Calabar Flooding: "Dump Refuse in Drainages, Go to Jail" — Cross River Government Warns Residents

Residents of Cross River State, particularly those living in Calabar, have been warned that dumping refuse in gutters, drainages and other water channels could now lead to arrest and prosecution.

The warning was issued by the Executive Secretary of the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA), Dr Effiong Ayi, during an inspection of flood-affected areas in the Calabar metropolis.

The warning comes at a time when heavy rainfall and blocked drainage channels continue to raise concerns across several communities in the state.

According to the CUDA boss, the government has observed the continued practice of residents dumping household and industrial waste into gutters despite the availability of designated dumpsters across the city.

He stressed that drainage channels were constructed to carry stormwater and were never intended to serve as refuse disposal points.

Dr Ayi warned that any resident caught dumping refuse into gutters or other water channels would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He said the situation had become particularly disturbing in some areas where drainage channels had been filled with plastic waste, household refuse, heavy silt, old furniture and even discarded engine blocks.

One of the areas cited was Efut Effio-Ene in Calabar South, where the extent of the blockage has raised concerns over the free flow of water during heavy rainfall.

The development has also raised questions about the role of residents in the recurring flooding experienced in parts of the state.

While the government has been carrying out desilting and other flood mitigation efforts, officials say indiscriminate waste disposal continues to undermine these interventions.

Dr Ayi said the state government had provided dumpsters in different locations across Calabar and had also deployed resources for the desilting of major drainage channels.

He urged residents to dispose of their refuse properly by taking it to designated dumpsters instead of throwing it into gutters.

According to him, residents must also take responsibility for maintaining the drainage channels around their communities.

He called on residents to participate actively in environmental sanitation exercises and to work collectively to keep their surroundings clean.

The CUDA Executive Secretary warned that the consequences of blocked drainages could go beyond flooding.

He noted that clogged drainage channels could lead to the destruction of homes, businesses, roads and other infrastructure, while stagnant water could also create conditions favourable for the spread of diseases.

The warning is coming shortly after heavy rains caused flooding in different parts of Cross River, with the state already facing growing concerns over the impact of poor drainage and improper waste disposal.

Environmental concerns have also been raised in parts of Calabar South, where residents have complained about gutters filled with plastic bottles, nylon bags, food waste and other debris.

Some residents in affected communities have called for more regular waste collection and the provision of additional refuse bins, arguing that proper waste management requires both responsible citizens and effective public sanitation services.

However, the Cross River Government has maintained that residents must also play their part by using the waste disposal facilities provided by the authorities.

The issue has consequently triggered a growing debate across the state: while the government says residents are worsening flooding by blocking drainages with refuse, some communities continue to demand more effective waste collection and sanitation services.

For now, authorities have made their position clear — anyone caught dumping refuse in drainage channels risks arrest and prosecution as the rainy season intensifies.

The government says keeping Cross River clean and reducing the risk of flooding must be a shared responsibility between the authorities and the people.

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