The member representing Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management and Preparedness, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey, has called for a coordinated national and international response to the devastating landslides and other climate-induced disasters affecting Cross River State, warning that the scale of the crisis is beyond the capacity of the state government alone.

Bassey made the call while reacting to the recent landslide incidents that claimed lives and destroyed property in parts of the state, describing the tragedy as a stark reminder of the growing impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.

The federal lawmaker disclosed that Cross River had long been identified through early warning systems as one of Nigeria’s most flood- and rainfall-prone states, prompting his committee to initiate preventive measures well before the peak of the rainy season.

According to him, the House Committee on Disaster Management and Preparedness formally notified the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the impending risks, leading to the deployment of emergency officials to Cross River State for disaster preparedness exercises, risk assessments and public sensitisation campaigns in vulnerable communities.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu had been fully briefed on the situation, adding that the National Assembly had fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by bringing the matter to the attention of the executive for prompt intervention.

Bassey praised Governor Bassey Otu for his swift response to the disaster, saying the governor demonstrated exemplary leadership by personally inspecting the affected communities despite the heavy rainfall and immediately initiating emergency remedial measures.

He said the governor’s prompt intervention helped reduce the overall impact of the disaster, even as he acknowledged that the loss of lives remains a painful tragedy for the state.

While describing the landslide as one of the most severe ever witnessed in Nigeria, Bassey said the complexity of the environmental challenge demands sustained investment in erosion control, slope stabilisation, drainage infrastructure and disaster risk reduction.

He explained that Cross River’s topography, coupled with its high annual rainfall, makes several communities particularly vulnerable to landslides, stressing that the ongoing reconstruction of the Calabar–Itu Highway with reinforced concrete pavement reflects the unique engineering solutions required in the state.

“The resources required to address this disaster are enormous. This is not something the state government can handle alone. It requires strong support from the Federal Government, development partners and international organisations if we must provide lasting solutions,” he said.

The committee chairman revealed that consultations were ongoing with relevant federal institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Environment, to complement the intervention efforts already initiated by the Cross River State Government.

He also assured residents that the House of Representatives would push for enhanced funding for disaster preparedness and ecological intervention projects during the next budget cycle to strengthen resilience in disaster-prone communities.

Bassey urged residents occupying identified high-risk areas, particularly within the Calabar metropolis and surrounding communities, to heed official warnings and relocate where necessary, noting that preserving lives must remain the foremost priority.

He commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for intensifying public enlightenment campaigns on disaster preparedness and emergency response, describing community awareness as a critical component of disaster risk management.

Expressing confidence in the collaborative efforts of the Federal Government, the Cross River State Government and emergency management agencies, Bassey said sustained public awareness, timely funding and coordinated intervention would significantly reduce the impact of future climate-related disasters across the state.