President Tinubu has called on citizens and entrepreneurs to strictly comply with safety regulations on Nigeria’s waterways to prevent avoidable tragedies.
He made the call on Monday in a statement issued by his Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, while sympathising with families affected by the recent flood disaster in Yola, Adamawa State, and the boat mishap in Guni village, Niger State.
“We must prioritise safety on our waterways and adhere to the rules set by relevant authorities to prevent the needless loss of lives,” President Tinubu said.
He expressed concern that incidents of flooding and waterway accidents continue to persist despite awareness efforts by the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
While acknowledging flooding as a global challenge driven by climate change, the Nigerian Leader warned citizens against engaging in practices that aggravate the situation.
President Tinubu mourned the lives lost and praised the courage of emergency responders in Adamawa and Niger States, including local divers, volunteers, and community leaders involved in rescue operations.
He also directed the National Emergency Response Centre and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to carry out immediate and coordinated rescue and relief operations in collaboration with the two state governments.
PIAK