Flood: Why Cross River must act now

It is pathetic to note, however, that though Governor Liyel Imoke had to personally inspect the heartrending destruction caused by the flood, it was not long after his departure from the flooded community that the cosmetic measures that were televised also ceased. Nothing more has been heard on government’s plans to avert a recurrence  of […]

It is pathetic to note, however, that though Governor Liyel Imoke had to personally inspect the heartrending destruction caused by the flood, it was not long after his departure from the flooded community that the cosmetic measures that were televised also ceased. Nothing more has been heard on government’s plans to avert a recurrence  of the destruction in the flood-prone and environmentally-endangered areas of the state in future.
All the measures put up by the government have since been abandoned. In the so-called Nigerian culture, it appears action is usually propelled by the spur of the moment; those saddled with the task of providing good living conditions for the people seem to be without vision.
Some of the measures were the erection of temporary sites for refugees that had to flee their homes to neighbouring and dry communities and medical palliatives as well as make-believe supplies of relief materials, including food items.
 Now, as predicted by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) early in the year, the heavy rains have descended in parts of the country. As it looks, there is the likelihood that the rains would have the same devastating effects, or even more than that of last year which was compounded by the opening up of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Cross River State was one of the worst hit last year which reason the federal government categorized the state among those to benefit from the flood fund of N400 million but which uptill now the Flood Disaster Management Committee, headed by the deputy governor, Efiok Cobham, is yet to inform the people how and where the money has been applied.
In Agwagunne community and others, the people have continued to lament that though the governor visited them and statistics of those affected drawn up, yet it has been those that were not affected that were benefitting from government support.
Mrs Rosemary Eteng Obi, a housewife said that she lost her house and farmlands and that she was one of those that were promised assistance and relief but that up till now nothing has gotten to her.  “Those that have received relief materials and their homes rebuilt are those that are not even resident in the community. We know that government people are sending the materials to their relatives and friends in the communities whereas we have been left without anything.”
But the deputy governor, Efiok Cobham while presenting relief materials at Etung LGA of the state, denied that government was aware that such materials went to the wrong hands.
He said: “It is not correct when a section of the people opinionate that government send flood proceeds and materials to its officials. Government has the overall interest of the entire people at heart.  I want to reiterate that government would seriously frown at diversion of these relief materials. These must go to the affected people otherwise we shall invoke the wrath of the law against officials and communal heads that divert them.”
However, only two days of continuous rainfall in the state yet, there has been telling after-effects such as the pulling down of perimeter fences in Calabar South LGA, uprooting of trees, blowing off of rooftops, drowning of school children and mass flooding of residential houses.
In Calabar South and Calabar Municipality councils, in fairness to the government, there has been massive rehabilitation of inner city roads which were terribly damaged by floods. This made the city notorious for ecological dangers and crimes.
Opinion leaders and students of University of Calabar in their reactions to the torrential downpour of last weekend said the government should be more proactive when it comes to stalling the effects of flood in the state instead of being docile.
A political leader, Chief Ibim Ikpi from Ugep in central senatorial district of the state said,“last year we witnessed the debilitating effects of the rain but the people needed some more arrangements by the government to help them out of their plight.  Now with the rainy season here, I would advise that government should be up and about in its responsibility to the people to avert loss of lives and destruction of ancestral houses as seen last year.”
To stem the impact of flood in the state, the only pronounced effort by the government towards stalling the devastating effects in Calabar metropolis which is usually worst-hit during the raining season, is the speed with which they are completing the underground drainage system known as The Channel 2 Drainage. It is costing the government over two billion naira, according to the Commissioner of Works, Idagbo Leghor.
The Channel 2 Drainage stretches from the Diamond Hill axis near the Naval and NPA facilities in Calabar up to the MCC Mobil junction.
Idagbo Legho said the underground drainage will now control the flood which used to submerge much of Calabar metropolis whenever it rained.
He stated that the drainage will also strengthen the over-stretched channel one which was constructed over 30 years ago.
He maintained that governor Imoke conceived the construction of the drainage to save the city from collapse, saying that the project, which is second to none in this part of the country, will address the hazard of flooding experienced in the metropolis over the years.
Meanwhile, in order to further reduce the impact of the flood, the state government has constructed more drainage and has issued an order to the people, warning that it would henceforth arrest and detain those that empty their refuse into drainages.
Commissioner of Environment in the state, Sandy Onor, said they would be made to face the full wrath of the law, adding that the penalty would also extend to people living around desilted areas who fail to caution those living around their neighbourhoods from dumping refuse into drains.
Onor said that in order to adequately deal with flood issue in the state the construction of channel II will ensure that the volume of water that comes from Calcemco to Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) channel 1 will now be diverted to Calabar River.
The commissioner also reminded members of the public to take adequate precautionary measures to protect their lives and property in order to forestall any mishap in view of the prediction by NIMET.