When Bassey Edet Otu assumed power as the Governor of Cross River State, he promised to put the people first in all journeys towards a prosperous and glorious future. The governor spoke with journalists in the state’s developmental drives, encompassing road construction, educational transformation, welfare programmes as well as the economy. interview with journalists. Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF was there.
When we came in as a government, infrastructure has been a focus for us and, to some extent; we have tried to make sure we fix all the loopholes in that sub-sector.
In that aspect, we have done quite a number in the state capital with a focus now in the Central Senatorial District covering Yakurr and Ikom, as well as in the Northern Senatorial District also covering Ogoja and Yala. Our intention is to open up the major roads that would lead to where we have agricultural produce, and where there are major commercial activities.
Industries
We inherited industries built by the immediate past administration. We are reviewing the statuses and concessionaire agreements. We know that there were some hiccups, most of them financial. We have tried to bridge the finances by ensuring that we are good in terms of venture capital to support some of the concessionaires, especially where it was discovered that some were not strong enough.
One of the industries we were sure not to allow any hiccups stall its operations was the Calabar Pharmaceutical Company (Calapharm). We have brought some experts in the pharmaceutical industry to take a second look at the set up. We are optimistic that once they get all their certifications from the different regulatory agencies, they will begin to roll out.
Interventions in agric sector
We recognise the fact that the state has a comparative advantage in agriculture, including but not limited to food and cash crops, aquaculture, poultry and animal husbandry. So, it is only proper that the sector receives adequate attention.
We are already harvesting our rice. We are also into cocoa and cassava, for which the Federal Government is willing to partner with us. We are looking to populate all the agro-value chains. We have restructured the sector for maximum outflow of benefits. We have done a number of soil inspections and investigations, and have gotten digital reports. We have over 200 Cross Riverians sent out for training and as they come back, we will fix them up.
We are addressing our food security challenge proactively. We are very passionate about agriculture and we will deliver.
Education
We inherited a moribund state library. And as a state desperate to reposition our educational system, there was an urgent need to change the ugly shape of our library to enhance not only research but also to improve the reading culture in our people.
Generally, we have restructured our educational institutions in a way that we would be able to produce professionals in terms of middle level manpower. My administration has been able to ensure that we enrolled about 16,000 of our students for the West African Examination Councils fully paid for by the government and amounting to over half a billion naira. Even in our medical schools, we have begun to set up programmes that will rearrange that sector.
In terms of creating an environment conducive to teaching and learning, we put in about three billion naira last year, and this year we have increased it to about seven billion naira to ensure that we revive all our schools. We have provided more than enough chairs. Our population is also multiplying daily.
The civil service
This administration has keyed into the 70, 000 minimum wage, despite the burdens we are carrying at the moment. We have placed a lot of priority on the civil service. We are introducing training and other things to make sure that we have top-class civil servants that are able to deliver on their mandate. Promotions were not done in many years, we did it, paid arrears, and outstanding gratuities are being paid in phases to boost their morale.
Re-establishing clean and green environment
As a government, we have been intentional in our effort to reclaim our clean-and-green status. We are also sparing no effort to take the state to its pristine condition and where it was as the cleanest in Nigeria.
Our ranking as 5th on fiscal performance Index by Budgit
Achieving this feat was not by magic. It was by deliberate dint of hard work and fiscal responsibility on the part my administration. We have been working very hard to make sure that we tidy up our financial records and make sure that we are clean.
We are also doing quite well in terms of our Internally Generated Revenue IGR. We are almost done with automating our tax system. We have straightened out financial system.
The Bakassi Deep Seaport
High-powered projects such as the Bakassi Deep Seaport take time to get it on stream. My predecessor had a deep vision in initiating the project. Upon my assumption of office, I made an unwavering commitment to ensure its realisation. The actualisation of the project will be based on public private partnership (PPP). This is one project that is capable of bolstering the state’s economic prosperity.
Work is currently going at the site and we are doing our best to ensure that by the time full activities resume, we would have the capacity to keep the project going.
Transportation
Mobility is a challenge to the people of Cross River State, especially given the deplorable state of federal roads. That is why the idea of a rail line to link the north to the state capital was a welcome one. We have studied the feasibility and the company investing in the railway project has just completed the survey and resumption of payment of compensation would commence soon.
Security
Safety is a paramount need of the people of at all times, especially in the face of crime-related challenges such as robbery, kidnapping and the like. People will always feel quite safe and secured as far as this government is concerned. We have invested quite a lot to ensure that the state is safe for everybody. All of the prevalent security issues before now have all been dealt with. When you go to hitherto volatile areas such as Bakassi, Akpabuyo, Ikom, and so forth, people now sleep more peacefully and in some places, people stroll out in the middle of the night.
Obudu Ranch, Airport
The Obudu Ranch Resort is one of the most popular places in Cross River State. Its serene ambience has been compared to what obtains in Europe, hence its reference as the ‘Switzerland of Nigeria. The establishment of a cargo airport by the last administration will put the ranch in the eyes of the world the more.
So far, we have spent well over eight to 10 billion naira in terms of investments in the airport. We were almost done when it was discovered that there was water seepage when the inspectors came.
For the Ranch, it is now looking better but not the standard we expect. The challenge has to do with the airport and the road. We are looking to sort these out as soon as we can. We have some of the biggest hospitality institutions that would be coming on board. We have gotten some funds to ensure uninterrupted electricity.
Resurrecting Tinapa
We have done a lot of underground work for Tinapa, with regard to having AMCON relieved of the asset. Our offers have been accepted, the funds are ready. It is just the Central Bank that is still ensuring that due process is complied with. But Tinapa is already within our purview. We are trying to add a Trade Zone to make it more active. We already have a textile factory coming up there and some entertainment facilities on the other side. I believe that Tinapa would become active not too long from now.
Final words
I want to assure Cross Riverians that we would continue to do our very best. Though it is not my style to blow my trumpet, I believe we have made quite a difference and people will see the difference as we continue to go along. Our revenue streams have increased. Our GDP has gotten better; we have added to all areas you can think off, even our health. We are actually making visible progress. All we want from the people is prayers, and for us to keep loving one another and believing that we can be greater together.
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