By NSAN NDOMA -NEJI, Calabar
Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Cross of River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Francisca Bassey, has raised the alarm over loses suffered by the institution following last week Wednesday Windstorm that blew across Calabar, the capital city of Cross River state.
The Windstorm wrecked havoc in the city bringing down trees that beautified the garden city, many beautiful edifices belonging to financial institutions, shops, offices, churches and several residential quarters.
The VC counted the institution’s losses during a telephone chat with our Correspondent on Sunday, in Calabar, highlighting the need for urgent intervention to restore the damaged facilities in the institution.
Explaining ordeal of the institution, the vice Chancellor said infrastructural facilities destroyed at the campus include, roof and windows of several lecture halls, the library, the student union building, conference room in the Administrative Building housing the Vice Chancellor’s office were also severely damaged.
“Other affected buildings include, the University’s Library, Student Affairs building, Biological Science building, Environmental Studies building, New Science Block A, JAMB/CBT center, former Post Graduate School building, Mass Communication old block and the New Auditorium of the University”. She maintained
“Apart from the shattered glasses from windows, the winstorm caused a lot of damage to our school.I believe that with quick intervention from the disaster management agencies, the school can bounce back to its feet”, she stated.
She lamented that the windstorm, which was accompanied by heavy rain fall, lightening and thunder storm caused serious damage to the institution ‘s infrastructural facilities estimated to run into millions of naira, stressing that the university is forced to struggle on how to cope with the aftermath of the natural disaster.
The VC expressed concern that the damage would no doubt disrupt academic activities and impact students’ learning experience negatively if not remedied on time.
She called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for urgent assistance in repairing the facilities.
The VC stated that quick intervention in the institution will help in the restoration of affected facilities to assist the university to continue to function normally as it used to be.
Registrar, Mr. Victor Ene; the Bursar, Mr. Ebom Ekpe; the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Onen Ebri Onen and the Director of Audit, Mr. Nzan Osim, also lend their voices seeking for assistance in the repairs of the damaged facilities caused by the disaster.
In her remarks, former acting vice Chancellor and member of the University Governing council, Prof. Akon Joshua, lamented over damaged of the new auditorium, calling for assistance to repair the damage.
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