By Uket Oka Calabar
The Persistent heavy downpour in Calabar metropolis, the capital of Cross River State has caused great havoc on residents due to the destruction of properties across the ancient city by flood.
The areas that are mostly affected by the ravaging flood include part of Etap Ayip Community in kasuk 1 Qua clan, Ikot Uduak Community, Efio Akabom village and Ikot Eyo community all in Calabar Municipal council.
Commenting on the natural disaster, the head of kasuk 2 Qua clan, Ntoe Ededem Okon Ayito, described the incident as very unfortunate and pathetic.
The monarch explained that the flood followed the heavy downpour pour that destroyed properties estimated at several thousands of naira in the area.
Ntoe Ayito further stated that, “flood problems in Etab Ayip Community started when SEMATEC Construction Company started pilling sand for the construction of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Bye Pass Road thereby blocking all the natural water channels that would have eased the drainage of a reasonable volume of water to the Idundu River.
Ntoe Ayito said that, since then all efforts by the community to create good water channels for effective evacuation from the community during heavy downpour pour yielded no fruit.
The Royal father also informed our reporter that, the community has spent over N3million naira to control the the flood in the area but still experiencing heavy flood during heavy downpour,he appeals to Government and other relevant agencies to come e the aid of Etap Ayip Community by sending relief materials as well as constructing a good channels within the area as this gestures will help protect life and prosperities.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 70 houses were reported to have been destroyed by heavy rainfall in the past few days in communities within Akpet Central in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Properties worth more than N100 million were also reportedly lost the flood occasioned by the heavy rain.
Speaking separately on the some community leaders, Dr. Samuel Egbai and Mr. Ogban Ogban Ethothi, explained that the construction of the Akpet culvert which was abandoned three years ago immediately after the rehabilitation of the Akpet axis of the Calabar-Ugep highway, was one of the reasons for the flooding in the communities.
According to them, “The reason for the flooding of our communities is because of the poor construction of the culvert by the contractor.”
Worried by the devastation, the member representing Biase State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Francis Ogban, visited the communities at the weekend to assess the extent of damage caused by the flood.
Hon. Ogban, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Youths Development, Barr. Ijom Ukam and the Chairman of the National Youth Council in the State, Mr. Dan Obo, lamented that the flood had stopped farmers in Akpet communities from accessing their farms.
He disclosed that many have been displaced as their houses were affected.
“The flood has negatively affected the farmers, displaced many villagers and their means of livelihoods have been affected,” he said.
The lawmaker also called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for relief assistance to persons affected by flood disasters.
He also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Work ensure that a private construction firm, SEMATECH, reconstruct the culvert in Akpet Central from ring to the box to forestall further destruction of properties.
