The South-South Development Commission has begun clearing major water channels in the Calabar metropolis to address persistent flooding in parts of the city.

The exercise began on Wednesday following a final assessment of drainage channels in Kasuk Qua Clan 2, the first community to benefit from the intervention.

Speaking during the assessment, the director-general of the Cross River Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), Efa Nyong, said the intervention was being implemented in collaboration with CR-SEMA.

Mr Nyong led a team of engineers to the community to assess affected channels and determine the scope of work.

The team also met with the clan head, Ntoi Edet Ayito, who described flooding as a longstanding challenge.

Mr Nyong said clearing blocked drains was critical to reducing flood risks and protecting lives and property in vulnerable communities.

He urged residents to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels and said community cooperation is essential to sustaining the intervention’s benefits.

In his speech, Mr Ayito attributed the recurring flooding to blocked water channels and inadequate culverts, which caused water to overflow into residential areas.

“This drainage channel conveyed water from Effio-Ette and neighbouring communities into the river before becoming obstructed.

“Previous interventions only provided temporary relief before the drainage became blocked again,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the federal government, Governor Bassey Otu and CR-SEMA for the current intervention, saying that flooding had forced residents to seek temporary shelter elsewhere.

The traditional ruler expressed optimism that the planned clearing of waterways would improve water flow, reduce flooding and restore normalcy.

(NAN)