The Cross River State Government has appealed to the Federal Government for urgent intervention to tackle the growing menace of landslides ravaging Calabar, warning that the worsening ecological crisis has exceeded the state’s capacity and now poses a serious threat to lives, property and critical infrastructure.
Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, made the appeal on Wednesday while inspecting the massive mudslide at Diamond Hill, near the Calabar Jetty, following Monday’s torrential rainfall.
He described the incident as another stark reminder of the state’s environmental vulnerability and called for the immediate deployment of federal technical expertise, equipment and ecological resources to prevent what he described as an impending ecological disaster.
According to Odey, Cross River requires urgent support through the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Fund to permanently address the recurring landslides and erosion threatening several parts of the state capital.
“Similar incidents have occurred in other states, and the Federal Ministry of Environment intervened through the Ecological Fund. We believe Cross River deserves the same level of attention. We are appealing to the Federal Government to urgently deploy the necessary equipment, technical experts and every available support to help us address this challenge,” he said.
The Deputy Governor noted that Cross River had long been identified as one of Nigeria’s environmentally vulnerable states during the Federal Government’s hazard mapping exercise, adding that recent disasters had confirmed those predictions.
“They warned us during the hazard mapping exercise that incidents like this could happen, but we never anticipated the situation would become this serious. This is not just about financial support; it is about deploying the technical expertise required to permanently solve this problem,” he added.
Odey warned that failure to act swiftly could jeopardise critical federal infrastructure, noting that the affected road serves as an access route to strategic federal establishments, including the Nigerian Navy.
“If this road is eventually cut off, access to these facilities will be severely disrupted. That is why this intervention is important not only for Cross River State but also for the Federal Government and the nation as a whole,” he said.
The Deputy Governor disclosed that officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who are currently in the state, had already inspected the site, stressing that effective collaboration between the state and Federal Government would be crucial in addressing the crisis.
“We have about fourteen directors from NEMA presently in Cross River State, and they have already visited the site. This is a challenge that requires genuine collaboration between the Cross River State Government and the Federal Government because it is beyond what any single institution can effectively handle,” he stated.
Odey said the state government had directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to immediately mobilise to the affected area to begin emergency measures aimed at preventing further damage.
He explained that the Diamond Hill incident was only one of several landslides and erosion sites reported across the state following recent heavy rainfall, assuring residents that the Governor Bassey Otu administration would respond promptly to all affected communities.
While expressing gratitude that no lives were lost in the latest incident, he stressed that government would not wait for fatalities before taking decisive action.
He also disclosed that environmental experts and engineers had been engaged to conduct technical assessments and design permanent erosion-control measures capable of protecting vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure across the state.
Odey reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Bassey Otu administration to safeguarding lives and property, assuring Cross Riverians that emergency works would commence immediately while engagements with the Federal Government continue to secure lasting solutions to the ecological challenge.