Calabar South local government which in the Southern Senatorial District was created from the former Calabar Municipal Government. The headquarter is located at Anantigha.

It has eleven wards which are as follows: -

1. Ward 1
2. Ward 2
3. Ward 3
4. Ward 4
5. Ward 5
6. Ward 6
7. Ward 7
8. Ward 8
9. Ward 9
10. Ward 10
11. Ward 11

The year 2000 was a very eventful one for the present administration in Calabar South Local Government. It witnessed the commencement of some projects embarked upon by the Essien Ayi Administration in Calabar South Local Government.

In recognition of the genuine desire of the people of Calabar South for development, the Local Government Administration during the year under review, directed its energies and resources towards laying a solid foundation for the realization of the development aspiration of the people.

Great care was taken to ensure that the projects embarked upon were evenly spread among the twelve wards in the Council Area.

Some of these projects have been completed, and were commissioned by the Cross River State Governor, Mr. Donald Duke during his official working visit to Calabar South Local Government Area in December, 2000. These project include:

TRANSPORTATION:
The Calabar South Mass Transit programme in which seven out of ten earmarked buses were commissioned. The buses were bought at the total cost of N8.5m. The mass transit programme has since commenced and a Board for the Calabar South Transport company put in place to manage the Programme.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION
The Calabar South Poverty Alleviation Initiative involves the distribution of thirty brand new Yamaha 100 motor-cycles to some unemployed persons in the area on a lease arrangement. These motor-cycles were commissioned by the Cross River State Governor. Under the lease agreement, beneficiaries will be expected to pay back to the council, the actual cost of the motor-cycles over a specified period of time. The motor-cycles were purchased at the cost of N3.6m. council intends to make this a continuous affairs, to enable more people benefit from subsequent phases of the Scheme.

ELECTRICITY
The Council’s one hundred (100) KVA power-generating plant was purchased and installed at the cost of N3.3m. the plant is being used to provide alternative source of power supply to the council secretariat in the event of power outages.

EDUCATION
So far, about one thousand desks have been distributed to schools in the Area. These were produced at the cost of three million Naira (N3m). This project is part of the Council’s efforts to address the problems arising from inadequate desks for primary school pupils in Calabar South.

Six thousand Citizenship Education textbooks were purchased by the Council during the year under review at the cost of three point nine million Naira (N3.9m) and distributed to all primary schools in Calabar South. This was a practical demonstration of Council’s desire to encourage the study of citizenship Education at the primary school level.

HEALTH
In addition to these which have already been commissioned, Council is also involved in the execution of other projects, geared towards the development of Calabar South. Prominent among these projects are the three health centers cited in different parts of the Local Government Area. One is located at the council headquarters, Anantigha, while the other two are sited at Henshaw Town and Efut Uwanse. These projects are at various stages of completion.

Also in the year 2000, Calabar South Local Government played host to a number of dignitaries. These included the wife of the Delta State Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Nkoyo Ibori, The Mayor of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Chief Nnamdi Wokekaeo, the District Governor of the Lions Clubs International District 404, Lion Kayode Osun-Benjamin, and the members of the National Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Abuja.

In the same year, the poverty Alleviation Programme was flagged off in Calabar South. Relief materials presented were by the Council to the people of Ikot Offiong in Odukpani Local Government Area who were displaced during a boundary dispute with their neighbours in Akwa Ibom State and the Council hosted the Tree Planting Campaign by Girls Guides Brigade. The Council during the year under review, hosted a surgical team for Cataract Eye Camp by the South-East Nigeria Eye Care Outreach Services, hosted the flagging off of the National Immunization Days in Cross River State, and the National Orientation Agency Forum on Stewardship and Accountability.

Calabar South participated actively in the Cross River State Trade Fair 2000 during which the abundant human and natural resources of the Area were put on display.

A bill on the proscription of Agaba and other militant groups in Calabar South was signed into law by the Council’s Chairman, Hon. Essien E. Ayi. This was a indication of the seriousness the Local Government Administration attached to the safety of lives and property of indigenes, residents and those doing business in the Council Area.

The year 2000 witnessed remarkable improvements in security within the Area. There was a marked reduction in crime rate, thuggery, clashes by rival youth gangs and molestation of law-abiding residents. This was directly attributable to the efforts and steps taken by the Essien Ayi Administration to provide employment for youths. Now in Calabar South, more and more unemployed persons are daily provided with opportunities for legitimate sources of income.

In the area of sports for which the council's Chairman is known to have a soft spot, the first edition of the Chairman’s Cup Soccer Competition was successfully organised. This competition which was for the wards in the Area, was won by Ward four. The Councils Football team, the Anantigha Warriors Football Club also won the 2000 edition of the Governor’s Cup Soccer Competition.

Calabar South Local Government took active part in the various activities organised by Cross River State Government to mark the Christmas and New Year Celebrations. The Local Government eventually took the first position in the Boat Regatta.

It was during the year under review that the Presidential System of Government was introduced in Calabar South Local Government, with the election of officers and inauguration of the Legislative Council. It is worthy to note that Calabar South Legislative Council was among the first Local Government Legislature to be inaugurated in Cross River State.

In recognition of his leadership qualities and other achievements Hon. Essien Ayi was chosen for an Award as one of the twenty “Most Outstanding Local Government Chairman in Nigeria for the Year 1999/2000” by an International Non-governmental Organisation, Coalition of African Indigenous People, in Conjunction with African Institute for Arbitration and Conflict Resolution. This Award was presented to Hon. Essien Ayi at the colourful ceremony at the prestigious NICON HILTON HOTEL in Abuja June, 2000.