Ukorebi Esien | July 23, 2025
CALABAR — As the national discourse on constitutional amendment and state creation gains momentum, stakeholders from Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State have presented a compelling case for the creation of two additional LGAs from the existing Calabar South.
The call was amplified during a live radio programme, on Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, CRBC, Sunrise Radio, co-hosted by Emmanuel Bisong and Esther Coco-Bassey, where key leaders and committee members involved in the advocacy outlined historical, demographic, and developmental justifications for the demand.
Leading the conversation, Pastor Patrick Asikpo, Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State and Chairman of a 14-man communiqué drafting committee constituted by the Calabar South Local Government Chairman, Pastor Patrick Archibong, stated that the creation of new LGAs is vital for deepening grassroots development and delivering the dividends of democracy.
"The whole essence of governance is to bring hope to the people," Asikpo said. "With the exponential population growth, increased economic activities, and the historic significance of Calabar South, creating additional LGAs is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity."
According to the cleric, the proposed split is not driven by personal interests but by a collective aspiration to attract more federal presence, create jobs, expand infrastructure, and bring governance closer to the people.
Providing historical context, Pastor Asikpo described Calabar South as one of the oldest settlements in Nigeria, dating back over 2,000 years. "It served as a hub for European missionaries in the 15th century and was pivotal to the transatlantic slave trade. It also housed the first international seaport on the Gulf of Guinea," he explained.
Adding weight to the advocacy, Barr. Ewa Henshaw, Managing Director of Cross River Equity and Investment Ltd and a member of the committee, emphasized that the campaign is aligned with the broader national conversation on restructuring and state creation. He threw his weight behind the creation of Ogoja State, asserting that, "If they don't create Ogoja State, then something fundamental is wrong with Nigeria. Ogoja has long deserved statehood as one of the oldest provinces."
Also speaking, Rt. Hon. Okon Ephraim, former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly who represented Calabar South, pointed out that the current size and population of the LGA are unmanageable under one administrative structure. He noted that "Ward 12 alone has over 78 polling units, more than some entire local governments. During the 2023 governorship elections, Calabar South delivered the highest number of votes for the current governor. We deserve more." The former Chief Whip insisted.
The committee's proposal outlines three LGAs to be carved from the existing Calabar South:
Atakpa LGA: Comprising Wards 1 to 6 (with internal ward splits bringing it to 10 wards)
Calabar Central LGA: Encompassing Wards 7 to 10 (with subdivisions also yielding 10 wards)
Calabar South (Retained): Made up of Wards 11 and 12, with existing zones converted to 12 full wards
This structure is designed to minimize conflict, as the demarcations are based strictly on existing wards, avoiding any boundary disputes.
According to the committee, the area has grown from a population of 260,000 in 2006 to an estimated 400,000 today, further justifying the need for decentralization. The stakeholders emphasized that the creation of new LGAs will bring about improved access to education, health facilities, and economic opportunities, while also enhancing the political bargaining power of the region.
They also stressed the importance of lobbying legislators at both state and national levels, as the constitutional amendment process requires concurrence from two-thirds of the States Houses of Assembly. The advocacy committee has resolved to continue engagements, mobilization, and public enlightenment to ensure their voices are heard and their demands acted upon.
"Our call is backed by empirical data, demographic realities, and historical facts," Pastor Asikpo concluded. "It is a logical and justifiable demand made within the constitutional framework, and we believe that the time to act is now."
The conversation reflects the rising clamor across Nigeria for more equitable representation and decentralization as citizens push for governance structures that are closer and more responsive to the needs of local communities.
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