Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has moved to strengthen government intervention in the aftermath of the tanker fire in Odukpani and the massive landslide along Anansa Street in Calabar, declaring that the scale of the landslide requires coordinated intervention beyond the capacity of the state government alone.
Otu, who personally inspected both sites, described the landslide as “very, very devastating” and assured residents that government was mobilising the necessary technical expertise to understand the magnitude of the disaster and determine a sustainable solution. He said the state had already commenced technical assessments, while the Federal Government was also expected to participate in efforts to address the problem.
“What is happening here is very, very devastating,” the governor said during the inspection. “We have made several attempts to study exactly what is happening and determine the appropriate response. We already have what I would call studies that are ongoing. The Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government has put two teams on the ground.”
The Governor said the enormity of the landslide made it imperative for the state to seek wider technical and institutional support, noting that the challenge could not responsibly be treated as an ordinary erosion problem. “Clearly, this project is just bigger than the state. It is so huge, so huge,” Otu declared, stressing that the magnitude of the damage demanded the intervention of additional engineers and other specialists.
Otu disclosed that the situation had attracted the attention of the Federal Government, adding that the President had directed a team to visit the affected location and undertake an assessment. He said the involvement of the Federal Government would complement the measures already being undertaken by the state and strengthen the search for a permanent solution.
The Governor attributed the worsening situation partly to prolonged rainfall and the broader effects of climate change, explaining that the persistent downpour had constrained the ability of engineers and other technical experts to undertake some aspects of the intervention. He, however, expressed optimism that the situation would become more amenable to comprehensive intervention as the rains begin to recede.
“We are very sure that in the near future, as we look towards the end of this month, the rain should die down,” Otu said. “Then we can get some allowance for additional engineers to come in and see what we have done here and determine the appropriate long-term solution.”
At Odukpani, the Governor inspected the scene of the recent tanker fire and commended the chairman, relevant stakeholders and residents for their prompt response to the emergency. He particularly acknowledged the courage and community spirit demonstrated by residents who mobilised to assist during the crisis, while consoling affected shop owners whose businesses were impacted by the incident.
“At times like this, we should come together and support one another,” Otu said, urging stakeholders to sustain the ongoing intervention and ensure that measures being taken address not merely the immediate consequences of the incident but also the underlying vulnerabilities that could expose the community to similar emergencies.
The Governor assured the affected communities that the state government remained committed to protecting lives, supporting vulnerable residents and confronting emerging environmental and public-safety challenges with urgency. He said the inspections were part of the administration’s determination to obtain first-hand knowledge of situations affecting citizens and deploy appropriate interventions based on professional assessment rather than conjecture.
Otu further directed that the ongoing technical and institutional assessments be sustained, emphasising that any permanent intervention at Anansa Street must be founded on credible engineering studies and capable of withstanding the environmental pressures responsible for the current crisis. He said government would continue to engage relevant agencies and technical experts until a durable solution was achieved.
