Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has paid an emotional visit to communities ravaged by recent devastating floods and landslides in the state capital, describing the loss of lives and scale of property destruction as “heartbreaking.”
​The Governor’s assessment visit on Monday, July 13, 2026, follows a weekend of torrential downpours that triggered severe ecological disasters across several neighborhoods in Calabar. Among the worst-hit areas visited by the governor were Ikot Awatim, Ikot Ansa, Mbukpa, Big Qua Town, Ibom Layout, and 8 Miles.
​The heavy rainfall culminated in a catastrophic landslide on Friday night, July 10, in the Ikot Awatim community, which tragically claimed five lives. The victims included four young siblings from the same family, Bright Kingsley Edu (18), Godswill Kingsley Edu (12), Daniel Kingsley Edu (11), and Richard Kingsley Edu (10) alongside a tanker driver identified simply as Mr. Udo. A separate flooding incident days prior along Mayne Avenue also claimed the life of a one-year-old infant.
​Speaking during his visit to comfort the grieving parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley Edu, and other displaced residents, Governor Otu expressed profound grief over the avoidable tragedy.
​”The scale of destruction and the agonizing loss of young lives we have witnessed here is completely heartbreaking,” Governor Otu said. “No parent should ever have to bury four children in a single day under such tragic circumstances. My heart goes out to the Edu family and all the affected residents of Calabar.”
​To alleviate the immediate suffering of the victims, Governor Otu directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to urgently distribute relief materials, medical support, and temporary shelter arrangements to displaced families.
​Addressing the broader ecological vulnerability of the state capital, the Governor assured residents that the state government is moving swiftly to implement long-term structural solutions to mitigate future occurrences.
Governor Otu restated his administration’s commitment to aggressively enforcing the newly launched climate adaptation roadmap.
The state will deploy a newly formed 1,000-youth “Green Corps” tasked with the immediate clearance of blocked drainage networks.
To curb severe urban flooding, the governor reiterated that the upcoming ban on non-biodegradable Styrofoam packaging will be strictly enforced to prevent drainage blockages.
The Governor confirmed that the state is working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to resurrect and complete abandoned federal flood-control channels and dam systems across high-risk local government areas.
​Governor Otu concluded his visit by urging residents living in low-lying, flood-prone terrains and unstable hillsides to temporarily relocate to safer grounds as the peak of the 2026 rainy season approaches.
