Some residents of Cross River and Akwa Ibom have raised the alarm over worsening challenges arising from erosions and landslides in some communities.
The residents expressed their concerns on Tuesday in a survey conducted by newsmen on the effects of erosions and landslides.
It would be recalled that Cross River recorded 10 devastating landslides within the Calabar Municipal Council in the last five months following torrential rainfall in the city.
The landslides, which destroyed property worth millions of naira, also led to loss of lives in Ikot Anwatim, Ikot Effanga, and the ‘Boro Pit’ Area of Satellite Town.
Sharing his experience, Mr Ubong Edu, who lost four of his children and his house in the Ikot Anwatim landslide, said that ‘life had turned tremendously sour and tough’.
Edu, a security guard, urged the government and other stakeholders to sensitise residents to possible measures they could take to control erosion and landslides.
“Is there nothing we can do as humans to avert this kind of occurrence? We need to be told so that we can play our roles to avoid future occurrence,” he said.
He commended Gov. Bassey Out of Cross River for supporting his family with N2 million to start life again after the disaster.
Mrs Itoro Abang, a teacher and victim of the recent landslide in Cross River, said that she lost all her belongings to the incident, and required support to start life again.
“My family did not get any of our property after the landslide; everything was washed away and damaged. We are almost hopeless.
“I have been homeless since, by sheer grace, I got someone who provided my family with temporary accommodation, I need support to begin a new life,” she said.
Mr Efa Nyong, the Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), described the situation as tragic and unfortunate.
He said that the agency had assessed all the affected areas, and adequately documented the resultant damage.
Nyong said that the government had consoled the bereaved families, and relocated many homeless families to safer areas.
“The state government has given money to some victims of landslides and floods, especially those who lost everything and loved ones, this is to enable them to start their lives again.
“Although this assistance is immediate, the state has also carried out a comprehensive assessment of all the landslides to see how a more concrete help can be rendered to victims,” he said.
Nyong said that the agency was embarking on massive sensitisation to caution residents against erecting buildings in valleys, unstable and sloppy areas.
“Property developers need to make environmental and safety considerations when selecting locations for buildings. Disaster prevention is very critical.
“Prolonged and heavy rainfall can weaken and saturate the soil and increase the risk of landslides and other forms of ground failure,” he said.
Mr Bassey Mensah, the Commissioner for Environment, described the landslides that occurred in the state as natural occurrences that required urgent technical interventions to mitigate their effects.
Mensah said that the state government had engaged erosion experts on the recent incidents in the state, especially the one that divided Anansa Road in Obutong Community.
“The experts have recommended the diversion of water from one drainage channel to another to reduce pressure and slow the advancing landslide.