Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There was only one presentations made by the Subject Experts on Eastern Europe.
The only presentation for the day was made by Brig Gen Ak Egwuagu (Rtd) subject experts on Eastern Europe. His presentation focused Russia Evacuates Citizens after Dam Bursts near Kazakh Border. Russia, on Friday 5 April 2024, suffered another calamity when a dam burst open due to flooding following a torrential rainfall in the Orenburg region near Kazakhstan border, Confirmed that 4,208 people including 1,019 children were safely evacuated and more than 2,500 homes affected by the floods but no death was reported. Governor Denis Palser said the flood had reached its peak, making the situation difficult especially in the border city of Orsk with a population of 230,000 people. According to the Emergency Services Ministry, residents were helped into lifeboats with life jackets while thousands of homes were submerged.
In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Brig Gen Ak Egwuagu (Rtd) noted that, However, in Nigeria flooding is mostly caused by climate change, inadequate drainage systems, poor urban planning, building on waterways, soil moisture regime, uncontrolled rapid population growth, inadequate preparations and lack of political will as well as releases of excess water from dams in neighbouring countries. Over the years, flooding has had devastating effects in Nigeria with loss of lives, displacement of families, loss of crops and livestock leading to food insecurity, damage to infrastructure including homes, roads and bridges, economic losses particularly for small traders and farmers as well as increased risk of waterborne diseases.
He recommended that, Federal Government of Nigeria should create a separate Flood Disaster Unit, well-equipped and adequately funded for a faster and better response to flood disasters, resettlement and proper administration of flood victims and also the Judiciary and Ministry of
Interior should ensure prompt institution of investigative panels and judicial boards to investigate flood disasters towards opening criminal cases for negligence and violation of safety rules with commensurate punishment to serve as deterrence.
