The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to release emergency funds from the Ecological Fund to tackle deadly gully erosion and landslides in Cross River South, following multiple deaths, destruction of homes and displacement of residents.
The lawmakers called for urgent intervention after a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong drew attention to the worsening environmental crisis in Calabar and neighbouring communities, where recurring erosion and landslides have continued to threaten lives and property.
The Senate expressed concern that “recurring erosion and landslides had become a major humanitarian and environmental emergency, threatening lives, homes and livelihoods.”
Affected locations identified by the chamber include Atakpa, Edim Otop, Ikot Effangha Mkpa, Nyaghasang, Ikot Anwatim, Nasarawa/Bacoco, Akai Effa, Bayside and Summit Hills. Anansa was also identified as a community experiencing continuing landslide activity, resulting in property damage and displacement.
The lawmakers were particularly concerned about a landslide at Ikot Anwatim in July 2026 that killed five people, including four siblings from the same family and an adult.
The incident also destroyed two houses and injured two other residents. In a separate incident, an eight-year-old girl was reported killed in a landslide at Edim Otop.
Warning of further casualties if urgent measures were not taken, the Senate said: “continued slope failures and destruction of property posed a serious risk of further deaths and displacement unless urgent protective measures were implemented.”
The chamber attributed the crisis partly to the area’s terrain and environmental conditions, including heavy rainfall, loose sandy soils, high groundwater levels in low-lying areas and an undulating landscape between the Calabar and Great Kwa river systems.
It also identified poorly designed drainage systems, blocked drains, rapid urbanisation, indiscriminate waste disposal, unregulated sand mining, vegetation removal and vandalism of drainage infrastructure as factors aggravating erosion and surface runoff.
The lawmakers warned that isolated interventions without a coordinated watershed management plan could shift the danger to neighbouring communities instead of providing a lasting solution.
Consequently, the Senate urged the Federal Government to approve, allocate and release adequate funds from the Ecological Fund for emergency stabilisation and comprehensive erosion control, with priority given to communities where lives have been lost and residents remain at immediate risk.
It also called on the Federal Ministry of Environment, working with the Cross River State Government and relevant agencies, to immediately assess the most dangerous sites and begin emergency protective works.
The National Emergency Management Agency was asked to collaborate with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency and affected local government councils to provide temporary shelter, food, medical care and psychosocial support for bereaved and displaced families.
The agencies were also urged to facilitate the safe evacuation and temporary relocation of residents in imminent danger, while establishing effective early-warning systems and monitoring unstable locations.
The Senate further called on the Federal Ministries of Environment and Works to prioritise funding for erosion control projects in Cross River State.
It stressed that major interventions should be backed by proper geotechnical and hydrological assessments, sound engineering designs, effective supervision and environmental safeguards to prevent further damage.
To ensure accountability, the chamber mandated its Committee on Environment to visit affected communities, assess existing interventions, engage relevant agencies on funding and implementation, and report back with recommendations for further legislative action.
The Senate said urgent and coordinated intervention was necessary to prevent further loss of lives, protect vulnerable communities and address the long-term environmental challenges confronting Cross River South.