A recent study by SBM Intelligence, an Africa-focused geopolitical and market intelligence firm, has revealed that nearly nine out of ten residents in Cross River State are contemplating relocation. The research, titled "Where Nigerian Families Actually Thrive," highlights severe deficiencies in public infrastructure, healthcare, electricity supply, and security as primary drivers of this trend. The report warns that without urgent reforms, the state faces a significant demographic hemorrhage within the next decade.
Key Findings on Relocation Intent
The survey indicates that 89.9 percent of respondents in Cross River expressed a desire to leave, the highest rate among the eight states surveyed. Other states included Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), Rivers, Bauchi, Anambra, Lagos, and Kano. In contrast, Oyo recorded the lowest relocation intent, with fewer than two percent of participants indicating plans to move. The report emphasizes that such a high relocation intent rate signals a coming demographic crisis that will worsen the state's fiscal position within ten years.
Governance and Service Delivery Gaps
The study calls for swift government action on core public services, particularly waste management, road rehabilitation, and school infrastructure. Failure to act could accelerate outward migration. A community leader in Cross River described deteriorating road conditions, stating that even wheelbarrows cannot pass, let alone cars. Cross River ranked last or near last in 11 of 15 quality-of-life indicators, including healthcare, education, safety, affordability, and childcare access.
By comparison, Anambra recorded a 49.1 percent relocation intent rate, while Lagos followed closely at 49 percent, driven by high living costs and unreliable power supply. Abuja remains the most preferred destination for internal migrants despite concerns about affordability and electricity.
Infrastructure Decay and Public Services
Respondents described a gradual deterioration of basic infrastructure, including roads, waste disposal systems, and public utilities. In Calabar, the state capital, overflowing waste dumps along major roads raise public health concerns. Healthcare emerged as a major issue, with Cross River scoring the lowest among surveyed locations. Education and childcare services also ranked at the bottom, with the state scoring two out of five on key indicators. Despite a free education policy, residents reported overcrowded classrooms, leaking roofs, broken furniture, and informal fees.
Emergency Intervention Needed
The report concludes that Cross River's challenges reflect systemic governance failures rather than isolated service delivery gaps. Analysts noted that no other location showed such depth of failure, calling for urgent, coordinated intervention. Without significant improvements, the state could face increasing outward migration, impacting economic and social development. Once a leading tourism destination, Cross River now grapples with economic and infrastructure challenges, including deteriorating roads, unemployment, and declining investment.
