Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has raised concerns over the worsening ecological threat in the state, warning that failure to act could devastate the entire ecosystem. He called for urgent and coordinated intervention from all government levels to address recurring flood disasters.
Governor Otu's Statement on Flooding
Speaking on Thursday in Calabar during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, and her delegation, Governor Otu highlighted that flooding remains a persistent challenge for many communities. He noted that Cross River is among the high-risk states in Nigeria.
“Flooding has continued to confront our state year after year, and it is already common knowledge that Cross River remains one of the high-risk states in the country,” he stated. He recalled engaging relevant authorities since 2019 to advocate for proactive measures, but the problem has persisted.
Uncompleted Projects Worsen Crisis
The governor lamented that several intervention projects, including drainage systems and flood channels, were either abandoned or left uncompleted. “There was supposed to be a dam system and proper drainage channels to collect and redirect water, but those projects were not completed,” he said. As a result, communities along flood corridors suffer repeated destruction of homes, farmlands, and livelihoods.
Governor Otu warned that the situation has evolved beyond seasonal flooding into an ecological problem with far-reaching implications. He urged the Federal Government and intervention agencies to expedite critical flood-control infrastructure and ecological remediation projects.
NEMA's Role in Flood Preparedness
Earlier, NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar explained that the visit was part of the 2026 National Flood Preparedness and Awareness Campaign. She disclosed that Cross River is among high-risk states for severe flooding, with vulnerable local government areas including Abi, Akamkpa, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Odukpani, Obubra, and Obanliku.
“The purpose of our visit is to work closely with the state government and stakeholders to reduce the impact of possible flooding on lives and livelihoods,” she said. She emphasized that while floods cannot be entirely prevented, preparedness and coordination can minimize damage.
Umar noted that NEMA has engaged traditional rulers, religious leaders, road safety officials, and community representatives to deepen public awareness. Mitigation documents have been presented to the state government, and technical teams are being deployed for assessments and early response coordination.
The NEMA boss commended Cross River for its cooperation and called for sustained partnership to ensure safer disaster response efforts.
