Akwa Ibom and Cross River stakeholders have said that intensive preventive measures are in place to contain flooding, save lives and property, and prevent further erosion in both states.

The stakeholders made the remarks in response to a survey on actions taken by erosion-prone states to mitigate floods. They said plans were underway to evacuate people living in the most flood-prone areas, while efforts were also underway to reclaim land devastated by erosion.

In Akwa Ibom, the commissioner for information, Aniekan Umanah, said the state government was taking several steps to check flooding and protect the ecological environment.

He said the government had already taken measures to mitigate erosion across the 31 local government areas by investing billions of naira in intervention projects.

Mr Umanah said the government had reclaimed the erosion site on Atiku Abubakar Avenue and had recently ordered the desilting of the road’s drains to contain the predicted flood. He stated that one of the first projects inaugurated by former President Goodluck Jonathan in the state was the 1.48km underground drainage line on Atiku Abubakar Avenue.

Mr Umanah added that the government had also constructed erosion-control drainage lines off the Two Lanes that channelled water away from Oron Road. He explained that the drainage line was connected to underground lines running towards the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

He said the governor also directed the construction of the adjoining Afaha Ube Street and side drains to link Ikot Ekpene Road with immediate effect in order to control flooding in the area.

The commissioner added that work was ongoing along Uyo Village Road to reclaim about 4.3km of gully erosion that had almost destroyed several parts of the city, including the Government House.

He said the government had almost solved the devastating gully erosion that occurred on a previously abandoned refuse dump site along Uyo Village Road, reclaiming the area for a middle-class housing estate and recreational centres.

He said that, as part of its ecological remediation efforts, the government reclaimed 73 hectares of land affected by gully erosion across Etim Usanga, Udo Umana, and Usanga streets off Brook Street.

Mr Umanah said the government had invested billions of naira in the Ibom Arise Park Project, deploying massive reclamation efforts to arrest severe land degradation and turning a threatening ecological disaster site into an eco-friendly tourist and resort destination.

Mr Umanah said the governor had directed the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, Akpan Ikim, to ensure adequate desilting of side drains across the metropolis.

The commissioner said residents living in low-lying coastal areas had also been directed to relocate to upland areas to avoid impending danger.

Mr Umanah said the government had warned against indiscriminate waste dumping that blocks drainage channels and against building on waterways, adding that structures on waterways would be demolished. He said a committee comprising the commissioners for environment and water resources, health, agriculture, internal security, lands, and AKSEPWMA had been set up to interface with federal agencies to propose mitigation actions against flooding.

Mr Ikim said the main approach to flooding was heavy infrastructure for long-term control, routine desilting, and community cleanup for immediate risk reduction.

In Cross River, the government said plans were underway to tackle major erosion and flood-prone areas ahead of the intensified rainfall forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

Obeten Otu, acting project coordinator of the Nigeria Climate Adaptation, Erosion and Watershed Project, said the erosion project was previously funded by the World Bank. He said the project was being financed by the European Investment Bank, following the World Bank’s exit on 30 June, 2022.

He explained that current intervention efforts in Cross River focused on severe and catastrophic gully erosion sites across the state to prevent further environmental degradation.

“NEWMAP-EIB has deployed Gully Rapid Action Slope Stabilisation measures to minimise erosion impacts pending permanent remediation works,” he said.

He said Governor Bassey Otu had approved the commencement of engineering designs for six gully erosion and flood control sites that required revalidation and 10 new engineering designs for the state’s most severe erosion sites.

Mr Otu added that NEWMAP-EIB always collaborated with NiMet and the Cross River Basin Authority to monitor flood and erosion risks and strengthen early response measures statewide.

Effiong Ayi, executive secretary of the Calabar Urban Development Agency, said the government had adopted science-based and community-focused measures to mitigate flooding and protect lives and property.

He listed ongoing interventions such as dredging of waterways, widening canals, clearing drainages, and demolishing structures obstructing flood channels.

Mr Ayi noted that the state would soon launch radio awareness campaigns and establish a task force to combat indiscriminate dumping of refuse into waterways. He urged residents to comply with environmental laws, avoid building on waterways, and report blocked drainage systems to the relevant authorities.

Antigha Gill, director-general of State Emergency Management Agency, said 13 council areas in the state had been identified as high-flood-risk zones. Mr Gill said SEMA, in collaboration with NEMA, had commenced community sensitisation campaigns across vulnerable areas.

Mr Gill said the agency had engaged traditional rulers, youth groups, emergency responders, and community stakeholders on flood preparedness and response measures. He disclosed that the state fire service had also been mobilised to support rescue operations in the event of possible flooding.

Mr Gill added that government efforts focused on disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and reducing the long-term effects of climate change and poor land use. He said SEMA would expand sensitisation campaigns to other parts of the state, as it had begun stockpiling emergency materials and relief items ahead of the peak rainfall period.

However, the National Emergency Management Agency in Rivers called for the establishment of state emergency management agencies backed by law to strengthen disaster preparedness and response.

Eric Ebhodaghe, acting director of the South-South zonal directorate of NEMA, also urged states to establish functional local government emergency management committees to ensure effective disaster response. He said the appeal followed flood predictions indicating that 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory would experience moderate and high flood risks in 2026.

According to him, local emergency committees should serve as first responders, while SEMAs would complement local efforts before seeking national intervention when necessary.

On evacuation plans, Mr Ebhodaghe said emergency frameworks identified high-risk areas and mapped out safe zones across the country.

(NAN)