Calabar South Group Demands Explanation Over Alleged ₦1.505bn Constituency Projects Linked to Hon. Joseph Bassey
A socio-political advocacy group, Calabar South Professionals for Good Governance, has called on the member representing Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Joseph “Papa” Bassey, to publicly account for the implementation of constituency projects reportedly valued at over ₦1.505 billion in the 2025 fiscal year.
In a strongly worded press statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Edet Asuquo, the group expressed deep dissatisfaction over what it described as unsatisfactory representation and growing concerns surrounding the transparency and execution of several constituency intervention projects allegedly facilitated by the federal lawmaker.
The group acknowledged a few reported interventions, including a free medical outreach and the delivery of a classroom block at Edgerly Ballantyne Memorial Primary School, but insisted that these efforts fall significantly short of the scale of public funds reportedly allocated for the constituency.
According to the statement, residents of Calabar South are demanding “visible, measurable and verifiable development,” stressing that public accountability cannot be substituted with media publicity or ceremonial announcements.
The group said its independent review of publicly available records revealed major transparency gaps around key projects allegedly budgeted for the constituency, including a ₦300 million food distribution programme, ₦77 million grants for market women and youths, and a ₦200 million women and youth empowerment initiative.
It noted that there are no publicly available beneficiary lists, disbursement records, implementation reports, or distribution schedules to verify the execution of these programmes.
The statement further questioned the status of the ₦250 million solar streetlight project and ₦100 million solar borehole scheme, alleging that many residents across Calabar South remain unaware of the locations, contractors, or commissioning details of such projects.
Concerns were also raised over the reported ₦30 million mental health awareness campaign and ₦30 million agricultural value chain training programme, with the group claiming there is little to no documentation showing where these programmes were held, who participated, or what outcomes were achieved.
The advocacy body additionally challenged repeated references to welfare interventions such as emergency cash support, market intervention packages, youth assistance schemes and household relief programmes, insisting that no verifiable records have been presented to substantiate the claims.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, the group accused the lawmaker of engaging in what it termed “symbolic politics” rather than intentional representation.
It also frowned at what it described as attempts to present infrastructure projects executed by the Cross River State Government under Governor Bassey Otu as federal constituency achievements.
“This misrepresentation must stop,” the statement emphasized.
The group has now formally demanded that Hon. Bassey publish a full breakdown of all constituency funds released, the names of contractors handling each project, implementation timelines, exact project locations, beneficiary lists for empowerment programmes, and independent project completion and verification reports. It also called on oversight agencies, civil society organisations and investigative media platforms to scrutinize the projects in the interest of transparency and public accountability.
“The people of Calabar South are not asking for favours but demanding stewardship. Public office is a sacred trust, and every kobo allocated in the name of the people must be transparently accounted for,” the statement concluded.
