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Cross River deputy gov seeks FG intervention
The Cross River State Government has raised the alarm over a looming threat to critical federal infrastructure in Calabar, warning that facilities, including the Nigerian Navy Base, may be cut off if urgent steps are not taken to address the Diamond Hill mudslide.
Deputy Governor Peter Odey gave the warning on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the disaster site near the Calabar Jetty, which was triggered by Monday’s torrential rainfall.
Describing the incident as a “grim reminder of the state’s environmental vulnerability,” Odey said the scale of destruction has overwhelmed the state’s resources and requires immediate federal intervention.
“We received reports of this landslide after yesterday’s heavy rainfall, and it became necessary for us to come here and see things for ourselves,” the Deputy Governor said.
“We have directed the Commissioner for Works to mobilise immediately because government cannot afford to delay in responding to a disaster of this magnitude. Our priority is to secure the area, prevent further destruction, and protect lives and property.”
Odey noted that the Diamond Hill collapse was not an isolated case, stressing that erosion and landslides have been reported in several communities across the state in the past two weeks.
“This is certainly not the only location affected. We have received reports from several parts of Cross River State where erosion and landslides have also occurred.
“As a responsible government, we will do everything within our capacity to respond immediately. We cannot allow these situations to escalate into humanitarian disasters,” he said.
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The Deputy Governor expressed particular concern over the proximity of the damaged road to strategic federal installations.
“You can see that there are federal government institutions around this corridor, including the Nigerian Navy. If this road is eventually cut off, access to these facilities will be severely disrupted.
“That is why this intervention is not only important for Cross River State but also for the Federal Government and the nation as a whole,” Odey stated.
The Deputy Governor added that the state had engaged environmental experts and engineers to design permanent erosion-control solutions rather than temporary fixes.
Odey appealed to the Federal Ministry of Environment to extend support to Cross River through the Ecological Fund, similar to interventions in other states.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Bassey Otu administration to safeguard lives and property, assuring that emergency works would commence immediately.
The damaged section of the road at Diamond Hill remained partially closed to heavy vehicles, with residents and commuters expressing fears over a possible total collapse if the rains continue.
