Residents of Akai Effa community in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, have appealed for urgent government intervention as advancing gully erosion threatens more than 200 houses and has destroyed farms and other investments estimated at over N100 million.
The Village Head, Henrietta Effa-Akpere, raised the alarm on Tuesday after leading community elders on an assessment visit to two major erosion sites.
She said the erosion began more than five years ago as small gullies but had expanded into deep craters following heavy rainfall, destroying farmland and cutting off access roads.
According to Effa-Akpere, the community reported the problem to the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) several years ago. Although officials visited the area for an assessment, she said no remedial work followed.
“We have been reporting it since the time NEWMAP was there. They came here and inspected the area, but nothing was done,” she said.
She added that residents had not anticipated how much heavy rainfall would worsen the erosion.
Erosion Destroys Farms Worth Over N100m
Effa-Akpere said heavy rainfall about three weeks ago destroyed fish ponds and poultry farms belonging to residents, including Surilaco Farms and Dr Henry Onwe.
She estimated the losses at more than N100 million.
“Some people who have fish and poultry farms lost their fish because of the heavy rainfall. The rain wiped out their produce worth over N100 million,” she said.
The village head warned that the erosion had advanced into residential areas, leaving some affected residents without food or shelter and forcing others to abandon their homes.
“As I speak, many victims have nothing to eat or anywhere to stay because erosion has threatened their homes,” she lamented.
Residents also warned that the community could become inaccessible and more houses could collapse into the gullies if protective measures were not introduced before rainfall intensifies.
Village Head Appeals To Federal, State Governments
Effa-Akpere appealed to the Federal Government, Cross River State Government and relevant ecological agencies to intervene urgently to prevent further destruction and possible loss of lives.
“My plea is that the Federal Government should join hands with the state government to rescue these people. If the rain continues like this, many lives could be lost,” she warned.
She also appealed to Joseph Bassey, the member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chairman of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, to assist the community.
Describing Bassey as someone familiar with the area, she urged him to return and help address the crisis.
“He knows most of these problems. I am using this medium to appeal to him to come home. His home is on fire, and he should come and help Akai Effa,” she said.
Residents Seek Emergency Remediation
Residents called on the Ecological Fund Office, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency and the state Ministry of Environment to assess the affected areas and begin emergency remediation work.
They warned that further delays could expose more homes, livelihoods and access routes to destruction.
The community is seeking urgent intervention to stabilise the erosion sites, protect threatened homes and prevent further losses as heavy rainfall continues to pose a risk.
