Greater Calabar Cap. City Dev. Authority solicit support of Obong of Calabar & traditional rulers

Information reaching our correspondent has it that the newly created Greater Calabar Capital City Development Authority (GCCDA) has solicited the support of the Obong of Calabar and the traditional rulers council in Cross River towards achieving its core mandate NegroidHaven can report. 

Mr Kingsley Ita Ikpeme the pioneer Director General of the state agency, who recently led the management of GCCDA in a courtesy visit to the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V in his palace in Calabar as well as the Chair of Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, His Highness Etinyin Etim Okon Edet in his office in Calabar, said that his agency was established by the Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA) Law No. 222016 ‘to develop new cities in Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Odukpani, Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Biase, and Akamkpa LGAs and also provide the legal regulatory framework for new city development and expansion of city infrastructure outside Calabar to check arbitrariness and illegalities on the part of implementers’. 

DG Ikpeme further noted that his agency seeks to expand infrastructure into new development areas in the bid to decongest the already congested Calabar metropolis in addition to correcting the ongoing trend of unbridled development and urban sprawling in the state capital. 

DG Ikpeme in a photograph with The Chairman of Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council Etinyin Etim Okon Edet (Middle) with other traditional rulers and board members

DG Ikpeme at the Palace of the Obong of Calabar and palace guards

Given this background, DG Ikpeme explained to both monarchs that his agency cannot achieve this alone, the reason for partnering relevant traditional institutions. He therefore solicited the support, blessing and advice of Obong of Calabar and other traditional rulers in the state to enable the agency succeed. 

In his response, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V the Obong of Calabar lauded the state governor for his vision to establish the GCCDA which he said has become necessary to cater for the needs of development of new cities and expansion of infrastructure in new development areas of the state. 

The Obong of Calabar further charged the state government to extend her infrastructure expansion to other senatorial districts of the state. On his part, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet appreciated the DG for the visit while assuring him of the utmost support of the traditional institution in the state.