President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that the Federal government will continue to provide the needed emergency assistance to individuals and communities affected by the disaster.
He made the pledge in Abuja while receiving the latest updates on flood situation in the country, which has affected over 500,000 Nigerians since January this year.
Extending heartfelt condolences to families victims of the recent flooding in different States across the country, the President called on public-spirited individuals and organisations to support the hundreds of thousands of people in need of urgent help in the affected communities.
He reiterated that the tragic events had brought to fore the need for States and local governments to step up their level of preparedness in handling emergencies, which remains a shared responsibility with the government at the centre.
President Buhari affirmed that Federal Government would continue to monitor the situation very closely to work more with States and affected communities to reduce the impact of the disaster, provide resources and improve response and recovery efforts.
The President urged inhabitants of flood-prone areas to always adhere to the early warning advisories as issued by the organisations saddled with climate monitoring and disaster management.
In a statement, the President notes that since January this year, flooding has been reported in Lagos, Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Ebonyi, Anambra, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Imo, Abia States and the Federal Capital Territory, affecting over 5 million people.
Signed by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the statement says floods have displaced about 80 thousand people, with 115 casualties, and injured 277 people.
It says data from relevant Federal Government Ministries, Department and Agencies suggest that flood and heavy rain have left around 38 thousand houses destroyed or severely damaged.
Bello Wakili
