The Cross River State Government has intensified its response to Thursday night’s flood disaster in Calabar, conducting a comprehensive joint assessment of affected communities as part of efforts to provide immediate intervention and develop long-term flood mitigation measures.
The exercise, coordinated by the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), brought together key government agencies and emergency responders to evaluate the extent of the destruction and recommend appropriate interventions.
Leading the assessment were the Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, and the Head of Operations, NEMA Akwa Ibom/Cross River Office, Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni. The team visited some of the worst-hit areas, including Ibom Close, Big Qua Town, Murray Street, Elijah Henshaw Street, Webber Street and Atu Street.
The delegation included the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Rosemary Onah; State Director of Information, Mr. David Akate; representatives of the Federal Fire Service, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Red Cross Society, Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), and other critical stakeholders.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, said the swift response underscores Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu’s unwavering commitment to the People First Agenda, stressing that the safety and welfare of citizens remain the administration’s top priority.
He assured affected residents that the state government would take both immediate and long-term measures to address the impact of the flood, including the desilting of blocked drainage channels, improved stormwater management and other engineering interventions aimed at preventing future occurrences.
The assessment team interacted with affected residents, inspected damaged homes and public infrastructure, and received technical briefings on the major factors responsible for the flooding, including blocked drainage channels and inadequate stormwater infrastructure.
At Elijah Henshaw Street, the team assessed the area where a tragic incident claimed the life of a one-year-three-month-old child, while Murray Street, Webber Street and Atu Street recorded varying degrees of damage to residential buildings and drainage infrastructure.
Speaking after the field inspection, the Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, commended all participating agencies for their prompt response and commitment to protecting lives and property.
He said the joint assessment reflected the importance of inter-agency collaboration in disaster management, adding that all observations and recommendations would be consolidated into a comprehensive report for Governor Bassey Otu to facilitate prompt government action.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations, NEMA Akwa Ibom/Cross River Office, Mrs. Mmandu Aisueni, called on residents to support government efforts by refraining from indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels, noting that poor environmental practices continue to aggravate flooding in urban communities.
She disclosed that NEMA would intensify public awareness campaigns through community sensitisation, radio programmes and other advocacy initiatives while supporting efforts to improve flood preparedness across the state.
The Cross River State Government reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with relevant stakeholders to strengthen disaster preparedness, improve environmental management and implement sustainable flood control measures to safeguard lives and property across the state.
