The Cross River State Government, through the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA), has commenced a desilting exercise on the Channel 1 drainage system along the Goldie-Target axis in Calabar to mitigate flooding as rainfall increases. The operation spans several key areas including Channel View, Mobile MCC, WAPI Junction, Diamond Estate, State Housing, and extends to the CRUTECH axis. Dr Ayi Etim Effiong, Executive Secretary of CUDA, stated in an interview with Hit FM that the Goldie–Target corridor is one of the major flood-prone zones in the state, which has been identified as vulnerable to flooding. He attributed the current intervention to the governor's commitment to public welfare under a "government by the people, for the people" agenda. According to Dr Effiong, the exercise is being carried out using heavy-duty machinery and is part of an annual cycle, with the last similar operation conducted in 2023 after years of neglect. He warned that failure to maintain drainage systems could result in flooding, property loss, and disruption of business activities. Hon. Mike Eyo, former councillor of Ward 1 in Calabar South and a resident of the area, commended the effort, describing it as a significant intervention after nearly 15 years of inaction. He noted that no meaningful work was done during the eight-year tenure of former Governor Ben Ayade and that the drainage had remained neglected since the administration of former Governor Donald Duke. The project has reportedly brought relief to residents in communities like Mora by Target and Ibito Lane.
Fifteen years of drainage neglect in Calabar ended only after sustained public pressure and visible decay, not proactive governance. The praise from a former official highlights how minimal benchmarks are now seen as major achievements. If maintenance is truly periodic, it should not take years of flooding risks to restart work. The real test will be whether this effort continues beyond election cycles.
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