The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society and Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), has carried out a comprehensive joint damage and needs assessment of flood and landslide-affected communities in Calabar, with a view to determining the extent of destruction and facilitating appropriate humanitarian interventions.
The assessment, conducted on Saturday, July 18, 2026, brought together disaster management stakeholders at the national, state and local government levels to evaluate the impact of recent heavy rainfall on affected communities and generate credible reports to guide emergency response and recovery efforts.
The joint delegation was received in Calabar Municipality by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Okon Etim Nyong, who led the team through the affected locations, beginning with Ekorinim 2, beside Lords Academy, where severe flooding impacted more than five residential buildings and displaced over 15 households.
Findings from the assessment revealed that the flooding was caused by the blockage of a drainage channel after sand excavated from a soakaway pit was dumped into it, preventing the free flow of stormwater. The resulting floodwaters damaged homes, perimeter fences, vehicles and other household property.
During the inspection, an affected landlord, Hon. John Bassey David, conducted the team round the community and explained the magnitude of losses suffered by residents.
The delegation also visited No. 17 Emmanuel Edem Crescent in the Federal Housing Estate, where floodwaters brought down the perimeter fence of a residential compound, affecting two buildings occupied by four households. Although no lives were lost, the incident caused structural damage and heightened concerns over the vulnerability of the area to future flooding.
The team later proceeded to Boro Pit, Satellite Town, where a devastating landslide claimed the life of a nine-year-old child and destroyed residential property. The delegation met with the bereaved father, Mr. Namson Effiong, who emotionally recounted the tragic loss of his only child and the destruction of virtually all his belongings.
Visibly moved by the family’s ordeal, the Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, conveyed the condolences and compassion of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu to the bereaved family, assuring them that the Cross River State Government shares in their grief.
He explained that the assessment was not merely to document the disaster but also to ensure that the findings are presented to Governor Otu to facilitate timely government intervention and support for affected victims.
Mr. Nyong further urged residents in disaster-prone communities to promptly report emerging threats and relocate from unsafe locations whenever necessary, emphasizing that the preservation of lives must remain the highest priority.
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of Calabar Municipality, Hon. Okon Etim Nyong, commended NEMA and CR-SEMA for their prompt response, noting that their visit had rekindled hope among affected residents. He also conveyed the condolences and goodwill of the Chairman of Calabar Municipality to the bereaved family.
The Acting Head of Operations, NEMA Akwa Ibom and Cross River Operations Office, Mr. Awoji Austin, said the exercise was aimed at generating accurate situation reports for submission to the Director General of NEMA to support appropriate emergency response measures.
He urged residents to heed early warning advisories and immediately vacate buildings showing signs of distress, stressing that disasters often occur with little or no additional warning.
Similarly, the Disaster Management Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Mr. Agbor Okim, sympathized with the affected family and encouraged residents to embrace disaster preparedness measures, assuring them of the organization’s continued humanitarian support.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the Youth Leader, Rev. Etim Bassey, appealed to government to address longstanding infrastructure deficits in the area through the construction of access roads, provision of potable water and establishment of a functional healthcare facility.
Also, community representative, Esinjo Ekong Okon, representing the Ntoe of Akim, thanked the visiting agencies for identifying with the affected residents and appealed for sustained government intervention to tackle the environmental challenges confronting the community.
The assessment team later extended the exercise to Calabar South Local Government Area, where they were received by the Vice Chairman and Chairperson of the Local Emergency Management Committee, Hon. Lady Atim Martin. The delegation inspected flood damage at The Apostolic Church, No. 72 Goldie Street, where sections of the perimeter fence were destroyed, before proceeding to parts of Target Street, where blocked drainage channels caused by indiscriminate waste disposal resulted in severe flooding of surrounding residential areas.
By David Asu
