After days of continued rainfall, floods have destroyed community houses, farm crops and other properties in Akpet central of Biase LGA, Cross River State.
According to NAN, more than 70 houses have been affected, and goods and properties, economic crops and trees worth over N100 million are said to have been destroyed.
Member representing Biase State constituency in Cross River House of Assembly, Hon. Francis Ogban, lamented the effects of the flood devastation when he visited to assess the extent of damage on Saturday.
He was accompanied on the assessment visit by the commissioner for Youths Development, Barr. Ijom Ukam and Mr. Dan Obo, Chairman of the National Youth Council in the State.
The lawmaker said that the flood had stopped farmers in Akpet communities from accessing their farms, adding that many have been displaced as their houses were affected.
Speaking to journalists, Ogban said, “The flood has negatively affected the farmers, displaced many villagers, and their means of livelihoods have been affected.”
He called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for relief assistance to persons affected by flood disasters and also appealed to the Federal Ministry of Work to impress on a private construction firm, SEMATECH, to reconstruct the ditch in Akpet Central from ring to the Box to forestall further destruction of properties.
Community Representatives Dr. Samuel Egbai and Mr Ogban Ogban Ethothi disclosed that the construction of the Akpet culvert was abandoned three years ago, immediately after the rehabilitation of the Akpet axis of the Calabar/Ugep highway.
They adduced the reason for the flooding to poor construction of the culvert by the contractor.