Calabar communities are facing a devastating gully erosion crisis in Cross River State as the environmental disaster continues to destroy roads, homes, and public infrastructure, leaving thousands of residents isolated and neglected. With the rainy season already underway, affected communities are raising alarm over the worsening situation and calling on both the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and the state government led by Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu to take urgent action.
Among the hardest-hit areas are Ikot Nkebre, Ikot Effanga, Nassarawa Bakoko, Ikot Uduak, and Ekeyang, where residents say erosion has not only destroyed major access roads but also cut them off from essential services and democratic dividends despite their strong voter turnouts during elections.
Raising the issue during plenary at the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Nsa, representing Calabar South 2 Constituency, decried the extent of devastation caused by the erosion, describing it as a threat to both lives and livelihoods. According to him, many residents now live in fear as deep gorges and craters continue to expand dangerously close to residential areas.
“This situation is dire,” Nsa said. “Our people have been cut off from the rest of the state. There are no roads, no infrastructure, and no signs of government presence in these communities. Yet, they contribute massively during elections. Something must be done urgently.”
The lawmaker urged Governor Otu to solidify his legacy by addressing the gully erosion crisis and extending social amenities to the people. “The people need more than promises—they need action. His Excellency can write his name in gold by stepping in to rescue these communities from total collapse,” Nsa emphasized.
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In a show of concern, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the erosion sites in Calabar South Local Government Area. He acknowledged the severity of the environmental degradation and called on NEWMAP to immediately swing into action to contain the gully erosion before it leads to further disaster.
While speaking to residents of the Ekenyong community, the Speaker assured them that he would personally speak with Governor Otu to ensure their plight receives immediate attention from the state’s executive arm.
As fears mount and erosion deepens, affected communities are hoping that the spotlight now being thrown on their challenges will finally result in swift government intervention. Environmental experts warn that failure to act now could lead to irreversible damage, displacement, and long-term ecological consequences for the state.
The calls for urgent intervention are growing louder, and the people of Cross River State await decisive leadership to stop the erosion crisis before it becomes a humanitarian catastrophe.
