The Efut Efio-Ene community in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State has raised alarm over severe flooding that has destroyed homes, property, and farmlands in the area.
Community leaders, who spoke in separate interviews with journalists, said the disaster has also led to loss of lives, with residents describing the situation as a recurring problem that has persisted for years.
They attributed the flooding to the discharge of water from drainage channels across Calabar metropolis into the community, which they say has worsened the impact of heavy rainfall.
The disaster, they said, has displaced several families and left many residents homeless, while also destroying livelihoods.
The Clan Head of Efut Efio-Ene, Muri Umo Ekpo II, lamented the extent of the damage, saying the situation has become a major burden for the community.
He said the flooding has exposed residents to serious health risks due to stagnant and contaminated water, while also destroying roads and making movement difficult.
“We are facing serious flooding in our community because rainwater collected from across Calabar and its environs flows directly into our area,” he said.
“Unfortunately, successive administrations in the state have not done anything to address the problem.”
Ekpo II noted that the last major desilting of drainage channels in the area was carried out during the administration of former Governor Donald Duke, and called for urgent intervention before the peak of the rainy season.
He urged the government at all levels, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and relevant environmental authorities, to take immediate steps to stop the discharge of floodwater into the community.
The community’s youth leader, Princewill Lawrence, said residents now live in fear whenever it rains, warning that the situation could worsen in the coming weeks.
“Heavy rainfall may lead to catastrophic flooding, collapse of weak structures, destruction of livelihoods, and possible loss of lives,” he said.
He called on the state government to conduct technical inspections of affected areas and implement urgent flood control measures, including proper drainage systems and water retention infrastructure.
The women leader of the community, Obongawan Bassey, also appealed for swift government intervention to reduce the impact of the flooding.
In response, the Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Antigha Gill, said efforts were ongoing to address the situation.
He said relevant government agencies had been notified and that the Ministry of Environment had been directed to take action.
“We have written to the state government on this matter, and it has mandated the Ministry of Environment to intervene,” he said.
Gill added that his agency is working with the Ministry of Environment and the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA) to find a lasting solution.
“We are aware that the rainy season is here. The community recently sent a reminder about the severity of the flooding, and we will collaborate with relevant agencies to address it,” he said.
The agency assured residents that steps would be taken to mitigate the impact of the flooding in the area.
