster Management Questionnaire (CBPDM-Q). The instrument was validated by experts and yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.89 using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, and independent samples t-test at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that flooding, erosion, fire outbreaks, building collapse, and disease outbreaks were major disaster risks affecting communities in the FCT, Abuja. The study also found that community based planning enhances disaster risk management through improved preparedness, risk awareness, integration of local knowledge, social cohesion, capacity building, and stronger collaboration between communities and disaster management institutions. Furthermore, the results showed no significant difference in respondents’ perceptions of disaster risks based on gender and location. The study concluded that community-based planning is a vital strategy for strengthening disaster resilience and promoting sustainable disaster risk management in the FCT, Abuja. It was recommended that disaster management agencies integrate community participation into policy frameworks, strengthen risk communication, provide capacity building programmes, and establish effective collaboration between communities and formal disaster management institutions.