By Barbara Nwaiwuh
Governor Bassey Otu has raised concerns over recurring flood disasters in Cross River State, describing the situation as a growing ecological threat requiring urgent intervention from the Federal Government and relevant agencies.
Otu spoke on Thursday while receiving the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, on a courtesy visit as part of the 2026 National Flood Preparedness and Awareness Campaign.
The delegation also included the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness, Joseph Bassey.
The governor said flooding had remained a persistent challenge for many communities in the state, noting that Cross River continued to rank among states at high risk of severe flooding in Nigeria.
According to him, “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 recalled that he had previously engaged relevant authorities as far back as 2019 on the need for proactive measures to mitigate flood disasters, but lamented that the problem had persisted.
He said several intervention projects initiated to address the menace were either abandoned or left uncompleted, thereby worsening the suffering of affected communities.
“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 said.
According to the governor, communities located along flood corridors had continued to experience destruction of homes, farmlands and livelihoods due to the recurring disasters.
He warned that beyond seasonal flooding, the situation was gradually becoming a broader environmental and ecological crisis capable of threatening vulnerable communities and destabilising the ecosystem.
“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,” Otu added.
The governor therefore called on the Federal Government and intervention agencies to accelerate the construction of critical flood control infrastructure and ecological remediation projects across the state.
The NEMA Director General said the agency’s visit formed part of activities under the 2026 National Flood Preparedness and Awareness Campaign following flood predictions issued for several states across the country.
Umar disclosed that Cross River had been identified among states likely to experience severe flooding this year.
She listed vulnerable local government areas in the state to include Abi, Akamkpa, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Odukpani, Obubra and Obanliku.
She said, “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 greatlyu minimize the damage,” she added.
Umar explained that NEMA had already engaged traditional rulers, religious leaders, road safety officials and community representatives to strengthen public awareness and grassroots disaster preparedness.
She also disclosed that mitigation and preparedness documents had been presented to the state government, while technical teams were being deployed to vulnerable communities for assessment and early response coordination.
Umar stressed the importance of community-based disaster management structures, noting that emergency response efforts must begin at the grassroots level before escalating to state and federal authorities.
She commended the Cross River State Government for its cooperation with the agency and called for sustained collaboration throughout the flood season.
