Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has assured residents of the state’s preparedness to respond to flooding, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property ahead of the peak of the 2026 rainy season.
The governor said the state government was strengthening emergency response measures and expanding temporary shelters in flood-prone communities, while working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other stakeholders to minimise the impact of potential flooding.
Otu gave the assurance on Friday at the closing ceremony of a three-day Full Scale Flood Disaster Response Simulation Exercise organised NEMA in collaboration with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) at Marina Beach, Calabar.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Owan Enoh, the governor described the exercise as timely, saying it reflected the growing capacity of NEMA and CR-SEMA to coordinate emergency response operations.
He also commended the Director-General of CR-SEMA, Efa Nyong, for his proactive leadership, noting that the agency had strengthened its preparedness despite the increasing frequency of disasters in the state.
Otu said his administration would continue to deepen collaboration with NEMA and other humanitarian organisations to build a more resilient state.
He also disclosed that the government, through CR-SEMA, was making arrangements to establish additional temporary shelters in flood-prone communities to accommodate displaced persons whenever the need arises.
“We will continue to prioritise the protection of lives and property and ensure that our response mechanisms remain effective,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, the agency’s Director of Internal Audit, Aliyu Waziri, said the exercise was designed to improve operational readiness and strengthen coordination among emergency responders before disasters occur.
Waziri said Cross River was selected for the simulation based on flood forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), stressing that preparedness remained the most effective way to minimise disaster losses.
He also sympathised with families affected by recent flooding in the state and assured them of NEMA’s continued support.
The exercise featured live demonstrations of flood search and rescue operations, victim evacuation, first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as well as the distribution of relief materials to displaced persons.
Earlier, CR-SEMA Director-General Efa Nyong said the agency would soon begin a statewide flood awareness campaign through radio jingles, billboards, social media and traditional town criers to educate residents on flood safety measures.
Nyong said recent disasters had strengthened the agency’s resolve to enhance disaster risk reduction and community preparedness across the state.
He added that effective disaster management requires sustained collaboration among emergency agencies, local governments and community volunteers.
The exercise drew participants from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, Cross River State Fire Service, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, development partners including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, as well as other humanitarian organisations.