Flood: C/River gov seeks FG’s intervention
Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, has raised concerns over recurring floods in the state, describing the situation as a growing ecological threat requiring urgent federal intervention. The governor spoke while receiving the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management and […]
governor bassey edet otu
Cross River State governor, Bassey Otu, has raised concerns over recurring floods in the state, describing the situation as a growing ecological threat requiring urgent federal intervention.
The governor spoke while receiving the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness during the 2026 National Flood Preparedness and Awareness Campaign.
Otu said flooding had continued to devastate communities across the state, noting that Cross River remained one of Nigeria’s high-risk flood zones.
The governor said several flood control and drainage projects initiated to tackle the problem were either abandoned or left incomplete, worsening the impact on residents.
He warned that the recurring floods now posed broader environmental dangers capable of destabilising the ecosystem if urgent action was not taken.
He appealed to the Federal Government and relevant agencies to fast-track critical flood control and ecological remediation projects across the state.
Earlier, NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar said the agency’s visit formed part of nationwide preparedness activities following flood predictions for several states in 2026.
She identified Abi, Akamkpa, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Odukpani, Obubra and Obanliku as vulnerable local government areas in Cross River.
Umar said NEMA had already engaged traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen public awareness and grassroots disaster preparedness.
She added that technical teams had been deployed to vulnerable communities for assessments and early response coordination.