In what appears to be a very ambitious dream, the Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu has announced the readiness of his government to connected the southern part of the state with the northern flank, through a railway.
The contemplation of the governor is to get the Bakassi people in the southern axis to be able to reach the Ogoja and Obudu people in the north, without having to pass through the dilapidated Calabar-Ogoja Road.
The road has been in a very terrible shape as the federal government has failed to fix the bad spots, especially the Akamkpa-Biase axis, which has led to accidents and cases of kidnapping.
The governor did not, however, give details of how he plans to achieve the railway project. A statement by his chief press secretary, Mr Gill Nsa, on what transpired during this week’s executive council meeting only stated the governor’s determination to address some critical infrastructural and economic needs of the state.
According to the statement, the exco had approved a series of major interventions in key areas of development, including education, health, infrastructure, security for mining communities, and a draft bill for a state-owned social investment program agency.
The council also witnessed the governor announce the lifting of the embargo on employment in the state civil service, but with a warning to those who will handle the employment processes to be transparent in the handling of the exercise.
“The council approved a draft bill to be sent to the state legislature for a law to establish the Cross River State Social Investment Program Agency. “A draft for a law to amend the Cross River State Audit Law No. 8 of 2021.
“Also, the council approved Executive Order No. 1 of 2024 for the protection of mining communities against insecurity, exploitation, and collection of surface rents from mining entities. Other approvals from the seventh Executive Council meeting of the current year, as disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang, in a release are as follows:
“An approval for the procurement of digital printing machines and accessories for the Cross River State Government Printing Press.”
“The comprehensive rehabilitation of the Old Residency Museum and the Museum Kitchen in Calabar.”
“Ratified the governor’s approval of the sum of ₦3,554,642,584.46 only as Cross River State counterpart fund for the 2024 Federal Government Statutory Allocation for the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) Matching Grants to the State.”
“Approved the payment of USD 100,000,000 as seed fund for the Expression of Interest in the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress for Accelerating Coverage and Transformation Services Impact Project.”
“Approval for the release of ₦200 million as part of the payment to landowners along Odukpani Junction – Itu Road, being the balance of the total ₦400 million earlier approved for the same project.”
“The payment of ₦200 million Basic Health Care Provision Fund in the state and the ratification of the release of the sum of ₦450 million only as counterpart fund for Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) to enable the official take-off of the project.”
The council further approved the adoption of the draft bill for the amendment of the Cross River State Roads Maintenance Agency Law No. 5 of 2009. The meeting also acknowledged the decorum displayed by residents and indigenes of the state amidst the ten-day nationwide protest, which has recorded wanton destruction and looting of public and private property in some states. Whereas, the state remained overwhelmingly calm and orderly across the state.”
