The challenges of humanitarian logistics in a developing country: a case study of Nigeria

Background: Despite the fact that most countries are prone to disaster, there are indications to show that the most vulnerable are the people living in the developing countries. The frequency and devastation resulting from such occurrence is a pointer to the fact that the provision of humanitarian logistics in the advent of natural and man-made disasters constitutes a major challenge. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to unravel some of the challenges militating against the provision of humanitarian logistics. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted an exploratory approach supported with primary data obtained from interviews with various stakeholders. This was achieved through the use of qualitative multi-method to give an in-depth understanding of the challenges confronting relief workers in developing countries using Nigeria as the case study. Findings- A number of factors militating against the provision of humanitarian logistics were identified. The most critical among them were security, infrastructure/equipment, communication, policy implementation, low- level of preparedness and disaster awareness. Research limitation/ Implications- The research could have been expanded by categorising the challenges according to the nature and types of disasters prevalent in Nigeria, but for security and financial constraints. However the research contains some perception of stakeholders on the challenges of humanitarian logistics in a less developed country. Practical Implications- The various stakeholders have to look into the possibility of adequately addressing these challenges so that the occurrence of any disaster in Nigeria does not mean more death as usual. Originality/value- Researches on Humanitarian logistics are limited and are more tailored towards disaster management without definite consideration of the humanitarian aspect. It is however relevant to ginger more awareness and collaboration among stakeholders. Further Research- Further research should focus on capacity building for reducing vulnerability and casualty rate during disaster. Keywords- Humanitarian logistics, disaster management, relief management, NEMABusiness Schoo