CROSS RIVER GOVT LAMENTS RECURRING FLOODS, SEEKS URGENT FEDERAL INTERVENTION
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The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has raised concerns over the recurring flood disasters affecting the state, describing them as a growing ecological threat that requires urgent and coordinated intervention from all levels of government.
Otu made the remarks while receiving the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, and members of her delegation as part of activities marking the 2026 National Flood Preparedness and Awareness Campaign.
The governor said flooding had remained a persistent challenge for several communities across the state, noting that Cross River is already classified as one of the high-risk flood 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,” Otu said.
He recalled that discussions with relevant authorities as far back as 2019 focused on proactive flood-control measures, but lamented that many of the interventions had not been fully implemented.
Otu also criticised the abandonment and non-completion of key flood management projects, including drainage systems and flood channels that were designed to redirect excess water during heavy rainfall.
“There was supposed to be a dam system and proper drainage channels that would collect and redirect water whenever releases occurred, but somehow those projects were not completed,” he added.
The governor warned that the situation had moved beyond seasonal flooding, stressing that it now poses broader ecological risks to communities, farmlands, and livelihoods across the state.
He called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to urgently complete ongoing flood-control infrastructure and invest in sustainable drainage and environmental remediation projects.
Earlier, NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the state government to reduce the impact of predicted flooding across vulnerable areas.
She disclosed that several local government areas in Cross River, including Abi, Akamkpa, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Odukpani, Obubra, and Obanliku, had been identified as high-risk zones.
Umar explained that while flooding may not be completely eliminated, improved preparedness, early warning systems, and community-based response structures could significantly reduce its impact.
She added that NEMA had engaged traditional rulers, security agencies, and community leaders to enhance grassroots awareness and disaster response coordination.
The agency also presented mitigation documents to the state government and deployed technical teams to assess vulnerable communities ahead of the flood season.
Umar commended the Cross River State Government for its cooperation and called for sustained partnership to ensure more effective disaster management across the state.
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