The Arewa Consultative Forum has expressed deep condolences to Nigerians, especially, northerners over the devastating floods that have ravaged the region, resulting in loss of lives, property damage, and disruption of livelihoods.
“The floods have brought unprecedented challenges to our people, who are already grappling with economic and security issues,” Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, National Publicity Secretary of ACF, said in a statement issued in Kaduna on Tuesday.
“We mourn the lives lost and pray for the quick recovery of those injured,” he added.
The forum urged public emergency response agencies, humanitarian organizations, and first responders to provide immediate assistance to affected communities, emphasizing the need for prompt provision of aid, including food, shelter, healthcare, and safe drinking water.
“We urge them to act swiftly and provide aid, including food, shelter, healthcare, and safe drinking water.”
The forum also emphasized the need for strict enforcement of regulatory planning, building codes, and environmental regulations to prevent future disasters.
The northern body called on Nigerians to observe sound environmental and hygienic practices, regulatory codes, planning laws, and regulations while also calling for collective action to mitigate the effects of the disaster.
The statement reads: “ACF regrets the dire situation in which peoples and communities have found themselves and grieves with all to whom the problems have impacted.
“ACF also mourns the lives lost, prays to God Almighty to provide succour to those left behind to bury the dead, bear the losses and to cope with disrupted lives. May the injured enjoy quick recovery and return to good health. In the meantime,
“ACF calls on public emergency response and humanitarian relief agencies and first responders, including emergency medical, security, fire and services, state emergency agency personnel, aid organisations, the press, etc., to rush assistance of food, shelter, health facilities and medication, safe drinking water, etc., assistance to all those in needs, without the usual bureaucratic delays, across all states and communities
“We also calls on state and Federal agencies including military engineers to provide shelter, with amenities, effect emergency repairs to damaged infrastructure, bridges, homes, schools, public buildings, business premises, etc., so as to restore mobility for people, goods and services.”
It added, “no longer should lives, limbs, and property be lost to incompetence, dereliction of duty, quackery, compromises, corrupt practices, malfeasance, and related but totally avoidable shortcomings.
“People should desist from blocking drainages, water courses, indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places.
“May God Almighty continue to protect our people and communities from natural and human-induced calamities.” ENDS***
ACF Mourns Flood Victims, Calls For Action is first published on The Whistler Newspaper