By Okoi Obono-Obla
Many Nigerians misconceive what real development entails, hence their constant pressure on State Governors to embark on senseless and overly ambitious projects that ultimately prove useless to tangible progress.
I am glad that Governor Prince Bassey Otu of Cross River State resisted the urge to pursue such ill-conceived, so-called signature projects rooted in grand frivolity and illusion, which would inevitably become white elephants. Instead, he has focused on turning around the State’s economy through structural revamping and resuscitation to position it for genuine growth devoid of exhibitionism. It is this focused approach that some novices misinterpret as a failure to embark on projects.
Sworn in on 29th May 2023 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Otu is now past the mid-point of his first term. His stewardship, viewed ahead of 2027, can be assessed around clear themes of public finance, asset recovery, revival of stalled projects, security, and People First governance.
1. Fiscal Discipline and Financial Re-engineering
The administration has prioritized fiscal discipline. According to the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Michael Odere (October 2024), over N70 billion of inherited debt has been paid without resorting to new borrowing. Domestic debt has fallen from N204.05 billion in June 2023 to N132.30 billion in March 2026 – a reduction of about N71.7 billion.
Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has also shown steady growth: from N21.1 billion in 2022 to N31.56 billion in 2023, and N46.3 billion in 2024, according to Ministry records.
2. Asset Recovery
The Government has embarked on a state-wide verification exercise to reclaim diverted and illegally occupied government property. This includes moves to reclaim Tinapa from AMCON and renewed pursuit of the State’s interests in oil wells in the Bakassi axis and the Bakassi Deep Seaport.
3. Revival of Stalled Legacy Projects
In line with a policy of continuity, the administration has chosen to complete inherited projects rather than abandon them. These include the Obudu Ranch Resort, Cargo Airport, Tinapa, Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), and the Deep Seaport.
The Obudu Cargo Airport, which stalled around 2023 over runway standards, has seen its runway reconstructed with terminal halls, fire trucks, hydrants and access roads completed. The Teachers Continuous Training Institute, Biase, has been revived to host the new College of Education, while the former College of Education, Akamkpa has been upgraded to the University of Entrepreneurship and Education. The Garment Factory has been reclaimed and concessioned through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), as has the Obudu Ranch Resort.
4. Roads and Infrastructure
Interventions have been spread across the State: In Ogoja, 12km Ndok Junction-Abakpa-Igoli-Monaya Road, 10km Ndok-Mbube Road, 1.015km GRA/Gomora roads and other township roads, with reconnection of power lines and rehabilitation of 8 substations. In Yala, 5km Ukelle Road (Akpata-Okpodom axis) and 3km Yache-Alifokpa Road. Itegu Okpudu, the ancestral home of the Yala people, reportedly received electricity for the first time in 32 years under this administration.
The Government is also collaborating with the NDDC on the Calabar-Odukpani-Akamkpa-Ogoja corridor (April 2026), while the non-performing contract for the Igoli-Ugboro-Abouchiche section of the Mfom-Okuku-Abouchiche-Obudu Ranch Road has been terminated for re-award.
5. Security
The administration claims relative peace has returned to the Calabar-Ikom highway and the Itu-Akwa Ibom route, attributing it to enhanced police support, patrol logistics and deployment of boundary-monitoring drones.
6. People First Governance
On welfare, the Government has commenced payment of pension and gratuity arrears after a backlog of nearly 20 years. In health, the Hospital Management Board Law 2026 seeks to restructure secondary facilities and regulate traditional medical practice. In sanitation, the Open Defecation (Prohibition) Law 2026 and the State Task Group on WASH have been established. In agriculture, the State is distributing farm inputs and providing youth enterprise grants and training to reposition Cross River as a food basket.
7. Tourism
Supporters note that the standard of the Calabar Carnival – described as Africa’s largest street party – has been raised, with sponsors returning. A new 500-seat riser delivered via PPP is cited as an example of renewed hospitality sector confidence.
Conclusion: Continuity as Development
As Alice Nsikak Nssien aptly noted, continuity means finishing inherited work, not merely commissioning new projects for commissioning sake – a clear contrast to the era of commissioned but non-functional projects under former Governor Ben Ayade.
This administration aligns with the APC-led Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Its quiet governance – asset recovery, debt paydown, regular payment of salaries and the allowances of 196 councillors, and settlement of long-standing obligations – also counts as real development.
The next milestones to watch are the formal completion of the Obudu Cargo Airport, the re-award and commencement of the dual carriageway to the Ranch Resort, and the second tranche of pension and gratuity payments.
