The Cross River State Government has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift response to the recent floods and landslides that affected parts of the state.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Odey, gave the commendation when he received a delegation from the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), led by its Managing Director, Ms Usoro Akpabio, at the Government House in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.
Dr Odey noted that the prompt deployment of the SSDC for an assessment mission demonstrated the commitment of President Tinubu’s administration to supporting communities affected by natural disasters.
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He said; “We appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for responding promptly to our appeal for assistance through the South-South Development Commission. The arrival of the SSDC only days after our appeal is reassuring and shows the Federal Government’s responsiveness to the plight of our people.”
The Deputy Governor also praised the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its earlier humanitarian intervention, noting that the Nigerian Government’s coordinated response had brought relief and renewed hope to affected residents.
He recalled that Governor Bassey Otu had personally visited several affected communities after the disasters, while the State Executive Council carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the Anansa Street landslide in Calabar.
Odey reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to work with the SSDC, NEMA, and other development partners to restore damaged infrastructure and strengthen disaster management efforts in Cross River.
Speaking earlier, SSDC Managing Director Usoro Akpabio said the delegation was in Cross River State as part of a regional disaster assessment mission across the South-South region.
Akpabio explained that the team visited the expanding Anansa Street landslide and Big Qua in Calabar Municipality; the Elijah Henshaw and Atu Street sites in Calabar South; as well as the temporary shelters and emergency facilities managed by the Nigerian Red Cross and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA).
“The assessment will help us identify priority areas for urgent intervention and develop sustainable recovery strategies for affected communities,” she said.
She sympathised with families who lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods during the floods and landslides, and assured them of the commission’s determination to support their recovery and rebuilding efforts.
