USA Africa Dialogue Series - Nigeria Flooding Is A National Security Emergency; It Is Time Deploy the Army, Navy, Air Force Etc

Nigeria Flooding Is A National Security Emergency; It Is Time Deploy
the Army, Navy, Air Force Etc
Written by Paul I. Adujie Esq.


President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday October 9, 2012announced plans
by the federal government of Nigeria to respond to the current ravages
of floods throughout Nigeria.

The government has established a committee and in addition, billions
of Naira has been slated to be spent in addressing the plethora of
problems arising from this massive flooding.

Response to these floods so far is too slow and tepid at best and
nonexistent at worst!

The proper thing for the president, the federal government and all
strata of government in Nigeria to have done and should urgently
undertake, is, a public demonstration of empathy and sympathy with
millions of Nigerians who have suffered from these ongoing floods.

Secondly, the Army, Navy, the Air Force and other paramilitary assets
and coordinates, should be massively deployed to serve as relief
workforce as a matter of national priority!

It is the case that millions of Nigerians are suffering as victims of
these floods. It is also the case that there are no evacuation plans
by the various levels of government throughout Nigeria.

Nigeria's ability to manage crisis is being severely tested. Thousands
of homes are underwater and waterlogged. Millions of Nigerians are
stranded and helpless in Amassoma, in Yenagoa, in Otuoke etc all in
Bayelsa State.

Millions of Nigerians are similarly stranded across the majority of
states nationwide. The Purpose And Role of Government in Nigeria in
the circumstances should be questioned by all reasonable persons.

There have been unnecessary delays in the local, state and national
response to this unfolding flood crises.

It is foreseeable and even predictable that the next stage of this
flood crises would cholera and other waterborne and water-related,
these, in addition to inflation, soaring food prices and a complex web
of national mess, which are being overlooked or underestimated
presently.

The price of petrol has gone up in Bayelsa and Rivers States, and so
has the price of foodstuffs and much else. It is quite reasonable to
extrapolate these experiences in Bayelsa and Rivers to other parts of
Nigeria.

The ravages of floods nationwide and its consequences are being
replicated from state to state; this is so, even in states or parts of
Nigeria which are not directly affected by the floods.

Direct and indirect effects are being felt across Nigeria. Floods have
disrupted and continues to disrupt millions of lives in Nigeria.
Movement of persons, goods and services have been severely curtailed.
Interstate commerce has been halted as roads and highways have been
submerged in majority of Nigeria.

Nigeria road arteries are now clogged. And the direct translation of
this is that, millions of Nigerians will not have their foods and
other basic necessities delivered. Lives in Nigeria are be interrupted
and disrupted.

Nigeria is not at war, and yet, so many federal roads are closed for
days and endlessly!

This is a national emergency and it is a national security issue, it
is in fact existential and government at all levels in Nigeria should
see it and treat it and tackle it as such!

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