DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN SECURITY IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Research Problem: Flood disasters have become increasingly frequent and devastating in Kaduna State between 2020 and 2024, exposing deep weaknesses in local governance and threatening the human-security foundations of affected communities. These floods disrupt livelihoods, erode public trust, and create socio-economic insecurities that intersect with broader questions of safety and development. Methods/Theory: The study adopts a qualitative descriptive design guided by the Human Security Framework (UNDP, 1994). It relies on secondary data from Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), NEMA, and international development reports. Content analysis and comparative assessment were used to evaluate institutional effectiveness and community resilience. Results Findings indicate that recurring floods persist because of weak inter-agency coordination, inadequate early-warning mechanisms, insufficient funding, and limited community preparedness. Conclusion These challenges magnify economic, food, health, and environmental insecurities, undermining citizens’ dignity and safety. Integrating human-security principles into state disaster governance improves resilience and policy accountability. Key Contribution to Knowledge: This paper extends the Human Security framework to sub-national disaster governance in Nigeria. It shows how local institutional performance directly shapes human security outcomes and provides a model for embedding human-centric thinking within disaster-risk-reduction practice. Recommendation The study recommends stronger institutional funding for KADSEMA, integrated early-warning systems, community-based preparedness networks, and continuous human-security monitoring to guide state and national policies.