CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction
Nigeria is highly prone to both natural and human-induced disasters, including floods, oil spills,

epidemics, building collapses, insurgencies, and communal conflicts. These events often lead to

significant loss of lives and property, displacement, and economic disruption. In managing these

challenges, the role of the media becomes indispensable. The media acts as a crucial link

between emergency management authorities and the public, especially in the dissemination of

timely and accurate information before, during, and after disasters (Adebayo & Okonkwo, 2022).

In a country like Nigeria, with over 200 million people, hundreds of ethnic groups, and varying

levels of literacy, the media serves not only as a source of information but also as a tool for

public education and behavioral change. The use of radio, television, print, and increasingly

social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter has expanded the reach and immediacy of

disaster-related communication (Nwafor & Olaniyan, 2023). These platforms have played vital

roles in alerting the public to impending dangers, reporting live developments, and providing

relief information, thereby enhancing public preparedness and response capacity (Olatunji &

Musa, 2021).

Agencies such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian

Meteorological Agency (NiMet) collaborate with traditional and new media to deliver early

warning messages and safety tips. For instance, during flood seasons, NEMA often partners with

local radio stations to issue community-based alerts in local languages (Ogundele, 2020). This

underscores the importance of the media in disaster risk reduction and public engagement.

However, challenges still hinder the optimal utilization of the media in disaster management.

These include misinformation, lack of specialized training for journalists on disaster reporting,
limited access to remote communities, and inadequate coordination between media houses and

emergency agencies (Adeyemi & Eze, 2022). Moreover, political interference and restricted

press freedom in certain emergency situations may lead to suppression of vital information,

affecting public trust and response effectiveness (Ibrahim & Umeh, 2021).

1.1 Background to the Study

one of the veritable agents of change and development in all spheres of life. It educates, informs,

persuades, mobilizes, stimulates debates, interprets and entertains the public about events

(Akinfeleye, 2019; Dwivedi & Pandey, 2020). In the recent time, disasters occurrences are one of

the events that have become a source of worry to the public. Disasters‟ scales, frequencies and

destructions are becoming alarming and threatening developmental strides recorded by nations.

Expectedly, the media has been focusing attention on these man-made and natural disasters.

Flood, the commonest and most devastating disaster, is one of them (Killenberg, 2021; Miller &

Rivera, 2019).

Media has been identified as one of the critical stakeholders in disaster management. Its contents

create awareness and educate people. These assist in building resilience, reducing disaster risks

and vulnerability. Thus, effective participation is germane to the success of disaster risk

reduction campaign. Active involvement of media is needed in the three stages of disaster

management. The stages are pre, during and after disaster (Perry and Lindell, 2019).

In the modern era, disasters, both natural and man-made have become more frequent,

unpredictable, and severe due to various factors including climate change, urbanization,

population growth, and infrastructural decay. Countries like Nigeria are increasingly vulnerable
to such events, with devastating consequences on lives, livelihoods, and national development.

From recurrent flooding in states like Lagos, Benue, and Bayelsa, to human-induced disasters

such as building collapses, market fires, and insurgency attacks, Nigeria continues to face

significant challenges in managing disasters effectively (Olanrewaju et al., 2021).

Disaster management, as defined by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

(UNDRR), involves a series of processes aimed at preparing for, mitigating, responding to, and

recovering from disaster events (UNDRR, 2020). A critical yet often underexplored pillar in this

cycle is the media. As the fourth estate of the realm, the media plays a pivotal role in disaster

management by providing timely information, influencing public perception, shaping policy

discourse, and ensuring accountability of governmental and non-governmental actors (Adeyemi

& Ogunlade, 2022).

In the Nigerian context, the media has historically functioned as a bridge between the

government and the public. During disasters, this role becomes even more pronounced. The

media disseminates warnings about impending risks, provides updates during crisis events, and

educates the population on safety precautions and available relief interventions. For instance,

during the COVID-19 pandemic, media platforms in Nigeria were instrumental in spreading

health advisories and countering misinformation (Eze et al., 2023). Similarly, during the 2022

nationwide floods, both traditional and social media platforms facilitated real-time reporting,

mobilization of aid, and community level awareness (Adelekan et al., 2022).

However, despite its central role, the Nigerian media also faces significant limitations in disaster

reporting. Challenges such as inadequate training of journalists in crisis communication, limited

access to affected areas, politicization of news content, lack of resources, and misinformation

undermine its effectiveness (Olatunji & Aransiola, 2021). Moreover, in an age where social
media platforms like Twitter (now X), Facebook, and WhatsApp are widely used, the lines

between credible news and fake information are increasingly blurred. This makes it harder for

the public to distinguish between fact-based disaster information and panic driven narratives

(Okoro & Agbo, 2021).

Government agencies such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the

Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) often rely on media platforms to communicate early

warnings and public service announcements. But the degree of synergy between these

institutions and the media varies, and sometimes communication breakdowns can delay critical

response efforts. Enhancing this collaboration is crucial to developing a robust national disaster

management strategy that integrates the media as an essential stakeholder (Ajao et al., 2020).

Given this backdrop, the role of the media in disaster management in Nigeria warrants a deeper

and more systematic exploration. This study aims to assess how the media functions in disaster

situations across the four disaster management phases: preparedness, mitigation, response, and

recovery. It will examine the effectiveness of media communication strategies, the level of public

engagement, and the collaboration between media institutions and emergency response agencies.

In doing so, it seeks to highlight best practices, identify gaps, and propose actionable

recommendations for improving disaster communication in Nigeria.

1.2 Problem Statement

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming rise in the frequency and impact of disasters

ranging from natural hazards like floods and epidemics to human-induced crises such as building

collapses, fire outbreaks, and insurgent attacks. Despite the existence of several government and

non-governmental bodies tasked with managing disasters, the gap between disaster occurrence
and effective response remains wide. A key factor contributing to this gap is poor

communication, particularly in reaching vulnerable communities with timely, clear, and

actionable information.

The media is universally acknowledged as a vital tool for information dissemination during

crises. Media platforms both traditional and digital should function as key agents in disaster risk

reduction and response by educating the public, countering misinformation, issuing warnings,

and reporting on rescue operations. However, in Nigeria, the role of the media in disaster

management remains underutilized, inconsistent, and poorly structured. While there have been

instances of effective reporting, many disasters are either underreported or sensationalized,

leading to confusion, panic, or apathy among the public (Olatunji & Aransiola, 2021; Eze et al.,

2023).

Several challenges hinder the media’s efficiency in disaster communication, including lack of

specialized training for journalists, limited access to disaster-prone areas, political interference,

insufficient collaboration with emergency agencies, and the rapid spread of fake news through

social media. These issues raise critical concerns about the preparedness and capacity of media

institutions to serve as dependable partners in Nigeria’s disaster management ecosystem.

This study is therefore necessary to explore how the media can be repositioned to play a more

strategic, proactive, and professional role in disaster management in Nigeria. It aims to highlight

strengths, expose weaknesses, and recommend improvements that can help build a more resilient

and informed society in the face of growing disaster risks.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

1.3.1 Aim
The aim of this study is to examine the role of the media in disaster management in Nigeria, with

a focus on how effectively media platforms contribute to disaster preparedness, response,

mitigation, and recovery efforts in Lagos State.

1.3.2 Objectives to the Study

The specific objectives of the study are to:

i. Examine the main Nigerian media platforms disseminate disaster-related information

before, during, and after disaster events.

ii. Evaluate the effectiveness of media communication in raising public awareness and

promoting disaster preparedness in Nigeria.

iii. Identify the challenges faced by the media in reporting and managing disaster

information.

1.4 Research Question

1. How do Nigerian media platforms disseminate information before, during, and after

disaster events?

2. To what extent has media communication been effective in raising public awareness and

promoting disaster preparedness in Nigeria?

3. What are the major challenges faced by the media in reporting and managing disaster-

related information in Nigeria?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant as it highlights the critical yet often underestimated role of the media in

disaster management in Nigeria. In an era where the frequency and severity of disasters continue
to rise, timely and accurate information dissemination has become essential for saving lives and

minimizing losses. The media, as a major communication channel, holds the potential to serve

not only as a warning system but also as an agent of public education, policy advocacy, and

community mobilization.

Firstly, the study will be beneficial to government agencies such as the National Emergency

Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), and related state-

level organizations. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of media involvement in

disaster communication, these agencies can better collaborate with media institutions to develop

effective disaster preparedness and response strategies.

Secondly, the research will be valuable to media professionals and organizations, offering

insights into how their platforms can be better leveraged during disasters. It will expose gaps in

current disaster reporting practices and encourage the development of specialized training

programs for journalists on crisis and emergency communication.

Furthermore, the study will serve as a useful resource for policymakers, providing evidence-

based recommendations that can support the formulation of guidelines and frameworks for

integrating media more strategically into national and subnational disaster management plans.

The study will also be of immense benefit to academics and researchers, as it contributes to the

growing body of knowledge on disaster risk reduction, communication studies, and media

development in Nigeria. It lays the groundwork for future studies on the interface between media

and public safety.

1.6 Scope of the Study

Nigerian context. It examines how various media platforms including print, broadcast, and

digital media contribute to the dissemination of disaster-related information across the four

phases of disaster management: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

This study focuses on Lagos State as the case location for examining the role of the media in

disaster management in Nigeria. Lagos is selected due to its status as a disaster-prone urban

center with frequent occurrences of flooding, building collapses, fire outbreaks, and epidemics.

Furthermore, as Nigeria's media hub, Lagos offers a unique opportunity to assess how national

and regional media platforms contribute to disaster awareness, preparedness, and response in

high-risk environments. The study will draw on recent disaster events in Lagos to evaluate the

effectiveness and limitations of media interventions in disaster management.

The study is limited to media institutions, journalists, disaster management agencies (such as

NEMA and NiMet), and selected members of the public who have had experience with disaster

events. The focus is on the communication roles and strategies used by the media before, during,

and after disaster events, as well as the challenges encountered in the process.

The study does not extend to the technical aspects of emergency operations, logistics, or post-

disaster reconstruction, but rather centers on information dissemination, awareness creation,

public education, and collaboration between media and emergency agencies.

Time-wise, the research will focus on disasters and media coverage within the last five years

(2019–2024), in order to ensure relevance and current data.

1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

operationally defined as used within the context of this research:

Disaster Management: A systematic process involving preparedness, response, mitigation, and

recovery aimed at minimizing the impact of disasters and restoring normalcy after a disaster

occurs.

Disaster: Any sudden or unforeseen event, whether natural (e.g., flood, epidemic) or man-made

(e.g., fire, building collapse, terrorism), that causes significant disruption to lives, property, and

the environment, requiring immediate emergency response.

Media: Refers to all forms of mass communication platforms used to disseminate information to

the public, including television, radio, newspapers, and digital platforms (e.g., websites, social

media such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.).

Mitigation: Activities or strategies designed to reduce the severity and long-term risk of

disasters, often by influencing human behavior or modifying the environment.

Preparedness: Refers to proactive efforts by government, media, and communities to plan,

educate, and organize resources in anticipation of potential disaster events. This includes issuing

early warnings and safety awareness campaigns.