Will Ayade’s new cities be ready this year?

When Professor Ben Ayade was inaugurated in May 2015 as Governor of Cross River State, he  announced that his government would build three brand new cities in the three senatorial districts of the state during his first term in office. During a media chat with journalists, he reassured that his government would actually make good […]

When Professor Ben Ayade was inaugurated in May 2015 as Governor of Cross River State, he  announced that his government would build three brand new cities in the three senatorial districts of the state during his first term in office.

During a media chat with journalists, he reassured that his government would actually make good his promise by delivering the new cities by December 2017.  But as it looks presently there is no sign to suggest that such promise will ever become a reality. From all indications the state governor  is no longer paying attention to the well- thought  project.

Presently, he is preoccupied with his 260 kilometres superhighway and Bakassi deep sea port which have been plagued by ceaseless controversies over improper environmental impact assessment and   forests destruction. 

The new cities are to be known as Calas-Vegas for the Southern,  Nostradame for the Northern and Centicort for the Central Senatorial districts of the state. 

The governor said he would build 5,000 housing units in each senatorial district  to start with, making 15,000 housing units for the proposed new cities.

To concretize this, he went ahead to create an entirely new ministry with full statutory authority to give impetus  to this novel initiative.  The ministry is headed by Mr George Ekpungu who is grappling with financial challenges to run  the  new ministry.

Ayade had said much of the components that would be required for the three new cities would be prefabricated which would be imported from overseas, so that upon arrival in the country, the new cities would almost be seen as having been completed in few months.

Speaking particularly on Calas-Vegas, Ayade on touring one of the sites, said it would be located on the Twins Island and would be seen as the heritage of legendary Scottish missionary, Mary Slessor. Ayade said the new city would be located on a three km by three km piece of land and plots allocated for free.

“We made the right choice of location and the geography of the new Calas Vegas city is a heritage of Mary Slessor here in Calabar”, he said.

Giving other details concerning the design of the city,  he said it would boost the tourism industry in the state with a phase to be ready by December 2017 so that it could form part of the annual Calabar festival activities.

Ayade said, “We are building a resort in the Twin Island, which will be a heritage of Mary Slessor here in Calabar Cross River and will offer  tourists a great delight.”

Speaking   on  the new cities, Commissioner for New City Development Ministry, Barr. George Ekpungu said his office was fast putting in place measures for the rapid development of  the state’s proposed new cities.

“What I intend to do first is to get the legal and institutional framework in place to build the new cities, then embark on an urban rejuvenation, create city sites and commence building the new cities.

“The governor is interested in building and developing an urban center in Boki, it may not be as big as what we are going to do with Calas Vegas, Obudu and others but it is going to be an acceptable one, liveable and sustainable center for Boki people.”

Ekpungu said despite the delay in the take- off of the project,  the set goals would be realized.

But the question being asked in certain quarter is that “as  at  the  month of March 2017, can  Ayade’s promise to build these new cities still feasible?”