NEMA, CR-SEMA Lead Joint Multi-Agency Assessment of Flood and Landslide-Affected Communities in Calabar

NEMA, CR-SEMA Lead Joint Multi-Agency Assessment of Flood and Landslide-Affected Communities in Calabar

By David Asu

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 conducted a joint damage and needs assessment across flood and landslide-affected communities in Calabar to determine the extent of destruction and recommend appropriate humanitarian interventions.

The assessment, carried out Today, July 18, 2026, brought together stakeholders across the national, state and local levels as well as other stakeholders in disaster management.

The team was led through the affected communities in Calabar Municipality by the Vice Chairman of Calabar Municipality, Hon. Okon Etim Nyong, who guided the delegation to the affected areas.

The assessment exercise commenced at Ekorinim 2, beside Lords Academy in Calabar Municipality, where the joint team inspected the aftermath of a severe flood that impacted more than five residential buildings and displaced over fifteen households.

The assessment revealed that the flooding was triggered after sand excavated from a soakaway pit was dumped into a drainage channel, completely blocking the natural flow of stormwater.

With nowhere to discharge, the heavy rainfall forced floodwaters into surrounding homes, destroying fences, damaging residential buildings, affecting vehicles and causing extensive destruction to household property.

During the inspection, one of the affected landlords, Hon. John Bassey David, took the assessment team round the community, explaining the extent of the damage sustained by residents.

The delegation later proceeded to No. 17 Emmanuel Edem Crescent, Federal Housing Estate, where another flood incident had pulled down the perimeter fence of a residential compound, affecting two buildings occupied by four households.

Although no casualties were recorded at the location, the flood caused structural damage and left residents vulnerable to future incidents if appropriate mitigation measures are not implemented.

The assessment team thereafter visited Boro Pit, Satellite Town, where a devastating landslide triggered by the heavy rainfall claimed the life of a nine-year-old child and destroyed residential property.

The emotional atmosphere deepened as the team met with the bereaved father, Mr. Namson Effiong, who recounted the painful experience.

According to him, the landslide claimed the life of his only child and destroyed virtually all his belongings, leaving him with nothing.

Mr. Effiong, visibly overwhelmed with grief, disclosed that he had to borrow the clothes he wore to receive the delegation, describing the incident as the darkest moment of his life.

Speaking during the visit, the Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, sympathized deeply with the bereaved family and assured them that the Cross River State Government shares in their grief.

Mr. Nyong explained that his visit was not only to assess the disaster but also to personally convey the compassion of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu to the affected family.

He assured them that the findings from the assessment would be presented to the Governor to facilitate appropriate Government intervention.

The CR-SEMA Director General further urged residents living in disaster-prone communities to immediately report emerging threats and relocate from unsafe locations whenever necessary, stressing that the safety of lives must always come first.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of Calabar Municipality, Hon. Okon Etim Nyong, commended both NEMA and CR-SEMA for their swift response to the incident.

He said the presence of the agencies had renewed hope among the affected residents and conveyed the goodwill and condolences of the Chairman of Calabar Municipality to the grieving family.

The Acting Head of Operations, NEMA Akwa Ibom and Cross River Operations Office, Mr. Awoji Austin, explained that the purpose of the joint assessment was to gather accurate situation reports that would be forwarded to the Director General of NEMA for necessary action.

He advised residents to take early warnings seriously and immediately evacuate unsafe buildings whenever signs of danger become evident, noting that disasters often occur without further notice.

On his part, the Disaster Management Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Mr. Agbor Okim, expressed sympathy with the affected family and encouraged residents to embrace disaster preparedness measures while assuring them of the continued support of the Red Cross in humanitarian response.

Speaking on behalf of the community, the Youth Leader, Rev. Etim Bassey, appealed to Government to urgently address critical infrastructure challenges in the area, including the construction of access roads, provision of potable water and establishment of a functional healthcare facility.

Similarly, the community representative, Esinjo Ekong Okon, representing the Ntoe of Akim, thanked the visiting agencies for identifying with the community and appealed for sustained Government intervention to address the environmental challenges confronting the area.

The joint assessment team later proceeded 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 team inspected flood damage at The Apostolic Church, No. 72 Goldie Street, where heavy floodwaters destroyed sections of perimeter fencing, before moving to parts of Target Street, where blocked drainage channels caused by indiscriminate waste disposal resulted in severe flooding within surrounding residential areas.