By Onwa Ekor
Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has described the recurring flood disasters affecting the state as a growing ecological threat requiring urgent and coordinated intervention from all levels of government.
Receiving the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar and her delegation, including Chairman, House Committee on Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness, Hon Joseph Bassey, during a courtesy visit in Calabar, as part of the 2026 National Flood Preparedness and Awareness Campaign, Otu said flooding had remained a painful and persistent challenge for many communities across the state.
“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,” the governor remarked, maintaining that, “as far back as 2019, I had engagements with relevant authorities on the need for proactive measures to mitigate the devastating impact of these floods, but unfortunately the problem has persisted.”
He lamented that several intervention projects initiated to address the menace were either abandoned or left incomplete, thereby worsening the plight of affected communities.
Otu noted that investigations had earlier revealed plans for designed drainage systems and flood channels to effectively manage the release and movement of excess water, but the projects were never fully realized.
“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.
“The consequence is that communities directly along these flood corridors continue to suffer repeated destruction of homes, farmlands and livelihoods,” the governor said.
He warned that beyond the immediate destruction caused by flooding, the recurring disasters now pose broader environmental dangers capable of destabilizing the ecosystem if decisive action was not taken.
“What we are witnessing is no longer just seasonal flooding, it is gradually becoming an ecological problem with far-reaching implications for our environment and the survival of vulnerable communities,” the governor added.
He further called on the federal government and relevant agencies to expedite action on critical flood control infrastructure across the state, stressing that, proper drainage systems and ecological remediation projects would significantly reduce the impact of flooding on residents.
Earlier, NEMA DG, Zubaida Umar, said the agency’s visit was part of nationwide activities under the 2026 National Flood Preparedness and Awareness Campaign, following emergency flood predictions issued for several states across the country.
She disclosed that Cross River had been identified among the states at high risk of severe flooding this year, listing vulnerable local government areas in the state to include 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 relevant stakeholders so that together we can reduce the impact of possible flooding on lives and livelihoods.
“While we may not be able to stop the floods entirely, preparedness and coordination can greatly minimize the damage,” Umar remarked.
She further explained that the agency had already engaged critical stakeholders including traditional rulers, religious leaders, road safety officials and community representatives to deepen public awareness and strengthen grassroots disaster preparedness.
Umar also revealed that mitigation and preparedness documents had been presented to the state government, while technical teams were already being deployed across vulnerable communities for assessments and early response coordination.
The DG emphasized the importance of community-based disaster management structures, noting that effective emergency response must begin from the grassroots before escalating to state and federal authorities.
