Flood destroys 4,070 houses, 13,147 farms in C’River September 21, 2016

Persistent rainfall has destroyed no fewer than 4,070 houses and 13,147 farms in Cross River State between August and September 2016.

The Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. John Inaku, disclosed this to Southern City News in Calabar on Tuesday.

The state government had on September 10 stated that it had earmarked N800m to intensify the fight against flood in the state.

This was sequel to the warning given by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency of possible flood disaster in 11 states, including Cross River.

However, Inaku said that flood had already affected 46 communities in seven local government areas of the state.

He listed the local government areas as Ikom, Etung, Obubra, Biase, Yala, Abi and Ogoja.

“Between August 2016 and now, no fewer than 4,070 houses and 13,147 farms have been destroyed by excessive rainfall in Cross River.

“From our statistics, 36 houses were destroyed by flooding in six communities in Ikom, while 16 houses were also destroyed by flooding in five communities in Etung.

“56 houses were destroyed in six communities in Obubra, 902 houses destroyed in seven communities in Biase and 1,131 houses were destroyed by flooding in nine communities in Yala.

“Also, 29 houses were also destroyed by flooding in four communities in Abi while 1,900 houses were destroyed by flooding in nine communities in Ogoja Local Government Area.

“On farmlands, 221 farms were affected in Ikom, 76 in Etung, 3,100 in Obubra, 2,150 in Biase, 1,200 in Yala, 1,800 in Abi and 4,600 in Ogoja Local Government Area,” he said.

He said, “So far, we have provided relief materials and food stuff for a majority of them. We have also moved a large number of the displaced persons to a higher ground where they are safe.

“The state governor, Ben Ayade, has promised to put resources together so that we can build a permanent camp for the displaced persons.

“We have already acquired two boats used in evacuating the affected people to a higher ground. The state governor is putting things in order to make life comfortable for them”.