SSDC Begins Construction of 100-Room Facility for Displaced Persons in Cross River

SSDC Begins Construction of 100-Room Facility for Displaced Persons in Cross River

By David Asu

The Federal Government, through the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), has began construction of a 100-room accommodation facility for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cross River State.

The commencement of work on the project was supervised on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by the Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), Mr. Efa Nyong, as part of efforts to provide sustainable shelter for disaster-affected residents.

Speaking at the project site, Nyong commended the leadership of the SSDC for fulfilling its promise to intervene in the plight of displaced persons, describing the project as a significant step towards addressing accommodation challenges faced by disaster-affected families.

He particularly praised the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Ms. Usoro Offiong Akpabio, for her commitment to the initiative and acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for efforts aimed at addressing developmental and humanitarian challenges in the South-South region.

The CR-SEMA boss also expressed appreciation to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, for his sustained commitment to the welfare of disaster-affected residents.

He stressed the need for continued government intervention in providing emergency relief, safe accommodation and sustainable recovery opportunities for families displaced by disasters.

The initiative followed an earlier visit by Akpabio to the Nigerian Red Cross Society facility in Calabar, where she interacted with displaced persons and expressed concern over their living conditions.

During the visit, the SSDC Managing Director emphasised the need for coordinated humanitarian interventions and long-term solutions to the accommodation challenges confronting displaced families.

The 100-room facility was designed to provide safer and more suitable accommodation for vulnerable residents, particularly those displaced by flooding, fire outbreaks and other emergencies across the state.

The project, sponsored by the SSDC, involved collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including the Cross River State Government, CR-SEMA and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, which provided the space for the facility.

The partnership highlighted the importance of collaboration between government institutions and humanitarian organisations in strengthening disaster response and addressing the needs of displaced persons.

The intervention also reflected efforts to move beyond temporary relief measures towards sustainable humanitarian solutions aimed at improving the safety, welfare and living conditions of disaster-affected families in Cross River State.