The Managing Director of the South South Development Commission (SSDC), Ms. Usoro Akpabio, has sympathised with families affected by the recent floods and landslides in Cross River State, assuring them of the Commission’s commitment to supporting recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Key Highlights:
- SSDC begins disaster assessment across flood and landslide-hit communities in Cross River.
- Usoro Akpabio sympathises with victims and promises long-term recovery support.
- Assessment covers erosion sites, flood-affected communities, IDP camps and damaged infrastructure.
- Deputy Governor Peter Odey commends President Tinubu and the Federal Government for swift intervention.
- SSDC pledges collaboration with the Cross River State Government on disaster response.
Akpabio led an SSDC delegation to Cross River as part of a regional disaster assessment mission across the South-South geopolitical zone to evaluate erosion-prone communities, flood-affected areas, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and critical infrastructure damaged by recent natural disasters.
During the inspection, she explained that the exercise, which is also taking place in other South-South states, followed appeals by affected state governments for urgent federal intervention after the devastating floods and landslides.
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According to her, the assessment team visited the Anansa Street landslide site, Big Qua, Elijah Henshaw and Atu Street flood-affected communities, as well as the temporary shelter jointly managed by the Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), including the CR-SEMA Central Warehouse.
She said the mission would enable the SSDC to assess the extent of the damage, evaluate humanitarian needs and identify priority areas requiring immediate intervention.
Akpabio explained that the findings would also guide the Commission in developing sustainable long-term recovery strategies in line with its mandate to promote equitable development across the South-South region.
She disclosed that although the SSDC is still putting its institutional structures in place, disaster response and humanitarian interventions would remain a priority. She assured that the Commission would work closely with the Cross River State Government and other relevant stakeholders to support affected communities and strengthen their resilience against future environmental disasters.
Receiving the SSDC delegation at the Government House, Calabar, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Peter Odey, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government for their prompt response to the recent floods and landslides.
Odey described the intervention as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting disaster-affected communities and also praised the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its earlier humanitarian assistance, noting that the coordinated response had brought relief and renewed hope to affected residents.
He said the SSDC assessment mission reflects the Federal Government’s concern for citizens affected by natural disasters and its commitment to promoting sustainable development across the South-South region.
According to him, the intervention aligns with the “People First” agenda of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu, recalling that the governor personally visited several affected communities immediately after the disaster, while he led members of the State Executive Council on an on-the-spot assessment of the devastating landslide along Anansa Street in Calabar.
