By Nsan Nsan-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State government has started desilting of a 4-kilometre stretch of water channels in Calabar, after the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, flagged Cross River State as high-risk for flooding, with a projected 30 per cent increase in risk for September and October 2026.
The decision follows warnings from NiMet and NEMA, which listed Cross River among states at high risk of flooding.
With NiMet projecting a “30 per cent increase in flood risk for September and October 2026,” the state government moved to clear blocked gutters in the capital before heavy rains set in.
Giving insight on the intervention, the Executive Secretary of Calabar Urban Development Authority CUDA, Dr. Ayi Etim Effiong, said it has “become necessary to desilt Channel One.”
He added, “Channel One begins from the Channel View Hotel axis and spans to Target by Goldie axis, Mayne Avenue, Yellow Duke, UNICROSS and empties into the Calabar sea.”
He noted that “this is the second desilting we are conducting here.”
In an effort to show support for residents affected by previous floods, Dr. Effiong stated, “To support residents whose buildings were pulled down by runoff or flood water, we erected the broken wall of a 90-year-old woman, Deaconess Eso Ekpeyong.”
He added, “We are opening up the bridges and the drainages. Without opening up the drainages, the amount of water that will flow from them will not have free access to the ravine and subsequently into the river.
“That is why we are here, on the directive of the governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu, who in his magnanimity said we should carry out a mechanized desilting that can withstand the runoff water for at least another one year.
“It’s the reason we are here to do desilting that can tackle the effect of flooding and cushion its effect completely.
“Out of the three major channels, Channel One is the major channel which was constructed by Strabag under the administration of former Governor Donald Duke.
“It flows from MCC, Channel View, connects the Diamond Hill axis, State Housing, then crosses the barracks and goes straight to UNICROSS.”
Recalling past efforts, Dr. Effiong said, “Two years ago when we came on board, the first place we targeted was a woman’s house that was broken down by the flood water and we rehabilitated the house. For us to be on the safe side, it is better to come to this place, open up this place properly.
“That’s why I said you should see it by yourself so that you also see it after. We are not joking here. We are here to work. And all this is not by my directive, but on the directive of the governor.”
Outlining the next phase of work, he said, “We are taking Murray by Target, Target by Goldie. Each time it rains, this place is always flooded. Once we finish here we will be going back to 8 Miles and then finish up.”
He also issued a stern warning to residents: government would “not take it lightly with those dumping refuse into the gutters,” advising the public to use dustbins placed at strategic locations for refuse collection.
