The member representing Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management and Preparedness, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey, has called for urgent intervention by the Federal Government and international development partners to address the devastating landslides and other climate-induced disasters in Cross River State, saying the magnitude of the crisis is beyond the capacity of the state government.
Reacting to the recent landslide that claimed lives and destroyed property in parts of the state, Bassey described the tragedy as a stark reminder of the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. He noted that although the intensity of the disaster exceeded earlier projections, Cross River had long been identified through climate forecasts and early warning systems as one of Nigeria’s high-risk states for excessive rainfall, flooding and landslides.
The federal lawmaker disclosed that, ahead of the rainy season, the House Committee on Disaster Management and Preparedness formally alerted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to the heightened risks facing the state. He said the agency subsequently deployed officials to Cross River to conduct vulnerability assessments, disaster simulation exercises and public sensitisation campaigns in communities considered susceptible to flooding and landslides.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu has been fully briefed on the situation, while the National Assembly has fulfilled its oversight responsibility by drawing the attention of the executive to the urgent need for intervention.
Bassey commended Governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu for his swift response to the disaster, describing the governor as proactive in leading emergency interventions and personally inspecting the affected communities despite the heavy rains.
He said Governor Otu immediately directed remedial measures to contain the impact of the landslides and protect lives and property, adding that the prompt response helped reduce the extent of the devastation.
While mourning those who lost their lives, the committee chairman stressed that no intervention could replace the victims, but maintained that stronger investments in disaster preparedness, mitigation infrastructure and early warning systems were essential to preventing future occurrences.
He explained that Cross River’s mountainous terrain, fragile soil formations and high tropical rainfall make several communities particularly vulnerable to landslides and flooding, noting that such environmental realities require specialised engineering and long-term ecological interventions.
Bassey observed that the ongoing reconstruction of the Calabar–Itu Highway with reinforced concrete pavement underscores the need for infrastructure designed to withstand the state’s unique climatic conditions.
He maintained that the scale of the disaster demands a coordinated response involving the Federal Government, development partners and international organisations.
“This is beyond what the state government can handle alone. The resources required for such massive remediation are enormous. We need the support of the Federal Government as well as international development partners to effectively tackle this challenge,” he said.
The lawmaker further disclosed that he had initiated engagements with relevant federal authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Environment through the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon. Mike Etaba, to mobilise additional support for environmental remediation and ecological restoration efforts in Cross River State.
He assured residents that the House of Representatives would pursue increased budgetary allocations for disaster management, ecological protection and climate resilience projects in the next appropriation cycle to strengthen federal intervention in the state.
Bassey also urged residents living in communities identified as high-risk areas, particularly within the Calabar axis and other vulnerable locations, to heed government advisories and relocate where necessary, stressing that the preservation of human life must take precedence over every other consideration.
He commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for intensifying public awareness campaigns and community-based disaster preparedness programmes, noting that improved public knowledge and emergency response skills would significantly reduce casualties during disasters.
Expressing confidence in the collaborative efforts of the Federal Government, the Cross River State Government and emergency management agencies, Bassey said sustained funding, coordinated planning and increased public awareness would strengthen the state’s resilience to climate-related disasters and safeguard vulnerable communities in the years ahead.
