Legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, Barrister Darlington, has criticized the government’s handling of recent evacuation directives issued to residents in communities affected by the overflow of a major dam.
Speaking during a media conversation on Tuesday, Barr. Darlington described the government’s approach as “unfair and insensitive”, arguing that issuing relocation orders without offering concrete resettlement plans shows a lack of empathy and preparedness.
“When the government instructs citizens to relocate due to the overflow of a dam, it must also consider where these people are expected to go. Giving evacuation orders without providing alternatives is both unfair and insensitive,” he said.
The lawyer noted that thousands of Nigerians living in flood-prone areas often face displacement each year without meaningful government intervention, leaving many to fend for themselves in unsafe conditions.
He stressed that disaster management should go beyond issuing warnings, emphasizing the need for proactive planning, temporary housing, and adequate compensation for affected citizens.
“You don’t just tell people to leave their homes without a place to go. The government must ensure there are safe shelters, food, and medical support for displaced persons. Anything less is negligence,” he added.
Barr. Darlington urged relevant agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and state disaster response units, to adopt a more humanitarian approach in crisis management and take lessons from other nations that prioritize citizen welfare in emergency response.
He concluded by calling on both federal and state governments to invest in long-term flood control systems and community relocation frameworks to prevent future tragedies.
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