How Presidency’s Intervention Averted Chaos at NDDC Project Inauguration in Cross River
By Ndifreke Bassey
A tense standoff during the inauguration of federal government projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Calabar was defused by a timely intervention from the Presidency on Friday, June 13, 2025.
The swift action helped prevent escalating tensions from degenerating into a full breakdown of law and order at an event meant to showcase development efforts but marred by protests and vandalism—allegedly instigated by local authorities—highlighting underlying political tensions in Cross River State.
Minister of Regional Development, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, accompanied by top NDDC officials and members of the National Assembly, had arrived in Calabar to commission approximately eight kilometers of roads, a new NDDC office complex, and agricultural equipment.
Some of the 8.13klm road projects handled by NDDC and was slated for inauguration include Idang Road, Clarks Alley, King Duke, Ikot Nkebre and Nyanghasang community road. Other projects include the new NDDC office Complex and agricultural equipment.
Chaos at Nyaghasang and Idang Road Project Sites
Trouble began when the NDDC delegation arrived at the Nyaghasang community road project and was met with stiff resistance. Alleged thugs, claiming the road was a state government project, not an NDDC one, dismantled billboards and destroyed event setups including canopies and chairs.
The disruption continued at Idang Street and other project sites in Calabar South, where vandals reportedly tore down a billboard of President Bola Tinubu.
Calabar South Council Chairman, Hon. Patrick Archibong, was reportedly present at the scenes. When questioned by a Senator, he stated, “We were not carried along,” and claimed he was acting on direct orders from the state government to halt the event.
NDDC: State Was Duly Notified
Sources within the NDDC maintained that the Cross River State government had been fully informed about the inauguration. Notifications and reminders were reportedly delivered via the state’s representatives at the NDDC 2025 Budget Conference.
Additionally, a planned courtesy call to Governor Sen. Prince Bassey Otu was reportedly declined, with the Governor citing his absence from Calabar.
How a Presidency Call Saved the Day
The crisis was eventually resolved following a direct phone call from the Presidency to Governor Otu.
According to sources close to the delegation, the Governor initially cited concerns over the naming of a street and the acquisition cost of the NDDC office complex as reasons for the resistance. The caller from the Presidency reportedly dismissed these concerns as irrelevant to the inauguration.
Following the conversation, Governor Otu ordered his aides to allow the event to proceed.
The commissioning eventually held at Idang Street, although the Nyaghasang road project remains a flashpoint in the ongoing tussle between the NDDC and the state government.
State Government Debunks NDDC Claims
In a press conference, the Cross River State government denied that the Nyaghasang road was executed by the NDDC.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Pius Ankpo Edet, stated that the project was initiated and funded by the state government. He said the state had cleared debts owed to a previous contractor and re-awarded the project to a new firm, which is still on-site.
“The contractors are still working there, so the NDDC has no business claiming or commissioning the project,” Edet declared.
Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, Cross River’s representative on the NDDC board, supported this claim, alleging the NDDC only surfaced to “asphalt a small section” of an already 80% completed project.
Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, further clarified that the state was invited only for the commissioning of the NDDC office complex—not for any road projects—insisting that the Nyaghasang project was not under the NDDC’s purview.
Political Undercurrents Ahead of 2027
Observers suggest the conflict may have deeper political implications, particularly ahead of the 2027 elections.
There is growing speculation of a cold war between Government House and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong over the 2027 Southern Senatorial seat and potential governorship ambitions. While Ekpenyong has denied gubernatorial interest, some analysts believe the disruption aimed to undermine his political influence and public perception.
Nyaghasang Residents Dispute State’s Claims
Contrary to the state’s position, residents of Nyaghasang insist the road was completed by the NDDC and not the state government.
They claim the project had been abandoned for over a decade, stalled at the foundational level since the late 2000s.
Mr. Bassey Ekeng, a resident, recounted that the Nyaghasang Ring Road was initiated under Governor Donald Duke to improve access to the area, which had become a neglected slum in the heart of Calabar.
He explained that the first phase—from Access Junction through Nsaha Effiom and Ekpenyong Abasi to Jonathan Bypass—was completed during Duke’s tenure. The second phase, cutting through Dr. Edem Street into Nyaghasang, was awarded under Governor Liyel Imoke but was never completed.
Ekeng said years of neglect led to property losses and severe erosion: “People sold their homes. Others lost theirs to gullies. Our vehicles were constantly in the mechanic’s shop. It was hell.”
He recalled that during the 2023 general elections, Senator Ekpenyong visited the community and promised to prioritize their needs—including completing the road—as constituency projects.
“He kept his word. That’s why this uproar over the commissioning baffles me,” Ekeng said.
Other residents echoed his views, describing the NDDC’s intervention as a long-awaited relief. They urged both state and federal agencies to work in harmony, with one community elder summarizing the sentiment:
“What we need is development, not division.”
