King Charles III, the British monarch, has described the devastating floods that have ravaged the country in recent months as deeply saddening.
In a condolence message to President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, the British monarch said he and his wife were “deeply saddened” about the situation. He sympathised with victims, adding that his thoughts were with those working to support the recovery efforts.
His statement reads: “Your Excellency, Dear Mr President, I wanted you to know how deeply saddened both my wife and I are to hear of the many people who have lost their loved ones and whose lives have been so dreadfully affected as a consequence of the devastating floods across Nigeria.
“We remember with the greatest affection our visits to Nigeria and the kindness of the people we met.
“However inadequate this may be under such tragic circumstances, our most heartfelt sympathy is with all those who have suffered so much, and our thoughts are with those working to support the recovery efforts. I know that the United Kingdom stands in solidarity with Nigeria as you recover from these truly terrible events”.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria’s government, on Thursday, said it will not declare a state of emergency on the ravaging flooding in some parts of the country because it is not overwhelmed by the incidents yet.
Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, said this during an interview on Channels Television.
With over 600 lives lost and properties worth billions destroyed, the country is arguably facing one of its worst flooding incidents in decades.
The recent floods have displaced more than a million persons from their homes as some of the government’s infrastructural facilities were also affected by this unprecedented development.
Some of the most affected states include Abia Kogi, Anambra, Rivers, Benue, Yobe, Delta, Cross River and Bayelsa.
When asked why Nigeria has not declared a state of emergency like neighbouring Chad, Mr Adamu, who admitted the dire conditions of this year’s victims of flood, said Nigeria has not got to that crisis point.
He said the country would only do so if all relevant agencies complain of being overwhelmed.
