Following the devastating floods that displaced residents and destroyed homes in parts of Calabar, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has ordered the immediate distribution of relief materials and the evacuation of affected communities.
The governor assured victims that his administration would provide both immediate assistance and long-term solutions to recurring flooding in the state.
Otu gave the directive yesterday during an on-the-spot assessment of communities affected by floods and landslides, where he also commended the prompt response of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) in coordinating emergency interventions.
Accompanied by the Director General of CR-SEMA, Efa Nyong, officials of the Ministry of Works, the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other stakeholders, the governor toured several affected communities, including Elijah Henshaw Street, Webber Street, Atu Street, Ibesikpo Street and Mayne Avenue by Atakpa, to assess the extent of the destruction caused by days of heavy rainfall.
During the visit, Otu met with residents whose homes, businesses and livelihoods were destroyed by the flooding. He also visited the family of a woman who lost her one-year-three-month-old child after the toddler was swept away by floodwaters on Elijah Henshaw Street.
Expressing sympathy to the bereaved family and other victims, the governor assured them of the government’s support during the difficult period.
He said the evacuation of displaced residents from affected communities would begin on Monday as the government intensifies emergency response efforts and develops long-term measures to mitigate future flooding.
Otu also directed that comprehensive assessments of all affected communities be carried out to ensure relief materials and other interventions reach those genuinely affected.
Commending the leadership of CR-SEMA, he said the agency’s prompt response and continuous presence in affected communities had enabled the government to obtain timely information needed to coordinate interventions.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that the welfare of Cross River residents remains central to his People First agenda.
Earlier, the Director General of CR-SEMA, Efa Nyong, briefed the governor on the agency’s response to the flood and landslide incidents.
Nyong said the agency had maintained a continuous presence in the affected communities, working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the Ministry of Environment, security agencies and other partners to assess the damage and identify the immediate needs of victims.
He added that CR-SEMA would continue to coordinate emergency response efforts while strengthening public sensitisation on flood preparedness and disaster risk reduction.
Residents who spoke during the governor’s visit commended the government’s swift response and expressed appreciation to CR-SEMA and other emergency responders for their support since the disaster.