Ukorebi Esien | 12th June 2023
CALABAR – Residents of Calabar metropolis have had their hopes renewed as governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu undertook on-the-site inspection of some erosion sites in the state capital, Calabar.
The governor who was accompanied by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey bemoaned the danger posed to residents of the affected areas, and pledged short to medium intervention to safeguard lives and property.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, the governor said the inspection became necessary for him to familiarise himself with some of the adverse erosion sites in the state capital such as in Lemna/Federal Agriculture and a failed drainage along Yellow Duke Road.
Despite lamenting the lean resources of the state, Otu promised to put up short term measures to forestall lost of lives and properties while banking on available World Bank interventions to address environmental issues in the state
“…though resources are limited, we are going to work in the short and medium term to assure them that something is being done as against the long term.”
“We cannot allow something like this in the middle of the town. Looking at this it must have taken a lot of lives, and property. The World Bank has intervention programs which I intend to follow up with, and this has informed my being here.
“We will take a look at the drawings, see what the existing plans are and work quickly to safeguard those who live around this area,” the governor said.