The Cross River State Deputy Governor has called for urgent Federal Government intervention to address the worsening Diamond Hill mudslide, warning that continued erosion could endanger critical federal infrastructure, including a key access road serving the Nigerian Navy and other strategic institutions.

Cross River State Deputy Governor, Peter Odey. Facebook/ Hon Peter Odey

Cross River State Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, has called for urgent Federal Government intervention to address the devastating mudslide at Diamond Hill near the Calabar Jetty, warning that the state is facing a growing ecological threat beyond its capacity to manage alone.

Describing the incident as a stark reminder of the state’s environmental vulnerability, Odey said the scale of destruction caused by the mudslide requires the immediate deployment of federal technical expertise and ecological resources to prevent a worsening disaster.

The deputy governor spoke on Tuesday while inspecting the affected site following Monday’s torrential rainfall.

Odey, who directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to immediately mobilise to the area, said the visit was aimed at conducting a firsthand assessment of the damage and initiating emergency measures to prevent further deterioration.

“We received reports of this landslide after yesterday’s heavy rainfall, and it became necessary for us to come here and see things for ourselves. We have directed the Commissioner for Works to mobilise immediately because government cannot afford to delay in responding to a disaster of this magnitude. Our priority is to secure the area, prevent further destruction and protect lives and property,” he said.

While commending the swift response of relevant agencies, the deputy governor disclosed that officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), currently in Cross River State, had already inspected the site. He stressed that close collaboration between the state and the Federal Government would be critical to addressing the crisis.

“We have about fourteen directors from NEMA presently in Cross River State, and I have been informed they have already inspected this site. I will be meeting with them in my office, and we may return here together because this is a challenge that requires genuine collaboration between the Cross River State Government and the Federal Government. It is beyond what any single institution can effectively handle,” he stated.

Odey warned that Calabar could face severe environmental consequences if urgent action is not taken, noting that the Diamond Hill incident is only one of several ecological disasters triggered by recent heavy rains across the state.

“This is certainly not the only location affected. We have received reports from several parts of Cross River State where erosion and landslides have also occurred. As a responsible government, we will do everything within our capacity to respond immediately. We cannot allow these situations to escalate into humanitarian disasters,” he said.

Expressing gratitude that no lives were lost despite the severity of the incident, the deputy governor cautioned that the state could not continue to rely on luck and called for immediate preventive action.

“We thank God that no life was lost here. We have equally received reports from other affected areas where there were no fatalities. But we must not wait until lives are lost before taking decisive action. Our responsibility is to move swiftly and ensure that these incidents do not recur.”

On long-term solutions, Odey disclosed that the state government had engaged environmental experts and engineers to undertake technical assessments aimed at developing permanent erosion-control measures.

“Our professionals are already working on this. The Commissioner for Works and environmental experts are studying the terrain because what we need are sustainable engineering solutions, not temporary remedies. We want interventions that will permanently protect our people and critical infrastructure,” he said.

The deputy governor recalled that the Federal Ministry of Environment had intervened in similar ecological disasters in other states through the Ecological Fund and urged the Federal Government to extend similar support to Cross River State.

“Similar incidents have occurred in other states, and the Federal Ministry of Environment intervened through the Ecological Fund. We believe Cross River deserves the same level of attention. We are appealing to the Federal Government to urgently deploy the necessary equipment, technical experts and every available support to help us address this challenge,” he said.

Odey further noted that Cross River had long been identified as one of Nigeria’s environmentally vulnerable states during federal hazard-mapping exercises, adding that recent events have validated those concerns.

“They warned us during the hazard-mapping exercise that incidents like this could happen, but we never anticipated that the situation would become this serious. Having seen the extent of the damage, we are making a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to intervene urgently. This is not just about financial support; it is about deploying the technical expertise required to permanently solve this problem,” he said.

He also warned that failure to act swiftly could threaten critical federal infrastructure, noting that the affected road serves as an access route to key institutions, including the Nigerian Navy.

“You can see that there are federal government institutions around this corridor, including the Nigerian Navy. If this road is eventually cut off, access to these facilities will be severely disrupted. That is why this intervention is not only important for Cross River State but also for the Federal Government and the nation as a whole,” he added.

Odey reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Bassey Otu administration to protecting lives and property, assuring residents that emergency works would commence immediately while engagements with the Federal Government continue.

“I want to assure the people of Cross River State that this government will act immediately to contain the situation and prevent further destruction. We shall mobilise without delay, and we will continue to engage the Federal Government until lasting solutions are provided. Our response will be swift, coordinated and unwavering,” he said.