Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has warned that the state is hosting more than 50,000 refugees, many of whom have fled violence in neighbouring Cameroon.
Speaking in his Calabar office during a meeting with Ms Dimanche Sharon, Chief of Mission to Nigeria for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the governor said the influx is “placing severe pressure on already limited state resources.”
Governor Otu described the situation as unsustainable, noting that the growing humanitarian needs are stretching local healthcare, education and housing services beyond capacity.
“Migration may come with opportunities globally, but in our context, it’s a heavy humanitarian and economic burden. Cross River has become a refuge for thousands fleeing conflict and we are struggling to keep up,” he told the IOM delegation.
During the visit, Ms Sharon outlined IOM’s ongoing support for refugee and host communities, including shelter assistance, medical outreach and livelihood programmes. The governor thanked the IOM for its interventions but appealed for greater international collaboration to manage the crisis.
In particular, Governor Otu called for expanded psychosocial support services and improved coordination between Nigerian authorities and their counterparts across the border.
“What we need now is enhanced partnership—both technical and financial—to ensure that refugees receive adequate protection and that host communities are supported,” he said.
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