By Patrick Obia
What began as an ordinary rainy day for Mrs. Blessing Ede turned into a nightmare that left her family without a home.
On July 10, 2026, dark clouds gathered over Calabar, Cross River State, signalling another round of rainfall. Like many residents accustomed to the state’s frequent downpours, Mrs. Blessing never imagined that the rain would end in disaster.
While she and her family had gone out in search of their daily livelihood, heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning pounded the area for hours, mirroring earlier warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) of above-normal rainfall across parts of Nigeria.
When the family returned later that evening, they were met with a heartbreaking sight. Half of their apartment sitting already on the edge of a dangerous valley had collapsed after floodwaters weakened the ground beneath the building.
The devastation left Mrs. Blessing in shock. For several moments, she stood speechless, struggling to comprehend what had happened before the painful reality finally sank in.
“I didn’t know that the flood had soaked the ground so much. That was how one side of the house just collapsed. It just divided into two. Thank God nobody was in the house at that time,” she told CrossRiverWatch.
READ: Deadly Landslide Leaves Family Of Four, One Other Dead In Calabar
The incident occurred at Nsaha Effiom Street, close to the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Like many victims of Cross River’s persistent rainfall and flash flooding, Mrs. Blessing and her family have now been rendered homeless.
“At the moment we don’t have anywhere to stay. I and the children are just squatting somewhere.”
With no assistance yet from any quarter, the seamstress, whose livelihood depends entirely on her sewing business, is appealing to the government and kind-hearted Nigerians for urgent support.
“I plead to the government and the relevant authorities to look into the valley at that area where our house is just at the edge. The valley is so deep. It has eaten so many houses including mine.”
Earlier this year, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) unveiled its 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), warning of above-normal rainfall in several states, prolonged dry spells in some regions, a severe August Break, and generally warmer temperatures across Nigeria.
Speaking at the presentation, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, described the Seasonal Climate Prediction as a vital national tool that translates climate science into practical guidance for decision-making across critical sectors of the economy.
READ ALSO: Heavy Rain Fall Leaves One-Year-Old Baby Dead In Calabar
He said climate variability and climate change continue to affect aviation safety, food security, infrastructure development and national planning, stressing that timely and accurate weather information is essential for sustainable development. The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening NiMet as a center of excellence in weather and climate services.
Keyamo cautioned Nigerians against interpreting early rainfall in parts of southern Nigeria as the official onset of the rainy season, urging farmers and other rainfall-dependent users to rely on NiMet’s predicted onset dates.
According to the forecast, early onset of rainfall was predicted for Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Oyo, and parts of Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Adamawa and Taraba states, while Borno State is expected to experience a late onset.
READ: Another Landslide Claims One Life Days After Five Died In Calabar
The agency projected an earlier-than-normal end of the rainy season in parts of Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Imo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kogi and Niger states. However, Cross River, alongside Lagos, Ogun, Anambra, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa and Kaduna states, is expected to witness a delayed cessation of rainfall.
NiMet further predicted a longer-than-normal rainy season in Cross River and several other states, with above-normal annual rainfall expected in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Borno and the Federal Capital Territory.
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The forecast also warned of prolonged dry spells in parts of the country and predicted that the annual August Break would begin in late July, with severe and prolonged effects expected across Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and parts of Oyo State.
In its latest weather outlook, NiMet forecast cloudy morning conditions across southern Nigeria, followed by widespread afternoon and evening rainfall.
The agency said cloudy skies with light rainfall are expected over parts of Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States in the morning, while moderate rainfall is likely across most parts of the region later in the day.
NiMet warned that persistent wet conditions could increase the risk of flash flooding, especially in low-lying, poorly drained and flood-prone communities, advising residents to remain vigilant as the rains continue.
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