Former President Goodluck Jonathan has empathised with France on the fire incident on Monday evening at the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
The fire raged for over 12 hours before firefighters were able to put it out. The 856-year-old Cathedral lost its timbered roofing and iconic spire in the incident.
Jonathan, in a tweet on Tuesday, said he was touched to see France’s ‘place of solace’ and ‘symbol of unity’ go up in flames.
He wrote: “I was touched to see iconic Notre Dame, France’s great treasure, place of solace, symbol of unity and totem of peace go up in flames. Notre Dame for centuries was a place of prayer that rallies humanity to Paris. My thoughts are with the people of France.”
French billionaires and companies have pledged over $450 million to help rebuild Notre Dame.
Paris officials have said that an investigation into the cause of the fire has been opened.
However, many of the Cathedral’s treasures were saved – twin bell towers, Crown of Thrones which Jesus wore during his passion, the tunic believed to have been worn by the 13th-century king of France, St. Louis, among others.
