International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Educational Research (IJMER)
From Awareness to Action: Household Earthquake Preparedness and Institutional Risk Communication in Abuja, Nigeria
E-ISSN: 6575-5565
P-ISSN: 3427-2556
DOI: https://iigdpublishers.com/article/1533
Public awareness of a hazard does not necessarily produce practical preparedness, particularly in cities where the hazard is infrequent and institutional guidance is limited. This study examines the relationship between residents’ knowledge, household preparedness actions, and perceived local-authority guidance concerning tremors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria. A mixed-methods design combined a structured questionnaire administered to 180 residents with field observations and qualitative responses. Frequencies, percentages, weighted means, action rankings, Spearman rank correlations, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were used to summarize the evidence. Although 52.8% of respondents reported knowing what to do during a tremor, only 33.3% had undertaken concrete household preparedness and 47.2% had done nothing. Perceived institutional guidance was weak: 44.4% considered guidance inadequate and only 27.8% considered it adequate. Prepared households concentrated on low-cost measures— securing furniture (35%) and identifying safe corners or exits (25%)—while structural retrofitting was reported by only 5%. The thesis reports positive correlations between awareness and specific preparedness actions (ρ = .31–.52) and between authority guidance and preparedness actions (ρ = .28–.47); non-preparation was negatively associated with awareness (ρ = −.42) and authority guidance (ρ = −.38). The findings show a pronounced awareness–action gap shaped by limited practical guidance and the cost and complexity of structural measures. Community drills, standardized household guidance, trusted multi-channel communication, and targeted support for structural safety are recommended. Because the analysis relies on cross-sectional and aggregated thesis data, the associations are interpreted as exploratory rather than causal.
Bala Liman NASIR, Jibrin Ahmed AHMED & Abdullahi SULEIMAN
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