By James Etim
As political actors position themselves ahead of 2027, Cross River people must not lose sight of one of the most consequential controversies ever linked to the economic future of the state, the Calabar Channel dredging project.
For years, the Calabar Port has operated far below its potential due to navigational challenges associated with the channel. Successive governments and maritime experts have maintained that proper dredging and maintenance of the channel would allow larger vessels to access the port, attract investment, create jobs, boost commerce, and transform Cross River into a major maritime hub for the South-South and South-East regions.
Unfortunately, what should have been a landmark economic development project became the subject of controversy.
In 2018, the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property launched an investigation into the alleged failure to execute a contract worth approximately $12 million awarded for the dredging of the Calabar Channel. The investigation reportedly centered on a company linked to then-Senator Hope Uzodinma. The panel alleged that despite payments connected to the contract, the expected dredging works were either not completed or did not achieve the intended objectives.
The controversy eventually resulted in the questioning and temporary detention of Senator Uzodinma by the presidential panel led by Chief Okoi Obono-Obla. Could Obla be supporting same person he arrested for corruption few years ago?
Regardless of the competing narratives, one fact remains difficult to dispute: Cross River lost valuable years of economic opportunity.
Had the Calabar Channel been fully dredged and maintained as envisioned, the state could have witnessed increased cargo traffic, expanded logistics operations, new industrial investments, enhanced customs revenue, and thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities. Businesses across Cross River, the South-South and South-East could have benefited from a functional alternative to the congested ports elsewhere in the country.
Today, while some politicians in Cross River seek endorsements from same enemies of the state and attempt to leverage powerful political connections, Cross River people should ask fundamental questions. What happened to the promises attached to the Calabar Channel project? Why did a project designed to unlock enormous economic potential become mired in allegations, investigations, and litigation? And most importantly, who should be held accountable for the lost opportunities suffered by the state?
Post A Comment: