Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 12, No. 2, 2014
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/4102.21.0240
Social and Climatic Vulnerabilities in Nigeria
O.O. Omololu
Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan
Abstract
The definition of vulnerability shifts across disciplines and research areas. It is used to describe anything from risk. which is the probability of an event occurring, to serving as a proxy for socioeconomic status. It defines which populations or areas are more likely than others to suffer negative consequences of climate-related and other social and environment related phenomena. While considerable research attention has examined components of biophysical vulnerability and the vulnerability of the built environment, current effort examined social and climatic aspects 0f vulnerability vis-a-vis Nigerian government’s ability or inability to prepare for or recover from social problems and natural extremes. This article is produced from archival research, examining notable social and climatic extremes in the country such as ethnic disturbances. terrorism, Biafran civil war, the Niger Delta Crisis to unearth governmental actions and inactions in the management of crises and disasters in the country. The point of departure is that Nigeria as a corporate entity is not sensitive enough nor possesses adequate willingness to prepare for; cope with and recover from those crises and disasters that have taken place over the years despite the availability of initial indicators and warnings about such events.
Keywords: Political will, social, climatic, vulnerability, crises, disasters