@article{CRSIJ26000347,
                  author = {Ibrahim, Muhammad Tauheed, Daniel Adamu},
                  title = {Disaster Risk Reduction through Community Participation: Enhancing Fire Prevention, Preparedness, and Emergency Response in Abuja, Nigeria},
                  journal = {Cosmo Research and Science International Journal},
                  year = {2025},
                  volume = {2},
                  number = {2},
                  pages = {71-85},
                  issn = {3108-1584},
                  url = {https://cosmorsij.com/published/CRSIJ26000347.pdf},
                  abstract = {Fire disasters remain a major urban hazard, causing significant loss of lives, property, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure, particularly in rapidly urbanising cities of developing countries. While advances in fire fighting technology and institutional response have improved emergency management, sustainable disaster risk reduction increasingly depends on active community participation in prevention, preparedness, and emergency response. This study examined the contribution of community participation to fire disaster risk reduction in Abuja, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the level of community awareness, identified socioeconomic factors influencing participation, and evaluated the effectiveness of existing fire risk reduction strategies. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative data. Primary data were collected from 400 respondents through stratified random sampling, complemented by key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings indicate that although awareness of fire safety initiatives is relatively moderate, participation in fire prevention, preparedness programmes, and community fire safety activities remains low. Educational attainment, household income, access to fire safety information, institutional trust, and previous fire experience significantly influenced participation. The study further found that current fire risk reduction efforts remain largely institutional and enforcement-driven, with limited community ownership and collaborative decision-making. It concludes that strengthening urban resilience requires a shift from reactive fire suppression to participatory disaster risk governance based on community empowerment. The study recommends institutionalising community fire safety committees, expanding public education, strengthening partnerships between emergency agencies and communities, and promoting inclusive disaster governance in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030). These findings contribute to the growing evidence supporting community-centred approaches to sustainable urban disaster risk reduction.},
                  keywords = {Disaster Risk Reduction, Community Participation, Fire Prevention, Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Response, Urban Resilience, Fire Safety, Abuja},
                  month = {September}
        }