Cross River state, Nigeria – In commemoration of his administration’s first 100 days in office, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Otu, the Governor of Cross River state, addressed the citizens of the state on Friday via a media parley with the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ and a cross section of bloggers in the state capital metropolis, stressing the need for patience and cooperation to achieve the shared vision of a prosperous and united Cross River NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
Governor Otu expressed gratitude to the people of the State for their support during the 2023 general elections, which he considered the signing of an unwritten social contract between the government and its citizens. He informed that his administration is committed to participatory governance, where every resident is included in decision-making and program implementation.
Acknowledging the high expectations placed on the government to deliver on campaign promises quickly, Governor Otu reminded citizens that governance is a marathon, not a sprint. He stressed the importance of bottom-up planning, patience, discipline, and focus in achieving sustainable growth and development.
In his address, Governor Otu highlighted several accomplishments and future plans across various sectors:
Infrastructure:
-Completion of the ultra-modern Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC).
-Rehabilitation and construction of key roads in Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Obudu, and Obanliku.
-Ongoing remodeling and renovation of the Governor’s Office Complex.
-Award of contracts for the renovation and equipping of the State ultra-modern library complex.
Agriculture:
-Attraction of $15 million private sector investment into the Ayip Eku Oil Palm Estate.
-Development of a 6-year, N30 billion agricultural credit guarantee fund for rice, maize, fisheries, and livestock farmers.
-Commencement of State-wide Digital Soil Fertility Mapping.
-Planting of 3.5 million hybrid oil palm seedlings in 13 locations across the State.
Aviation:
-Attraction of an Irish Aviation Company to establish an Aviation Training School in Bebi, Obanliku.
-Allocation of N3.7 billion for the completion of the Obudu Cargo and Passenger Airport.
General Administration:
-Restructuring and compression of ministries from 40 to 31 to align with available resources.
-Successful restructuring of the state’s debt repayment.
-Full mobilization of the state’s contingent to the National Sports Festival, highlighting the government’s commitment to youth-friendly policies.
-Attraction of over $1 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through the International Cooperation and Investment Summit.
Social Services:
-Reduction of working days and provision of stipends for civil servants.
-Introduction of a reduced transportation scheme and subsidized ticketing for commercial vehicles.
-Approval of free antenatal care and delivery for pregnant women in state-owned hospitals.
Otu concluded his address by calling for cooperation, patience, love, peace, and unity among citizens to achieve the state’s developmental goals. He expressed his determination to bring development to every part of the state during his tenure, emphasizing that development depends on the prevailing atmosphere of cooperation and unity.
The 100-day address serves as a reminder of the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises and improving the lives of Cross River’s residents.
