Nigerian Red Cross Activates Flood Anticipatory Action in Cross River, Selects Biase, Calabar South for Intervention

Nigerian Red Cross Activates Flood Anticipatory Action in Cross River, Selects Biase, Calabar South for Intervention

By David Asu

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), has commenced a 10-day anticipatory action operation in Cross River State to strengthen preparedness and reduce the humanitarian impact of possible flooding during the 2026 rainy season.

The initiative, which brings together the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), government agencies and other humanitarian stakeholders, commenced with a stakeholders’ coordination meeting in Calabar on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

The operation follows the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) National Flood Advisory, which indicates an increased likelihood of riverine and flash flooding in several parts of the country as a result of sustained rainfall, rising river levels and increased surface runoff.

Declaring the meeting open, the Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, welcomed the delegation from the Nigerian Red Cross Society National Headquarters, Abuja, and other participating stakeholders to Cross River State.

Nyong emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures before flooding occurs, stressing that effective disaster management depends largely on early warning, preparedness, strong coordination and community-level action.

He noted that the planned activities would complement the State’s ongoing efforts to strengthen flood preparedness and public awareness across the 18 Local Government Areas, calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to protect lives and livelihoods.

The Disaster Management Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Calabar Branch, Mr. Agbor Okim, thereafter made a presentation on disaster preparedness, with particular emphasis on flood risks, early warning and anticipatory actions.

Following the presentation and assessment of available flood-risk information, stakeholders participated in a selection process to identify priority areas for the implementation of the operation.

The process resulted in Biase and Calabar South Local Government Areas being selected as the priority areas for the intervention.

In Biase, Agwagune and Adim communities were identified, while Anantigha and Otokang were selected in Calabar South.

The operation will involve a series of activities designed to strengthen community preparedness, including early warning dissemination, public awareness, evacuation preparedness, community engagement, WASH interventions, protection of household and livelihood assets and strengthening of local response capacity.

The programme will also extend to schools, where flood-risk awareness and safe practices will be promoted among students, teachers and school communities.

As part of the 10-day programme, stakeholders will hold further coordination meetings in Biase on Wednesday, August 12, and Calabar South on Thursday, August 13, ahead of community-level implementation.

The subsequent activities will include flood awareness campaigns in schools, community clean-up exercises targeting clogged drainages and waterways, radio sensitization programmes, and a roadshow across the selected communities focusing on early warning and flood preparedness.

Speaking during the meeting, the Vice Chairman of Biase Local Government Area and Head of the Local Emergency Management Committee, Hon. Ekuma Ngwu, appreciated the Nigerian Red Cross Society for selecting Biase for the intervention and conveyed the support of the Local Government Chairman.

Ngwu appealed for consideration to be given to additional flood-prone communities within the local government, particularly communities experiencing similar challenges along major road corridors.

Responding, Agbor Okim explained that the selected communities were identified following assessments of their level of flood vulnerability and the potential impact of the forecast situation.

He, however, noted that there could be opportunities to scale up the intervention to other vulnerable communities.

Also speaking, the Nigerian Red Cross Society’s Livelihood and Liaison Officer from the National Headquarters, Abuja, Mrs. Blessing John, commended Cross River stakeholders for their level of preparedness and cooperation.

She emphasized the importance of anticipatory action, noting that the objective was to ensure communities are better prepared to act before flooding reaches critical levels.

The Manager of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Calabar Operational Office, Mr. Joseph A. Iyanam, conveyed the goodwill of the Director General of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, and reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with emergency management stakeholders on early warning and flood preparedness.

Representatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Police Force, Federal Fire Service, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Information, NIHSA, Local Emergency Management Committees and other relevant stakeholders also participated in the meeting.

The meeting ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to coordinated anticipatory action, with the State Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Calabar Branch, Mr. Eni Joseph, appreciating the participants for responding to the invitation at short notice and commending the CR-SEMA Director General for his continued support to the Society.

In his closing remarks, the CR-SEMA Director General thanked the participating agencies for their continued cooperation and urged stakeholders to sustain the partnership as Cross River intensifies efforts to prepare communities for the 2026 flood season.

He stressed that early action, public awareness and community participation remain critical to reducing the impact of flooding and protecting lives and livelihoods across the State.