By Onwa Ekor
Forum of Special Advisers to the Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, led by its Chairman who also doubles as the Special Adviser to the governor on general duties, Barr Ekpenyong Akiba, has unveiled the numerous achievements of the governor within his first three years in office.
Addressing journalists on what the Forum termed as “sectoral briefing on three years milestones of Governor Bassey Otu,” at the All Progressive Congress (APC) campaign office in Calabar, members took turns to unveil the achievements recorded in various sectors of the economy, by the present administration in the state.
Akiba informed that the achievements of the governor has been multidimensional, maintaining that, the present administration in the state has continuously focused on citizen centered governance.
According to the Forum Chairman, the governor has never relented right from his days in the National Assembly, to demonstrate his concern for the citizenry, hence the need for the people to rise above political conspiracies, blackmail and faceless representations that are not backed by facts and figures.
“The governor is not harken to cutting of ribbons because of three kilometres roads,” Akiba explained, adding that, “most of us are aware of several kilometres that have been completed for use without commissioning, we are also aware of several facilities that have been built from foundation to completion without commissioning.
“We are aware of several reconstructed facilities that have been put to use without presentation, but today we are coming to put the record straight,” he stated.
Special Adviser, Projects monitoring and evaluation, Raphael Murphy, explained that the administration of Prince Bassey Otu, has completed about 130 kilometres of roads across the three senatorial districts of the state, renovated and furnished the Governor’s office with 500 KVA solar panel with an additional 700 KVA generator, making it one of the smartest offices in the nation.
Other achievements Murphy revealed were, the completion of 49 primary schools in 2023, 109 contract awards for the construction of primary education in 2024 as well as 73 award of contracts in 2025 that are ongoing, including the Obudu cargo airport that is ready, awaiting the completion of the Fire Service building, among others.
For Special Adviser, Assets management and recovery, Gilbert Agbor, the department saddled with the responsibility to identify, recover, protect, document and optimise government assets has left no stone unturned in its functions.
Agbor said: “Since our Inception, the department has recorded close to N1 billion on revenue from Cocoa estate, blocked revenue leakages associated with government and agricultural assets.
He also added that the department recovered government vehicles obtained by former political appointees and private individuals close to the corridors of power, including the reclamation of land belonging to University of Cross River ( UNICROSS), by encroachers.
On his part, the Special Adviser, Cooperative Societies, Edem Ebong, informed that his office through the efforts of the governor registered about 2500 cooperative societies, launched the Cross River revolving loan funds where the scheme offered loans to about 400 cooperative societies.
“Through the efforts of the governor, we trained 5000 leaders of various cooperative societies on savings and fraud prevention, even as 250 farmers cooperatives got fertilizers, seedlings and processing machines among other numerous achievements,” Ebong said.
On health, the Special Adviser, Rt. Hon Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, pointed out that the ministry under Otu inherited poor and a reduced workforce as it suffered employment stagnation for a long period.
Bassey further intimated that, “worried by the said development, Otu recruited over 200 health professionals and over 500 community health workers.”
He added that 196 Primary Health Care centres (PHCs) in the state have trained midwives, while 90 PHCs have been rehabilitated and equipped with solar panels lighting and boreholes with perimeter fencing and computers, including the signing of significant bills into law by the governor, to boost the health sector.
Others who spoke including Special Advisers on Community Relations, Ada Charles; Wealth creation, Bright Ewuna; Transport, Okon Ephraim; Urban Beautification and development, Essien Etim; Automobile technicians regulatory department, Ndem Effiong; Inter party Affairs, Nkoyo Otu; Industries, Peter Ebah; among others, narrated the numerous strides achieved during the first three years of Otu, as Cross River governor.
Highpoint of the event was a motion moved passing a vote of confidence in the administration and governance style of Prince Bassey Otu, encouraging him to continuously occupy the office as governor till 2031. This motion was moved by Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, seconded by Peter Ebah and affirmed by all Special Advisers.
