About 85 more people were taking the overloaded boat on Friday when flooding from the Niger River capsized it.
“The boat carrying another 85 people sank as a result of increasing flooding in the state’s Ogbaru region, and emergency facilities confirmed a death toll of 76,” Buhari’s office said, citing Buhari.
He ordered an emergency to come to the aid of those affected.
“I pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for the protection of all, as well as for the well-being of the circle of relatives of the victims of this tragic accident,” he added.
Earlier Sunday, the emergency said emerging waters were hampering rescue efforts.
“The water point is too high and too risky for an elegant search and rescue operation,” Thickman Tanimu, southeast coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told AFP.
He said the floods were the worst the country had experienced in years, with water levels about a tenth higher than a decade ago.
NEMA has asked the Nigerian Air Force to provide helicopters for the rescue operation.
Anambra state Governor Charles Soludo suggested citizens in flood-ravaged areas move in, but added that the government would provide aid to those affected by the disaster.
“This progression comes as a surprise to the government and other smart people in Anambra State. I sympathize with the families of those involved,” Soludo said in a statement.
Boat injuries occur in Nigeria due to overloading, speeding, poor maintenance and non-compliance with navigation rules.
Since the beginning of the rainy season, many parts of this West African country of more than two hundred million people have been devastated by floods.
More than 300 people have died and at least 100,000 have been left homeless, according to emergency services.
Continuous rains have swept away farmland and crops, raising fears of food shortages, famine and famine in a country already grappling with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine.