Flooded Calabar South
Residents knock Ayade, as flood wreaks havoc on Calabar South
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Residents of Calabar South local government area of Cross River State have berated Governor Ben Ayade over the poor state of sanitation and environmental management in the council.
The residents expressed their displeasure following a heavy downpour on Monday afternoon which wrecked havoc on some areas of Calabar South.
Worst affected areas affected by the downpour included Musaha Lane, Effioawan and Bassey street extension, not very far from The University of Cross River state (UNICROSS).
Residents blame the floods on the absence of drainage systems in the area as well as the refusal of the state government and its agencies to evacuate mounting refuse in the area.
Areas like Bassey Street, several locations along New Airport Road as well as Ekpo Abasi Junction have huge debris which has not been evacuated for months thus worsening the environmental condition of the area.
Marshall Mendie, a resident who spoke with Oracle Today said, “This is how we suffer every raining season. This water has no channels, no gutters, that is why it has over flown, and you see now, we cannot even step out of our shops,” he said.
On his part, Ekpo Andem, a petty trader wondered why the refusal of the state government and it’s agencies to evacuate waste leading to the blocking of some drainages.
“This is completely unacceptable, why should we be suffering unnecessary and the government will ignore basic things that make life worth living.
“Look at the Ekpo Abasi Junction, the refuse has been left unattended for weeks and today’s heavy downpour has worsened our plight.
“Besides having to live with this stench for days, we are now suffering from floods as a result of this refuse, is this fair to people, or are we lesser human beings”, he lamented.
A landlord, Mr Okon Effiom said: “Let the government help us and construct drainage, that is the only solution because as much as it keeps raining, this floods will keep reoccurring “.
Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency, Princewill Ayim, as well as, the Chairman of Calabar South, Esther Bassey did not react to the development as at press time.
