The Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA), has intensified massive desilting and opening of drainages across Calabar Metropolis and adjoining areas as part of urgent measures to address flooding in the state capital.

The Executive Secretary of CUDA, Dr. Ayi Effiong , disclosed this during an inspection of ongoing works at Efut Effio-Ene Community, where Channel 1, one of the major flood channels in the city empties into the river.

Dr. Ayi said the intervention became necessary following a flood warning from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which listed Calabar as one of the cities prone to flooding this year.

“By the grace of God, I was appointed to oversee the urban areas which include Calabar Metropolis, Calabar South, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Akamkpa and Biase Local Government Areas as my catchment zone. When NEMA gave the warning, I immediately communicated to the Governor and we received the marching order to start minor desilting of the trenches,” he said.

According to him, the exercise began from 8 Miles and progressed to Channel 1 Main, ending at Ebito. He explained that the team had to move to the current site because runoff from MCC and over 40 meters of drainage channels empty into the area, which had not been desilted in over 15 years according to residents.

To tackle the challenge, CUDA has deployed a 150-meter swamp bogey for mechanized desilting.

“We have opened up the drainages. We have finished the desilting. Now we are opening up a fresh drainage. That’s what we are doing now,” Dr. Ayi stated, adding that he led a team of directors and journalists in the state to monitor the work.

He noted that flooding in Calabar is worsened by narrow drainage facilities, popularly called gutters, which were not designed to accommodate the city’s growing population due to rural-urban drift.

“The planners of the city did not take into cognizance the rural-urban drift because of population. People are living everywhere. New areas have been created and the drainage facilities are narrow and cannot accumulate the volume of water. That’s why we are having this flood,” he explained.

Dr. Ayi said CUDA will adopt a dual approach: mechanized desilting for major channels and manual clearing within the city. He cited ongoing work at Ekpo Abasi through Mayne Avenue, where slabs that were asphalted over are being removed to restore water flow.

He also referenced collaboration with other agencies that helped open blocked areas in Marian by Calabar Municipality.

Assuring residents, the Executive Secretary said the Governor is fully committed to the exercise. “The Governor is not joking. He has given a marching order and that is exactly what we are going to do. He is helping to make sure that people enjoy the dividends of democracy and also the season of sweetness properly.”

On preparations for next year, Dr. Ayi said CUDA will begin early.
“By next rainy season, from March, we will start the opening of these channels before the rain begins. By the time the water comes, we should be able to identify flood-prone zones. Most of these areas we have identified will be worked on and then flood will be a thing of the past in the Calabar metropolis ,” he assured.

He urged residents to desist from dumping refuse in drainages to support government efforts to build a flood-resilient Calabar.