As part of efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public asset management, Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has directed the digitalization of the state’s asset registry. This initiative aims to establish a centralized, real-time system for tracking, auditing, and managing government-owned assets, ensuring optimal utilization and curbing mismanagement NEGROIDHAVEN has confirmed.
The directive follows the State Executive Council’s approval for a comprehensive audit and recovery of public assets, reinforcing the administration’s zero-tolerance stance on asset misappropriation and commitment to data-driven governance.
In line with the Governor’s directive, key government officials, including Special Adviser on Asset Management and Recovery, Barr. Gilbert Agbor; Economic Adviser, Prof. Peter Oti; Accountant General, Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Effiong; and State Auditor General, Mrs. Anne Essessien, held a high-level strategy session in Calabar with representatives from Nugi Technologies Nigeria Limited, the firm responsible for implementing the digital asset registry.
The engagement provided a platform for government stakeholders to offer technical insights, define key parameters, and outline best practices that will ensure the digital registry is secure, efficient, and tailored to meet the specific needs of Cross River state.
Addressing participants at the session, Barr. Gilbert Agbor, Special Adviser to the Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, emphasized that the digitalization of the asset registry is a transformative step toward modernizing governance, improving asset accountability, and recovering state properties acquired unlawfully.
“This initiative, championed by His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu, marks a critical milestone in our commitment to ensuring all state-owned assets are properly documented, efficiently managed, and adequately protected. By transitioning to a digital registry, we are not only modernizing government operations but also reinforcing our zero-tolerance policy against the unlawful acquisition or misuse of public property,” Agbor stated.
He assured that the asset management team will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure full implementation of the initiative, stressing that the digital registry would serve as an invaluable tool for maintaining accountability and preventing resource misallocation.
In his remarks, Godswill Adie, Chief Technology Officer of Nugi Technologies Nigeria Limited, lauded the Cross River State Government’s proactive approach in leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions to improve governance.
“The collaboration with government stakeholders has been instrumental in refining the asset management framework. This digital registry is designed not just to track and record state assets but also to introduce key operational features that will enhance efficiency, improve transparency, and enable better decision-making,” Adie said.
He further assured that once fully operational, the asset registry will function as a secure, real-time database, allowing seamless tracking, auditing, and management of government assets across ministries, agencies, and departments.
The asset digitalization project is expected to provide a real-time, transparent, and accessible system, ensuring that government-owned properties are properly accounted for, well-maintained, and optimally utilized for the benefit of the state and its citizens.
By integrating advanced digital tools into governance, Governor Otu’s administration is setting a new benchmark for asset management, reinforcing fiscal responsibility, public trust, and sustainable development in Cross River State.
With this initiative, the state is pioneering a forward-thinking approach to resource management, ensuring that public assets are effectively safeguarded and leveraged for long-term socioeconomic growth.
