Residents of Calabar, the Cross River State capital, have expressed anger over what they describe as government negligence leading to worsening floods across major roads and streets in the city. Many parts of the metropolis, including the busy 8 Miles Market area along the Murtala Mohammed Highway, have been submerged following continuous rainfall.
The situation has caused heavy traffic congestion and widespread frustration among motorists and traders, with the flooded roads often covered in refuse and stagnant water.
During a live phone-in programme on Correct FM Calabar, residents called out the state government for failing to address the persistent flooding, particularly around the Ekosin and 8 Miles sections of the highway. They accused the authorities of ignoring blocked drains, poor waste management, and overgrown grasses that have made major routes almost impassable.
One caller lamented that “every environment is flooded, muddy, and filled with garbage because gutters are blocked and there are no available waste bins in most areas.” Others complained of endless traffic jams and worsening road conditions caused by potholes and unattended refuse.
Reacting to the concerns, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Bassey Otu on Environment, Mr. Magnus Ntui, urged residents to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean. He warned against dumping refuse into gutters, stressing that proper use of waste bins would help prevent further flooding.
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Mr. Ntui disclosed that the state government is already taking steps to improve environmental sanitation, adding that several offenders have been arrested and jailed for violating sanitation laws. He assured the public that his office will continue to monitor and enforce cleanliness across the city while warning that any waste management contractor who fails to perform will have their contract reviewed or revoked.
Calabar residents, however, insist that urgent intervention is needed to prevent the city from sinking further into environmental and infrastructural decay as the rainy season continues.
