As devastating landslides and flooding continue to wreak havoc in Cross River State, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management and Preparedness, Rt Hon Joseph Bassey, has called for urgent federal and international emergency intervention, warning that the scale of destruction has outstripped the state’s capacity to respond.

Bassey, who represents Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency, said the National Assembly would push for increased funding and coordinated emergency assistance, stressing that the disaster requires a national response rather than leaving the burden on the Cross River State Government alone.

Speaking with journalists in Calabar, the lawmaker said his committee had anticipated heightened flood and landslide risks following climate forecasts and had taken proactive steps before the disasters struck.

“We had early warning that Cross River would experience serious rainfall and flooding, but what we are witnessing is even beyond what we expected. The magnitude of the landslide is unprecedented,” he said.

According to him, his committee had formally notified the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), prompting the agency to undertake disaster risk assessment and simulation exercises in the state.

He disclosed that NEMA officials recently visited Cross River to identify vulnerable locations, conduct emergency preparedness simulations and educate residents on disaster response.

Bassey commended Governor Bassey Otu for responding swiftly to the crisis, noting that the governor personally inspected affected communities despite the heavy rainfall and immediately initiated remedial measures.

“The governor has been proactive. He went to inspect the affected areas under the rain and has commenced immediate remedial work to reduce the impact of the landslides,” he said.

He attributed the recurring disasters partly to the state’s high rainfall pattern, noting that the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with reinforced concrete reflects the unique environmental challenges of the region.

Bassey also revealed that the Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Rt Hon Mike Etaba, had engaged the Federal Ministry of Environment to complement ongoing interventions in the state.

He maintained that the scale of destruction requires support beyond the state government, saying, “I don’t think anywhere in Nigeria has experienced a landslide of this magnitude.”

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The federal lawmaker added that efforts were underway to attract assistance from international development partners while identifying other high-risk communities where residents may need to relocate for safety.

While expressing condolences to families that lost loved ones, the lawmaker stressed that preventing future occurrences must remain a priority.

He urged residents in flood- and landslide-prone communities to heed evacuation advisories and participate in disaster preparedness programmes, stressing that public awareness and emergency response skills are critical to reducing casualties.

“We are creating awareness because many people do not realise that these areas are highly vulnerable to landslides. Life is more important than remaining in high-risk locations,” he said.

Bassey further expressed optimism that more resources would be allocated to disaster management during the implementation of the 2026 federal budget, expected to commence in September.

He said increased funding would ease the financial burden on the Cross River State Government and strengthen measures aimed at mitigating the impact of future disasters.