Environment
THE Efut Efio-Ene Community in Calabar South LGA of Cross River has cried out over the massive flooding that has washed away many residential buildings, people’s property and farmlands in the area.
Speaking in separate interviews with newsmen, some community leaders said that many lives had also been lost to the phenomenon.
They said that the disaster had become perennial and linked it to the discharge of floodwater collected from different drains in Calabar metropolis into the community.
They said the disaster rendered many families homeless and appealed to government at all levels to come to their rescue.
The Clan Head of Efut Efio-Ene community, Muri Umo Ekpo II, lamented that the problem had caused so much havoc to the community.
Ekpo II also said that the menace had exposed the natives to increased health risks, arising from stagnant and contaminated floodwater.
He said that the community roads had also been washed away, making vehicular movement and transportation in the community difficult.
He said: “We are facing serious flooding in our community because the whole rainwater collected throughout Calabar and its environs flows directly into our area.
“Unfortunately, successive administrations in the state have not done anything to check the problem.”
Ekpo II said that the last time the drainage system was desilted was during former Gov. Donald Duke’s administration.
He, therefore, called for immediate desilting of the drainage before the peak of the rainy season to prevent an escalation of the problem and more sufferings in the community.
He warned that the situation had become alarming and required immediate intervention to avert impending disaster.
He called on the state government and relevant government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency, and waste management agencies, to urgently intervene and check the discharge of floodwater into the community.
The community’s Youth Leader, Princewill Lawrence, said that “natives now lived in constant fear whenever it rains.
“Heavy rainfall in the coming weeks may cause catastrophic flooding, collapse of weak structures, destruction of livelihoods, and possible loss of lives,” Lawrence said.
He further called on the State Government to carry out technical inspection of the affected areas.
He also urged the government to embark on an emergency drain control and flood mitigation measures by constructing appropriate discharge channels, retention systems, and flood-control infrastructure capable of safely managing storm water.
The Women Leader of the community, Obongawan Bassey, appealed that immediate action be taken to ameliorate the situation.
The Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Antigha Gill, said that government agencies were making efforts to address the situation.
“We have made efforts to draw the attention of the authorities to this issue.
“I remember we have written to the State Government on this matter, and it has mandated the Ministry of Environment to take action,” Gill said.
He further disclosed that the community had served the agency with different letters appealing for its intervention.
He said that his agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA), would soon address the problem.
“We know that rainy season is here. Two weeks ago, the community sent me a reminder of the serious flooding there.
“We will collaborate with the Ministry of Environment and CUDA for action,” Gill said. (NAN)
F.O
Tags: Cros River Community flood