THE UNNATURAL HISTORY OF NATURAL DISASTER IN NIGERIA.

THE UNNATURAL HISTORY OF NATURAL DISASTER IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

Nigeria is located between 4°N and 14°N of the equator. The western frontiers run from 3°E and the eastern reaches nearly 15°E of the meridian. It is bounded by Cameroon to the east, Chad to the northeast, Niger to the north, Benin to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Nigeria has a federal form of government and is divided into 36 states and a federal capital territory. Nigeria has a population of over 120 million and covers an area of 923,768 sq km. At it widest, it measures about 1,200 km from east to west and about 1,050 km from north to south. The country’s topography ranges from lowland along the coast and in the lower Niger Valley to high plateaus in the north and mountains along the eastern border.   Nigerians suffer significantly from various types of disasters. Disasters such as floods, landslides, tidal waves, coastal erosion, sand-storms, dust-storms, locust/insect infestations, oil spillage and other man-made disasters have claimed many lives in Nigeria and rendered many homeless. In general, Nigeria has a relatively weak economy with an under protected and expansive environment.  The contribution of these characteristics makes Nigeria’s environment especially vulnerable.

Disaster is an