The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN) has blocked an access road opened by the Cross River State government through its premises in Calabar, accusing the authorities of failing to honour an agreement on the temporary use of its property.
The road runs through the grounds of Hope Waddell Training Institution, one of the oldest secondary schools in southern Nigeria, and provides access to the shoreline and the Anansa community in Calabar.
The dispute arose after a landslide damaged Anansa Road, cutting off a key route used by residents and business operators. The state government approached the PCN seeking an alternative access path through the school premises so that economic activities could continue while repairs were carried out.
Church officials said they agreed to the request on the condition that a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed to regulate the temporary use of the property and outline agreed conditions before the road was opened.
However, a church official who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the government opened the road barely two days after the discussions without obtaining written approval or signing the MoU. “While the church was waiting for the documentation, it was surprising that the state government, two days after the discussion, without any approval or written agreement, opened up the road,” the official said.
In response, the Synod Moderator directed the immediate closure of the road until the government signed the MoU and fulfilled the agreed conditions. The church’s Office Manager in Calabar, Rev. Anam Bassey, confirmed that the PCN had erected a perimeter fence across the access road and blocked another passage.
The state government said it was unaware of the latest development. Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, stated that the matter could be resolved through direct engagement between the church leadership and Governor Bassey Otu.
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