By Adedapo Adesanya
King Charles III of England has sent condolences to the Nigerian government as the country battles one of its worst flooding disasters in a decade.
According to official figures, more than 600 people have died, and more than 1.3 million have been displaced in the worst floods, which are happening in 33 of the country’s 36 states.
Thousands of homes and large swaths of farmland, roads and other critical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed. The widespread flooding was prompted by extreme rainfall and the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
In his message on Friday, King Charles III noted, “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,” he concluded.
Mrs Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, earlier this week said that states and local governments failed to take adequate action to prepare for the extreme floods despite the forecast, and urged local communities to take heed of climate predictions.
Mrs Farouq also called on officials to prepare for more flooding by evacuating people residing on flood plains to high grounds, as well as providing tents, relief materials and medical supplies to communities.
Business Post reported yesterday that the United States government had given $1 million to the Nigerian government to help victims.
Modupe Gbadeyanka