Today’s edition of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY BURATAI Block, NARC, Abuja. There were two presentations made by the Subject Experts covering Southern Africa, and South East Asia.
The first presentation was made by Major General KI Mukhtar Subject Expert for Southern Africa. His presentation discussed the outbreak of Cholera in Malawi which have killed hundreds of persons. The authorities responded by suspending primary and secondary schools in two major cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre. The rise in the outbreak was attributed to the living conditions of rural dwellers who depend on uncovered sources of water for living, poverty, poor sanitation, and hygiene habits amongst others factors. In Nigeria he stated, the outbreak has not been consistent, but states like Borno, Yobe, Kastina, Taraba Cross River, Bauchi, etc have been top on the list of most affected States. In proffering solutions he added that there is a need for strict regulation towards the reduction in open defecation, availability of more toilets in public and open spaces, procurement of vaccines, mass sensitization in collaboration with the Executive order on open defecation, to prevent and tackle possible outbreaks. He further made a robust recommendations.
The second presentation was made by Brigadier General SN Eze Subject Expert for South-East Asia. The senior officer’s presentation discussed the difficult experienced by Filipinos as a result of inflation which has led to an increase in the cost of basic commodities, a resultant effect of the covid-19 pandemic. Gen. Eze further stated that Nigeria is not left out of the rising inflation which has continued to drag more persons into abject poverty. He identified the soaring increase in food prices, cost of production, increase import costs due to currency depreciation, and the spending of more money on debt repayment, neglecting key sectors amongst others. He further stated that it has become imperative for the federal government to take drastic steps in tackling interest rates, soliciting support from developmental partners in financing the national development plan, and proper investment in agriculture.
Present at the briefing was; the Director of Research, management staff, Senior Research Fellows and Research Fellows, Consultants, senior officers, and other staff of the Centre.
