ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to address climate change and its impacts with a fresh approach, calling for collective action and increased public awareness on environmental challenges.
During his visit to the Palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garba, in Maiduguri on Monday, president Tinubu expressed his sympathy for the people of Borno State, who have recently suffered from severe flooding.
The President also revealed that he cut short his scheduled official trip to the United States to personally visit and sympathize with the people of Borno over the unfortunate incident.
Acknowledging the leadership and prayers of the Shehu, Tinubu assured the traditional ruler that the federal government is committed to supporting rehabilitation efforts in the state.
He stressed that environmental issues, particularly those related to climate change, are a shared responsibility that requires a united and cooperative response from all stakeholders.
Upon arrival in Maiduguri, President Tinubu was welcomed by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and other dignitaries before heading to the Shehu’s palace for the meeting.
He said: “I am just here to sympathise with you. I know your palace was overtaken by flood, I have heard the report, My VP gave me details but to me personally, I know I have to cut off.
“I was going directly to America but to be with with you if only for five minutes share the moment .
“I thank you very much for your leadership for your various prayers ,this is one disaster that we must pay attention to , we will help Borno State.
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“We as a government, as Nigerian people, we pledge with you that we will help you in the rehabilitation. It is our problem not just your problem, we must share in each other’s pains.
“The situation that we find ourselves in the environmental problem, climate change and all of these, is what we must tackle differently, and we must educate our people”, he said.
Tinubu while on his way to the Shehu’s palace, he visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)’s Camp where he assured the flood victims of maximum support by the Federal Government.
Zulum thanked the president for cutting short his trip to the US to commiserate with his people.
Also, he recounted that the president had a long term relationship with the people stressing that he (Tinubu) contributed immensely to the growth of democracy in the state.
“Your Excellency, your relationship with the people of Borno State has been in existence long before you became the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Some may not even count the numbers of times you came to Maiduguri.
“For those of us in the position, we knew your contributions to the growth and development of our dear state. We have known your contributions to the growth and development of democracy in Borno State and indeed to our own party.
“We have seen your contributions you made when we had the Sabari Masaka; the many more incidences that have happened in Borno State. Now that you have become the President, I am not surprised.
“So, you have been here; be rest assured that the people of Borno State will never disappoint you; you have a dependable ally, that we will never disappoint you”, he said.
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He thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their supports to the state so far.
Nation reports that Shehu of Borno requested that the President gets to the root cause of the flooding.
“My request is one ,that is find out the root cause of this flooding in addressing appropriately so as to avoid future occurrence as 80 percent has been affected by this disaster.
“This great city of Maiduguri was established sometimes 1907. It’s a period of 117years; nothing like this happened. Although about 30 years back, 1994, similar disaster of this kind happened but this kind happened worst,” he said.
The monarch expressed appreciation to the military for their roles in rescuing the victims.