Nigeria has been urged to take early warning systems seriously to prepare adequately for any threat posed by global challenge owing to the increased risk of disasters across the world.
A professor of Political Institutions, Governance and Public Policy in the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan (UI), Remi Aiyede, gave the charge, yesterday, during the opening of Gen. Leo Irabor Early Warning Systems Centre at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.
In his lecture, Aiyede noted that the early warning systems centre and defence architecture is very apt, adding that “disasters are very challenging and we should take early warning systems seriously. The risk of disaster is increasing in Africa.”
He said that the early warning systems centre generates alerts and cautions against crisis situations, adding: “This can only be meaningful when it is directed at the right place and managed by the right people. It must be effective and have capable hands to man it.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, represented by Foreign Service Officer at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Max Ogbede, said the Centre would help Nigeria, Africa and others to nip in the bud insecurity, even as we can mitigate and prevent it when we get the early signs.
“It’s a global phenomenon. We need to know before it happens and we need to prevent it before it happens. Prevention they say is better than cure,” he added.
Chairman of the event, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi of Juli Pharmacy Plc., said the Centre would launch Nigeria into international level.
Besides, he noted that the Centre would provide adequate information, help improve Nigeria’s security architecture, as well as manage problems of security because of the advanced information coming from it.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Leo Irabor, commended the NIIA as a learning research institute for proffering solutions to problems, adding: “This warning systems centre will help to work on researches, give early warnings and proffer possible solutions to problems on time.”
