Disaster, Displacement, and Threats to the Eco-System: A Consideration of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), 2006 – 2020

Abstract

Despite the establishment of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) in 2006, disaster and emergency management still poses a significant challenge in Benue State. Indeed, disasters, either natural or man-made, are a global issue, posing a serious threat to the environment and causing loss of lives and damage to livelihoods. Over time, Benue State and Nigeria in general have been affected by natural and human-caused disasters such as fire outbreaks, flooding, and farmer-herder crises, amongst others. This has led the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to classify Nigeria’s North-Central and North-East regions as areas with high rates of internally displaced persons (IDPs), a worrisome situation. This study, therefore, interrogated the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) in relation to disaster and emergency management in Benue State between 2006 and 2020. A combination of primary, secondary, and multidisciplinary instruments was adopted as data collection methods, while historical methodology served as the core analytical approach. The theoretical foundation of the study is grounded in two theories: emergency management theory and goal theory. The study observed that disasters in Benue State have affected residents through social imbalance, displacement, economic stagnation, and ecosystem disruption. These outcomes stem from insufficient funding for BSEMA, mismanagement of the meagre available resources allocated to the agency, or a combination of both constraints. The research therefore recommends more robust collaboration between state emergency management institutions such as BSEMA and private-sector institutions to facilitate efficient disaster management within the state.