Governor Bassey Otu, on Monday, visited flood- and landslide-ravaged communities in Calabar, including the family of a toddler killed by floodwaters.

The governor inspected the affected areas alongside the director-general of the Cross River Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), Efa Nyong.

Others in the governor’s entourage were government officials, engineers, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and other emergency response stakeholders.

The areas visited include Elijah Henshaw Street, Webber Street, Atu Street, Ibesikpo Street, and Mayne Avenue by Atakpa, among others, in the Calabar Municipality and Calabar South area councils.

Mr Otu, who met residents and business owners in the devastated areas, leveraged the opportunity to console the family that lost their child through the flood.

Expressing sympathy, he assured the residents that his administration would not abandon them during difficult periods.

The governor commended CR-SEMA on its prompt response, saying the agency’s timely assessments had guided the government’s emergency decisions.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and properties, stressing that residents’ welfare remained central to his ”People’s First” agenda.

He assured that the evacuation of displaced residents from affected communities would commence immediately as part of the government’s immediate response measures.

“There will also be comprehensive assessments of all affected locations to ensure relief materials reach genuinely impacted victims without delay,” Mr Otu announced.

Mr Nyong said that the agency had maintained a continuous presence in affected communities, conducting assessments following the flood and landslide incidents across the state.

He said that the agency was collaborating with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross Society, security agencies and relevant ministries to document losses and identify victims’ immediate needs.

Mr Nyong assured residents that CR-SEMA would sustain emergency response while intensifying public sensitisation on flood preparedness and disaster risk reduction.

The Calabar metropolis witnessed torrential rainfall over the last four days, leading to flooding in parts of the city and the destruction of property.

(NAN)