President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and destruction caused by the recent flood in Yola, Adamawa State, and a boat mishap in Guni village, Niger State.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President conveyed his condolences to the affected families and commended the emergency responders who have been on the frontline of rescue efforts.
‘I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the communities and families of victims affected by the flood disaster in Yola and the tragic boat accident in Niger State’, the President was quoted as saying.
He described flooding as ‘a global phenomenon driven largely by climate change’ but warned that local human activities often worsen its impact. ‘We must not engage in behaviours that compound the effects of natural disasters’, he said.
Tinubu praised the courage and commitment of emergency responders, local divers, volunteers, and community leaders working around the clock in both states. ‘Their bravery and selflessness in the face of adversity give us hope and demonstrate the strength of our shared humanity’, he said.
Despite ongoing efforts by relevant government bodies to educate the public, the President expressed concern over the repeated occurrence of such tragedies.
‘It is worrisome that these incidents persist in spite of continuous enlightenment campaigns by the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the National Inland Waterways Authority’, Tinubu noted.
He urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and local authorities to intensify community-level advocacy to promote safety practices, especially on the waterways. ‘I call on opinion leaders and concerned authorities to continue their advocacy on safety. Our people must understand that these losses are preventable’, he added.
To provide immediate relief and support to victims, Tinubu directed urgent intervention from relevant federal agencies.
‘I have mandated the National Emergency Response Centre and NEMA to collaborate with the Adamawa and Niger State governments on a comprehensive rescue and relief operation’, he said.
The President also appealed to individuals and entrepreneurs who rely on waterways for transport and business to strictly follow safety protocols. ‘We cannot continue to allow negligence or ignorance to cost lives. Compliance with safety measures is not optional — it is essential’, he stated.
