The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has identified Cross River State as one of the high-risk states for severe flooding in 2026, warning that several local government areas may face significant flood impact during the rainy season.
Key Highlights
- NEMA lists Cross River among Nigeria’s high-risk flood states for 2026.
- Nine LGAs identified as vulnerable, including Calabar, Odukpani, Ikom, and Abi.
- Agency intensifies flood preparedness and early warning campaigns nationwide.
- Technical teams deployed for risk assessment and emergency coordination.
- Governor Bassey Otu calls for urgent federal intervention on flood control projects.
The vulnerable local government areas identified in the state include Abi, Akamkpa, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Odukpani, Obubra, and Obanliku.
The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, disclosed this during a visit to Calabar as part of nationwide activities under the 2026 National Flood Preparedness and Awareness Campaign, following updated flood risk predictions across several states.
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She explained that the agency had engaged key stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agencies, road safety officials, and community representatives, to strengthen public awareness and improve grassroots preparedness for flood emergencies.
According to her, mitigation and preparedness documents have already been distributed to state authorities, while technical response teams are being deployed to vulnerable communities to conduct assessments and coordinate early intervention measures.
Umar stressed that effective disaster management begins at the community level, noting that local structures must be strengthened to ensure rapid response before situations escalate to state or federal agencies.
She also commended the Cross River State Government for its continued collaboration with NEMA and called for sustained partnership to reduce the impact of flooding across affected communities.
Earlier, Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, expressed concern over the recurring flood incidents in the state, describing them as a persistent ecological threat requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.
During a meeting with the NEMA Director-General in Calabar, the governor said flooding had remained a major challenge affecting communities across the state for years.
“Flooding has continued to confront our state year after year, and Cross River remains one of the high-risk states in the country,” Otu said.
He noted that despite previous engagements with federal authorities since 2019, the problem had persisted, calling for stronger preventive action.
Governor Otu also lamented that several flood control projects initiated in the past were either abandoned or left incomplete, worsening the situation in affected areas.
He urged the Federal Government and relevant agencies to prioritise drainage systems, ecological restoration projects, and other long-term flood mitigation measures to protect lives and property.
