July 2024, Governor Otu revisited the facility. His administration announced that production was expected to begin in September 2024, subject to NAFDAC accreditation.
By Inok Solomon
·
Published on November 13, 2026
·
4 min read
If there is one factory that attracted a special kind of attention during the administration of former Governor Ben Ayade, it was the Calabar Pharmaceutical Company, popularly known as CALAPHARM.
The euphoria surrounding the project was enormous.
Its special architectural design, the attention given to its construction, the regular announcements about its anticipated production capacity, import substitution potential and revenue contributions to the state all made it one of the most celebrated industrial projects of that administration.
Yet, despite the enormous expectations, the factory struggled to commence production.
July 2024 – Governor Otu revisited the facility. His administration announced that production was expected to begin in September 2024, subject to NAFDAC accreditation.
It is difficult to understand how a project that attracted so much government attention, commitment and financial investment could experience such prolonged delays in becoming operational.
In 2018, official statements reported that the factory was over 90% completed, with equipment already procured. Production was expected to commence that year.
Years later, the facility was still being reported as non-operational.
So, what exactly happened?
Were we victims of a government scam, or was the government itself scammed in the process of delivering this project?
I believe Cross River State deserves answers.
- How much public money was committed to CALAPHARM from conception to completion?
- What was the original contractual agreement, and who were the contractors and technical partners?
- Were all the procured machines delivered, installed and tested?
- What is the present condition of the equipment?
- Were the machines properly maintained during the years the facility remained inactive?
- What were the reasons for the repeated delays in obtaining regulatory approvals?
- What exactly did the state surrender or transfer under the reported 25-year Public-Private Partnership arrangement?
- What percentage of ownership and equity does Cross River State still retain?
- How much revenue, employment and pharmaceutical production has the facility generated since its reported transition to Carlos Pharmaceuticals?
These are not unreasonable questions. They concern public resources and an investment that was presented to Cross Riverians as a major economic opportunity.
The present administration under Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu has demonstrated willingness to continue with several inherited projects, including the rehabilitation of TINAPA, Obudu Mountain Resort, the Obudu Cargo Airport and the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport.
These are capital-intensive projects requiring substantial financial commitments.
Why should we not give the same level of attention to CALAPHARM, an investment that was officially reported to be over 90% completed several years ago?
Thankfully, the 2025 developments around Carlos Pharmaceuticals suggest that the facility has not simply disappeared from the state’s economic agenda.
But we need more than announcements and projections. We need verifiable production figures, employment records, regulatory approvals and evidence of commercial operations.
A factory is not an economic achievement simply because its building is completed or its machines are installed.
Its real value lies in what it produces, the jobs it creates, the revenue it generates and the extent to which it contributes to the state’s economy.
THE POSITION
If CALAPHARM has been concessioned, let Cross Riverians understand the terms.
If it has commenced production, let us see the production figures.
If it is still struggling, let us know what remains to be done.
And if public funds were mismanaged, those responsible should be held accountable through appropriate processes.
We cannot continue to celebrate the initiation of projects while remaining silent about the fate of investments already made.
Cross River State needs operational industries, not impressive industrial buildings.
Our resources must work for us.
Our investments must produce returns.
What exactly is the present state of CALAPHARM, and what has Cross River State gained from its investment so far?
CAVEAT: Views expressed in this opinion are those of the author, Inok Solomon, and not of Daily Lamp and or its staff.
