Following the flood alert issued on twelve states in Nigeria which includes, Kwara, Kogi and Niger by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the NEMA and the Nigerian defence Headquarters today visited the disaster response unit of the Nigeria Army and the Nigeria air force in Kwara state to ascertain the level of their preparedness to handle disaster issue within the Zone.
Speaking on the importance of the visit, the representative of the defence headquarters and the director of search and rescue, Rear Admiral Dolapo Kolawole expressed his satisfactory with the level of preparedness of the Nigeria army and the air force. He promised to tender the demand of the Nigeria Army and the air force to the defence headquarters.
In his speech, the director of search and rescue of NEMA, Air commodore Akugbe Iyamu who represented NEMA Director General, Engineer Mustapha Maihaja said the visit was to ensure adequate provisions of necessary equipment for the disaster response unit of the Nigeria Army and the air force to handle disaster in flood prone areas.
That was NEMA and the Nigerian Army speaking.
Expressing the challenges, the commanding officer of 222 battalion of the Nigeria Army, Sobi cantonment, Ilorin, Major Emmanuel called on the federal government to provide more vehicles, recruitment of more personnel noting that such improvement will assist disaster management in case of any.
The commandant of 303 medium air lift group of the Nigeria air force, Ilorin , Captain Patric obeya who commended the Nigerian defence headquarters and the NEMA, called for constitutional review on army response to criminal activities and other disasters.
He advocated for the capacity of Army commanders to deploy army to take urgent action during emergency rather than waiting for clearance. He cited the Offa robbery incidence where clearance had to be taken before the Army could respond.
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