Calabar Municipal

Calabar Municipal  is a Local Government Area located in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State. The headquarter is located in the city of Calabar.

Geography

Calabar Municipality lies between latitude 04° 15′ and 5° N and longitude 8° 25′ E. Calabar Municipal is bounded by Odukpani Local Government Area in the North, East by the great Kwa River. Its Southern shores are bounded by the Calabar River 5 miles (8 km) upstream from that river’s entrance into the Cross River estuary and Calabar South Local Government Area. It has an area of 331.551 square kilometres

History
Calabar is the capital city of Cross River State as well as the headquarters of the Municipal Government. This community has witnessed several administrative changes. It was the capital of the southern protectorate of Nigeria and lost that position to Lagos in 1904. Following the establishment of the then regions, Calabar became one of the earliest seats of Local Government administration in the then Eastern Region up to 1952, under the Local Government ordinance of 1950. the first elections into the Calabar Urban District Council were held in 1952 when the late Mr. Benjamin Ekaluo and late Barrister Essien Kooffreh emerged Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively. Chief Eniang Essien subsequently replaced Mr. Ekaluo as Chairman.

Local Government Wards

There are ten wards in the local government area. The wards are:

PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE

Two ethnic groups form the indigenous population. These are the Quas and the Efiks. However, because of its cosmopolitan status, there abound people from all parts of the state and Nigeria in the city.

FOOD IN CALABAR MUNICIPAL

The people here delight much in eating Afang soup, Afia Efere (white soup), Atama soup, Efere Etighi (Okra soup), and Abak Nmong Nmong Ikong. Others are Edesi isip (efik coconut rice), Edikaikong Soup, Iwuk Edesi (Native jollof rice), Surf and turf otong soup. Also, they eat Efere Ine (Fisherman’s soup), Ekpan Nkwukwo, Ukwogho Etidot ( Efik Bitter leaf soup), Abak Afang (banga) soup, Iwuk Ukom (plantain pottage), Yam with Ukang sauce, Editan Soup, Ukang Ukom, Steamed Cocoyam (Ayan Ekpang), and Otong Soup. Facts remains that the food eaten in this town are much.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
University of Calabar,
Cross River University of Technology,
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

PAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN