Flood - Noncompliance with building regulations is to fault, according to Buhari.

On Sunday, President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret.) attributed the devastating floods in Bayelsa State and other parts of the country to the construction of buildings on water channels, the neglect of early warning systems, and climate change.

He also ordered the federal authorities in charge of rescue and disaster management to provide any support the state might require.

The Bayelsa State Government reported that 700,000 people had to evacuate their homes after flooding destroyed around 300 communities and villages in five of the state's eight local government units.

A statement released late on Sunday read, "While the authorities in the State are taking steps to help people hit by the floods, the President has directed that all federal agencies dealing with rescue and disaster management offer all needed assistance to Bayelsa." This came from the President's spokesman, Garba Shehu.

President Buhari has instructed emergency organizations to "provide every support to Bayelsa."

Shehu reported that the President was saddened by the destruction wrought by the floods.

He also conveyed the nation's deepest sympathies to the victims' loved ones and all those impacted by the tragedy.

"President Buhari blamed buildings on water channels, disregard for early warning by the National Emergency Management Agency, and changes to weather due to climate change as chiefly to blame for the floods that have so far hit 33 of the nation's 36 states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, which has not been spared either.

In addition, "the President further urged all responsible to work for the restoration of normalcy throughout the afflicted sections of the federation," the statement added.