Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and emergency response, assuring residents that the protection of lives and property will remain a top priority of his government.
The Governor gave the assurance through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, at the close of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’s three-day Full Scale Flood Disaster Response Simulation Exercise, organised in collaboration with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) at Marina Beach, Calabar.
Governor Otu described the exercise as timely and impactful, noting that it demonstrated the growing capacity of NEMA and CR-SEMA to coordinate effective emergency response operations ahead of the peak of the 2026 flood season.
He commended the Director-General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, for his proactive leadership since assuming office, saying he has brought renewed energy, professionalism and strategic direction to disaster management in the state.
The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening collaboration with NEMA and other humanitarian partners to build resilient communities across Cross River State.
He disclosed that the state government, through CR-SEMA, is making arrangements to establish additional temporary shelters in vulnerable communities to accommodate displaced persons during emergencies, assuring residents that government will continue to invest in measures that safeguard lives and property.
The simulation exercise, which marked the climax of a three-day programme, brought together emergency response agencies, security organisations, humanitarian partners, Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), development partners and community volunteers in a practical demonstration of search and rescue, evacuation, first aid and relief distribution operations designed to strengthen emergency preparedness following flood forecasts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
By David Asu
