The Cross River State Government has dismissed as false, reports suggesting controversy surrounding the recent commissioning of projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Calabar.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill, said in a statement that on Friday, June 13, 2025, the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, officially inaugurated several NDDC projects in the state, including a new office complex serving as the commission’s secretariat, agricultural equipment, and the Idang Street road project. He said that contrary to claims in some quarters, the event, which was broadcast on live TV, proceeded peacefully without any disruptions,
Governor Bassey Otu was represented by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ankpo Edet, and he reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting federal initiatives as Cross River, has benefited from key federal projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Special Agro-Processing Zones, and the Federal Housing Scheme.
The state government stated that while the Nyaghasang Community Road was listed among projects to be commissioned, it was a state government initiative, not an NDDC project and Edet emphasised that the commission had no prior involvement in the road’s construction, which was already underway by the state. Edet said: “The Nyaghasang road was initiated and funded by the Cross River State Government. We have completed drainage, concrete works, and channelization, with construction ongoing.” He then urged the NDDC to collaborate with the state government on future projects to avoid duplication and ensure compliance with state standards.
Edet stated that as the first APC-governed state in the South-South, Cross River continues to benefit from federal projects including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Special Agro-Processing Zones, and the Federal Housing Scheme.
“We are not in conflict with the NDDC or any federal agency. However, for the sake of public trust and historical accuracy, it is important to state unequivocally that the NDDC projects were commissioned peacefully, and without any form of disruption,” he said.
Secretary-General of the Nyaghasang Qua Clan Council, Mr. Iso Bassey Edim, confirmed the state’s account, recalling that Governor Otu personally pledged to address the community’s road infrastructure during a health center commissioning in July 2024. Construction began three weeks later under the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. “While work was ongoing, the NDDC appeared to have intervened by asphalting certain sections of the road, only to later return and announce a commissioning,” Edim said.
Calabar Municipality Mayor, Apostle James Anam also confirmed that the project contract had been awarded by the state and was actively in progress before NDDC involvement. “What we need now is constructive collaboration between the NDDC and the state government. Projects should not be initiated or claimed without proper consultation,” he stated.