Red Cross, CR-SEMA, Take Flood Preparedness Campaign to Biase, Assure Communities of Timely Government Response

Red Cross, CR-SEMA, Take Flood Preparedness Campaign to Biase, Assure Communities of Timely Government Response

By David Asu

The Nigerian Red Cross Society, in collaboration with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), has taken its flood preparedness and anticipatory action campaign to Biase Local Government Area, with stakeholders urging residents to take early warnings seriously and prepare ahead of possible flooding.

The sensitization programme, held at the Biase Local Government Council, brought together officials of the Local Government, Security Stakeholders, traditional institutions, community representatives, the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC), education stakeholders and humanitarian responders.

Welcoming participants, the Vice Chairman of Biase Local Government Area, Hon. Ekuma Ngwu, who represented the Executive Chairman, Hon. Edodi Eyong, conveyed the Chairman’s appreciation to the Nigerian Red Cross Society and CR-SEMA for selecting Biase as one of the priority areas for the intervention.

He disclosed that several communities in the Local Government Area had experienced displacement, with some residents currently facing difficulties accessing their communities due to flooding.

Hon. Ngwu assured the visiting agencies of the Local Government’s full cooperation, while commending the CR-SEMA Director General, Mr. Efa Nyong, for what he described as his inclusive approach to disaster management and his commitment to ensuring that affected communities are carried along.

He also commended Nigerian Red Cross volunteers for their dedication to supporting communities during emergencies despite operating largely on a voluntary basis.

Speaking during the programme, the Paramount Ruler of Biase Local Government Area, Onun Apostle Nicholas Odum, welcomed the delegation and called for greater cooperation between the communities, government and humanitarian organisations in addressing flood-related challenges.

Also speaking, the Legal Adviser to Biase Local Government, Barrister Okoi James, appealed for greater emphasis on disaster preparedness, noting that many farmers in rural communities have limited capacity to predict or adequately prepare for flooding.

He urged relevant agencies to strengthen early warning systems and provide communities with practical information that would enable them take preventive action before disasters occur, rather than waiting until after incidents have caused damage.

Community members also called for wider sensitization across Biase, including the use of flood-awareness jingles in local languages and the expansion of temporary shelters to accommodate more residents who may be displaced by flooding.

Responding, the Director General of CR-SEMA, Mr. Efa Nyong, assured residents that the Agency’s flood sensitization campaign would extend across all 18 Local Government Areas of the State.

He disclosed that CR-SEMA was working on the deployment of jingles, billboards, social media, radio and other communication channels, including traditional town criers, to ensure that flood preparedness messages reach communities at the grassroots.

Mr. Nyong stressed that the era of government responding slowly or remaining distant from affected communities was over, noting that the State Government was committed to providing timely intervention whenever emergencies occur.

He said his presence in Biase was a demonstration of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable communities receive the attention and support required during emergencies.

The Vice Chairman further assured residents of Agwagune and other affected communities that the State Government had been briefed on their challenges and was committed to supporting affected persons.

On his part, the Branch Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Calabar, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting government as its auxiliary partner in humanitarian response.

He commended the Cross River State Government and CR-SEMA for their continued presence in affected communities and urged residents to pay attention to local early warning signs of flooding, stressing that communities sometimes observe environmental changes that may provide important indications of impending danger.

Speaking from the education sector, the Secretary of the Biase Local Government Area Education Authority, Bishop Victor Ekpei, called for flood sensitization programmes to be introduced in schools early, preferably before the peak of the rainy season.

He said school principals, teachers and other education stakeholders were ready to support the campaign and educate pupils on appropriate safety measures before and during flood emergencies.

In his closing remarks, the Vice Chairman expressed confidence in the capacity of CR-SEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross Society to support Biase communities, assuring residents that the Local Government remained committed to working with the agencies.

He also urged residents to promptly report emerging disaster threats to the Local Emergency Management Committee, describing the LEMC as the first point of response at the community level before additional support arrives.