President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sadness over the death of members of the Kano State contingent who were returning from the just concluded National Sports Festival.
At least 20 athletes from Kano State lost their lives when the bus conveying them from Ogun State, the venue of the competition, plunged from a bridge in the state on Saturday. Several other athletes sustained serious injuries in the accident.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the incident as a devastating blow not only to the affected families but to the entire nation.
The president commiserated with the Kano State Government and the families of the victims, noting that the tragedy had cast a shadow over the National Sports Festival, which he described as a celebration of unity, talent and excellence.
“This is a devastating blow to the nation. It casts a shadow over the National Sports Festival, a celebration of unity, talent and excellence. It has long served as a platform for discovering and nurturing athletes who bring pride to Nigeria on both national and international stages,” Tinubu said.
He added that the best way to honour the fallen athletes was for the country to take concrete steps to prevent similar tragedies in the future and to improve safety standards across Nigeria’s transportation systems.
