Al-Hikmah University Journal

Environmentally induced disasters are spatially and temporally bound in any part of the world and especially in Nigeria. There has been an increase in the occurrence and prevalence of environmental disaster in Kogi State which has led to displacement and impacted negatively on victims’ livelihood of the inhabitant of the study area. Unfortunately, many of the inhabitant of the study area do not have access to firsthand Information about the spatial, temporal and resultant effect of the environmentally induced disaster occurrences in their vicinity and as a result, they lack the prevention and preparedness information in mitigating the effect of these disaster at the time of occurrence. This paper examines victims’ awareness and perception to environmental disaster in Kogi State. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select a total of 450 disaster victims. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the disaster victims. Also, focus group discussion (FGD) was used to support information extracted from the questionnaire. The finding show variation in each of the communities’ vulnerability, occurrence of disaster, risk preparedness socio-economic status as well as past experiences of disaster victims has great implication on their level of awareness and perception.  The study therefore suggests among other recommendation that increased public awareness, integration of risk assessment and preparedness orientation for the community to enhance better understanding and attitudinal change will influence the community perception of vulnerability in the study area. The achievement of this will bring about reduction in loss of lives, livelihoods and properties as well as total safeguarding of the environment.