The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Francisca Bassey, has intensified efforts to secure urgent relief and rehabilitation support for staff members whose residences and properties were devastated by recent flooding at the University’s Calabar Campus.
In an urgent appeal to the Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), Uyo, dated August 12, 2026, Prof. Bassey disclosed that 24 staff families had been displaced by the flooding and were left without temporary shelter and essential household items.
The Vice Chancellor described the situation as a grave humanitarian crisis, noting that household belongings of the affected staff members were washed away, leaving families in dire need of immediate assistance.
She appealed to the SSDC for emergency relief materials, including mattresses, bedding, electrical appliances, televisions, refrigerators, kitchen equipment, gas cookers and cylinders, as well as financial assistance to provide temporary accommodation and replace essential personal effects lost to the flood.
Prof. Bassey also called for support for the rehabilitation of affected staff residences and offices, where documents, furniture, computers, phones, photocopiers, printers and other equipment were destroyed.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed in the letter that a preliminary assessment indicated that the overall value of the damage ran into several billions of naira, with further technical evaluation expected to provide a comprehensive assessment of the rehabilitation and replacement costs.
Prof. Bassey attached photographic and video evidence of the destruction to her appeal and offered to provide further documentation or receive a delegation from the SSDC for an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas.
In the meantime, Management has taken steps to mitigate the immediate risk of further flooding. Desilting of the affected drainage channels has just been completed to facilitate the free flow of water and help prevent a recurrence of flooding in the affected areas.
In a demonstration of the concern of the Cross River State Government over the flood situation, the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Senator Bassey Edet Otu, recently deployed a swamp buggy to the University. The deployment underscores the Governor’s concern for the welfare of affected members of the University community and his commitment to supporting efforts to mitigate the impact of the flooding.
Beyond the immediate humanitarian needs, the Vice Chancellor appealed for intervention to repair critical University infrastructure affected by the disaster, including sections of the perimeter fence. She noted that the damage to the fence had heightened security concerns.
The Vice Chancellor’s latest appeal is part of her sustained efforts to address the recurring flooding and its impact on members of the University community.
As far back as last year, Prof. Bassey had written to the Ministry of Environment drawing attention to the flooding challenges at the Staff Quarters and seeking intervention to address the underlying problem.
Following the latest flooding 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 situation. She has continued to follow up on the matter and remains hopeful that the ongoing engagements with relevant authorities and stakeholders will yield the desired intervention to alleviate the hardship being experienced by the affected families, particularly children, mothers, fathers and elderly members of the University community.
The engagements underscore the Vice Chancellor’s commitment to the welfare of UNICROSS staff, particularly those who have suffered severe losses as a result of the flooding.
Management remains committed to supporting the affected staff and continuously mobilising relevant stakeholders to provide relief and facilitate the rehabilitation of the flood-damaged facilities.
