President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sympathy to the families and communities affected by the recent flood disaster in Yola, Adamawa State, and the boat mishap in Guni village, Niger State.

In his condolence message, the President acknowledged that while flooding is a global environmental challenge driven by climate change, Nigerians must avoid actions that worsen the impact of such natural disasters.

He mourned the tragic loss of lives in both incidents and commended the courageous efforts of the Emergency Management Agencies in Adamawa and Niger States, along with local divers, volunteers, and community leaders who are actively engaged in ongoing search and recovery operations.

However, President Tinubu raised concern over the recurring nature of such tragedies, despite continuous sensitisation campaigns by the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). He urged opinion leaders, local authorities, and relevant stakeholders to intensify their advocacy on safety compliance, especially along the nation’s waterways.

The President also appealed to citizens and businesses that rely on water transport to strictly observe safety guidelines issued by regulatory agencies to prevent avoidable deaths.

In response to the twin tragedies, President Tinubu has directed the National Emergency Response Centre and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately commence comprehensive rescue and relief operations, in close coordination with the governments of Adamawa and Niger States.