President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with residents in towns and villages affected by flooding across the country.
The president’s condolence message is contained in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the president, the Federal Government will keep sending teams to assess the situation with a view to rendering all necessary help.
Buhari expressed concern over the hardships being faced by people due to this natural calamity.
The president noted that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had written to each of the 36 states of the federation through the states’ respective governors advising on the appropriate action to take in view of the gloomy forecasts of the rains this year.
“The structure of the response mechanism on this issue is clear: the government at the centre should step in to directly address national-level emergencies and that local government councils and the states are the first responders in all situations.
“Calls for the federal government to respond to all outbreaks of natural disaster do not just display an understanding of Nigerian law.
“While not a national-level emergency, the ongoing flooding is an emergency nevertheless. Nigerian lives and property are at stake.
“We call on governors of those states that have swung into action and engaged the necessary gear to continue with their efforts, and those that have not, to immediately face their duties of managing the flooding within their jurisdictions,” he said.