The Federal Government has commenced a new assessment of communities devastated by erosion, flooding and landslides in Cross River State, as concerns continue to grow over the increasing number of disasters affecting lives, homes and critical infrastructure across the state.
The assessment is being led by the South South Development Commission (SSDC), whose Managing Director, Usoro Offiong Akpabio, visited several of the worst-hit communities alongside officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other stakeholders.
The delegation inspected major erosion and landslide sites across Calabar, including Anansa Street, Big Qua, Elijah Henshaw and Atu Street, where recent heavy rainfall destroyed roads, homes and drainage infrastructure, forcing many people from their residences. The team also visited temporary shelters housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) to assess their immediate humanitarian needs.
Speaking during the visit, Akpabio said the Commission considered the situation a humanitarian emergency that required immediate attention. She noted that beyond damaged infrastructure, many residents had lost loved ones, livelihoods and their sense of security.
According to her, the disasters being witnessed in Cross River are not isolated incidents but part of a wider environmental challenge affecting several South-South states. She disclosed that similar assessments would be carried out across the region to enable the Commission develop a coordinated response rather than isolated interventions.
Akpabio also attributed the growing incidents of flooding and erosion to the impact of climate change, poor environmental practices and weak urban planning. She urged governments at all levels to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, strengthen environmental policies and promote responsible waste management to reduce future disasters.
The Director-General of CR-SEMA, Efa Nyong, welcomed the Federal Government's intervention, describing the assessment as timely and reassuring for affected communities. He said the state government has continued to provide emergency relief materials and temporary shelter despite limited resources but stressed that long-term investments in erosion control and flood mitigation remain urgently needed.
Residents of several affected communities have repeatedly appealed for permanent engineering solutions, saying yearly flooding and erosion continue to destroy homes, businesses and livelihoods. Environmental experts have also warned that without sustained intervention, extreme weather and inadequate drainage systems could worsen the crisis in the coming years.
The SSDC assured victims that the assessment marks the beginning of broader partnerships with the Cross River State Government, NEMA and development partners aimed at supporting relief efforts, rebuilding damaged communities and improving disaster preparedness across the South-South region.
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