The Cross River State Government has firmly rejected misleading reports surrounding the recent inauguration of select projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Calabar, describing the narratives as inaccurate and politically motivated.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill, Friday, the Minister of Regional Development, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, inaugurated several NDDC projects in Cross River State. 

The inaugurated projects included a newly acquired office complex now serving as the NDDC Secretariat in the state, agricultural equipment, and a road project on Idang Street. 

The event was conducted peacefully and broadcast live on TVC, contrary to certain media reports suggesting controversy or disruption, the statement said.

The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, the statement said, was ably represented at the event by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Ankpo P. Edet. 

At no point was the event disrupted, either by the governor or any other state official, the statement said.

Governor Otu, a loyal member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), remains committed to supporting federal initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and livelihoods across the state.

Cross River, it is worth noting, was the first APC-governed state in the South-south region and continues to benefit significantly from Federal Government projects. 

These include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Special Agro-Processing Zones, and the Federal Housing Scheme, among others. 

The state government reiterated that no level of “sponsored blackmail” by fifth columnists would succeed in straining the existing cordial relationship between Cross River and the Federal Government, which share a common progressive ideology.

Among the projects listed for inauguration was the Nyaghasang Community Road, which was eventually postponed. 

The state clarified that this particular road project was not initiated by the NDDC but by the Cross River State Government.

Speaking on the matter, the statement quoted Edet as saying: “The Nyaghasang road was initiated and funded by the Cross River State Government. We have completed the drainage, concrete works, and channelization of the area, with construction still ongoing.”

He explained that the NDDC was never formally involved in the planning or execution of the project, and emphasized the importance of coordination when implementing infrastructure projects within the state. 

According to Edet, the NDDC has been advised that going forward, it must engage the state government, review the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME), and adhere to state construction standards before undertaking any project.

The Cross River State Government reiterated its openness to development partnerships but emphasized that all interventions must be transparent and coordinated for the greater good of the people.

“We are not in conflict with the NDDC or any federal agency,” clarified Edet. “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.”

Supporting the government’s position, the Secretary-General of the Nyaghasang Qua Clan Council, Mr. Iso Bassey Edim, recalled that Governor Otu had personally pledged to address the road infrastructure in the community during a health centre inauguration in July 2024. 

“True to his word, work began on the roads just three weeks later, led by the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure,” he said.

Edim noted that while work was ongoing, the NDDC appeared to have intervened by asphalting certain sections of the road, only to later return and announce an inauguration. 

“We advise the NDDC, as an interventionist agency, to align and synergize with the state government to avoid duplication and confusion,” he cautioned.

In his remarks, the Mayor of Calabar Municipality, Apostle James Anam, confirmed that the project contract had already been awarded by the state and was actively in progress before the NDDC’s 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 stressed.