By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
A grave humanitarian crisis has hit 24 staff families of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), following devastating floods that swept through the university’s Calabar Campus, destroying homes and household properties and displacing the affected families.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Francisca Bassey, has consequently intensified efforts to secure emergency relief and rehabilitation support for the affected staff and their families.
In an urgent appeal dated August 12, 2026, and addressed to the Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), Uyo, Bassey disclosed that 24 staff families were displaced by the flooding and left without temporary shelter and essential household items.
She described the situation as a grave humanitarian crisis, explaining that household belongings were washed away, leaving the affected families, including children, mothers, fathers and elderly members, in dire need of immediate assistance.
The Vice Chancellor appealed for emergency relief materials, including mattresses, bedding, electrical appliances, televisions, refrigerators, kitchen equipment, gas cookers and cylinders, as well as financial assistance to secure temporary accommodation and replace essential personal effects lost to the flood.
She also sought assistance for the rehabilitation of affected staff residences and university offices, where important documents, furniture, computers, mobile phones, photocopiers, printers and other equipment were reportedly destroyed.
According to her, a preliminary assessment showed that the overall damage ran into several billions of naira, although further technical evaluation would be required to determine the comprehensive cost of rehabilitation and replacement.
Bassey attached photographic and video evidence of the destruction to the appeal and offered to provide additional documentation or facilitate an on-the-spot assessment by a delegation from the SSDC.
Meanwhile, the university management has completed the desilting of affected drainage channels as part of immediate measures to improve water flow and reduce the risk of another flooding incident.
The Cross River State Government has also intervened, with Governor Bassey Edet Otu recently deploying a swamp buggy to the university to assist in addressing the flooding challenge.
Beyond the immediate humanitarian needs, the Vice Chancellor appealed for intervention to repair critical infrastructure damaged by the disaster, including sections of the university’s perimeter fence. She said the damaged fence had created additional security concerns.
Bassey’s latest appeal is part of her sustained efforts to address the recurring flooding and its impact on members of the university community. She had, as far back as last year, written to the Ministry of Environment, drawing attention to the flooding at the Staff Quarters and seeking intervention to tackle the underlying problem.
Following the latest incident, she also engaged the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), seeking assistance for the affected staff and further intervention to address the recurring flooding.
The Vice Chancellor has continued to follow up with relevant authorities and stakeholders, expressing hope that the engagements would produce urgent relief for the affected families and facilitate the rehabilitation of the damaged university facilities.
The university management said it remained committed to supporting the affected staff while mobilising relevant stakeholders to provide emergency relief and restore facilities damaged by the flood.
