The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) has extended the distribution of humanitarian relief materials donated by the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to disaster-affected residents in Ikom, Obubra and Etung Local Government Areas of the state.
The distribution exercise, which took place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the CR-SEMA Warehouse, was aimed at ensuring that the humanitarian intervention reached vulnerable households and communities affected by various disaster incidents across the state.
The Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, who supervised the exercise, handed over the relief materials to the Vice Chairmen of the three local government areas, who also serve as Chairmen of their respective Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), for onward distribution to identified beneficiaries.
The exercise followed the recent presentation of a fire truck and humanitarian relief materials to the Cross River State Government by the SSDC, at a ceremony where the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Peter Odey, received the items on behalf of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
Speaking during the distribution, Nyong stressed the importance of accountability and proper coordination in ensuring that the relief materials reached the intended beneficiaries, particularly households affected by fire outbreaks, flooding and other disaster incidents.
“Our priority is to ensure that these relief materials get to the people who genuinely need them, particularly households affected by fire outbreaks, flooding and other disaster incidents. We are working closely with the Local Emergency Management Committees because they understand the peculiar needs of their communities and are better positioned to identify affected persons,” he said.
The CR-SEMA boss expressed appreciation to the SSDC for the humanitarian intervention, describing it as a timely support for disaster-affected residents.
“We sincerely appreciate the South-South Development Commission for this intervention. The support will go a long way in cushioning the effects of disasters on affected residents. We remain committed to strengthening our response mechanisms to ensure that no affected community is left behind,” Nyong added.
Receiving the materials on behalf of their respective councils, the Vice Chairmen expressed appreciation to the SSDC, the Cross River State Government and CR-SEMA for extending the intervention to their local government areas.
The Vice Chairman of Obubra Local Government Area, Hon. Leonard Ogwa, particularly commended Governor Otu for his commitment to disaster management and the support provided to CR-SEMA to enable the Agency to effectively discharge its responsibilities.
“We appreciate Governor Bassey Otu for his commitment to disaster management and the consistent support he has provided to CR-SEMA to enable the Agency to respond effectively to emergencies. We also commend the South-South Development Commission for remembering disaster-affected residents in our communities through this intervention,” Ogwa said.
Also present were the Vice Chairman of Etung Local Government Area, Hon. Innocent Assam Amba, and his Ikom counterpart, Hon. Maurice Ndoma, who received the relief materials on behalf of their respective councils and Local Emergency Management Committees.
By David Asu
