Nigerians residing around erosion and flood prone areas have been assured of short term remedial measures to cushion the effect of the environmental disasters on their means of livelihood.
The governor of Cross River State in southern Nigeria, Senator Bassey Otu gave the assurance after an on the spot assessment of some erosion sites within Calabar, the state capital.
Governor Otu empathised with some of the victims, who had lost their homes and businesses to erosion, pledging to provide short term palliatives, while seeking long term intervention through the World Bank.
Inspection
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, Otu, who was accompanied on the inspection by his deputy, Mr. Peter Odey, said that the inspection was necessary to ascertain the extent of erosion in Calabar metropolis.
Out was quoted to have said: “We cannot allow something like this in the middle of the town. Looking at this, it must have taken a lot of lives and property. The World Bank has intervention programmes, which I intend to follow up with and this has informed my being here.
We will take a look at the drawings, see what the existing plans are and work quickly to safeguard those who live around this area,” the governor said.
He further assured the residents of their commitment to work in the short and medium terms.
Lateefah Ibrahim
