PORT HARCOURT- Some residents of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers have lauded their governors’ two-year achievements, noting significant progress.
Speaking in their various states, the residents said that the governors made significant progress in the area of infrastructure, health, security and agriculture.
In Cross River, Dr McPhalane Ejah, Country Director International Training, Research and Advocacy Project, stated that the administration of Gov. Bassey Otu had shown great promise.
The Country Director, who is also a member of the Chatham House, scored the governor high in the area of infrastructural development adding that everyone could see his strides to revive ailing infrastructures in the state.
“We have seen the renovation of the state library and the Local Government Complex that were abandoned for over a decade.
“In terms of road construction, we have seen many in the capital, in Akamkpa axis and even in the Northern Senatorial District of the state; so, we give it to him, knowing fully well that he is just two years in office.
“In the area of youth development, we have seen many hands-on trainings through the Commissioner for Youths like the partnership with Skyrun Electronics where youths are trained to repair electronics,” he said.
Ejah noted that an increase in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which, according to him, showed a good synergy between the Board of Internal Revenue and Ministry of Finance.
On the environmental sustainability, he said that the governor did appreciably well since he took over a very dirty environment, but had instilled massive activities in the sector within few months in office.
He said at present, Calabar was better off environmentally than it used to be before the present administration came on board, showing a positive collaboration between the Calabar Urban Development Agency (CUDA) and the Ministry of Environment.
Ejah, however, urged the government to improve more in some critical sub-sectors of health, education and transportation, saying that many state health centres and schools were still in a bad shape and lacked personnel.
He decried the hike in transport fares as well as the increase of hoodlums and touts who claimed to be officials of government, troubling commercial transport operators in the state.
“We have seen an increase in both legal and illegal taxation on business owners and especially, transport operators,” he stated.
Ejah pointed that the state had too many Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), adding that 31 ministries were too bogus for Cross River and there was already too many overlapping functions.
He called for a ministerial realignment or cabinet reshuffle to remove the underperforming appointees while alleging high level phobia for intellectual capacity among some of them.
“The governor has provided political leadership and will but some of his appointees have not been able to translate the governor’s plans into reality,” he maintained.
On his part, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, the state Commissioner for Information captured the achievements of the governor in agriculture, including the 108 tractors to farmers.
Others are donation of over 200 bikes to agricultural extension workers and the establishment of five thousand hectares of wheat farm in Obanliku Local Government Area.
Ekpang said that further achievements included a soil test which revealed that the 18 LGAs could cultivate cocoa and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Special Agro Processing Zone by Pres. Bola Tinubu.
On security, he said the Otu administration donated over 50 vehicles to security agencies, replaced former Operation “Akpaku” with Operation “Okwok,” and renovated all security organisations’ headquarters in the state including the fire service.
On aviation sector, he said that the state acquired two aircrafts in addition to the one it had to end the flight problems.
Ekpang added that Gov. Bassey Otu had reached 90 per cent completion of Obudu Cargo Airport, inherited from the former administration.
Mr. Edward Johnson, a resident of Calabar said the governor had also done well politically because, either rightly or wrongly, politicians in the opposition parties in the state were defecting to the All Progressive Congress (APC)
He commended the governor for road infrastructure in Calabar, the street lights and the effective introduction of traffic lights but called for the stoppage of the increasing touts on the roads.
Johnson also reminded the governor of the Calabar-Itu and Akamkpa-Biase roads, noting that although they are federal roads, they have made movement outside and into Calabar difficult for years.
Also speaking, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Gregory Olayi, said that Otu’s cordial relationship with labour unions was worthy of emulation by other states.
He said that the administration had increased productivity among the workers through a number of measures that included payment of the new minimum wage and consequential adjustments.
He also said the governor had commenced payment of 24-year backlogs of gratuities of retired workers of the state and the implementation of promotion arrears of over nine years.
“We have enjoyed a cordial working relationship with the governor since he assumed office.
“He has listening ears and has so far acceeded to most of our requests such as the implementation of the new minimum wage, which is the very first time a sitting governor will implement promptly.’’
He said that Otu was creating a conducive environment for workers by commencing the renovation of offices across the state while releasing N10 billion to reduce unpaid gratuities from 2009 to 2015.
He said that although Labour scored him a pass mark for all he did in terms of welfare, he was yet to get everything right and as such, Labour would continue to agitate for more.
Simirlarly, Mr Bassey Mensah, the state Commissioner for Water Resources, said the administration recorded modest achievements in the sector with pipe borne water restored to parts of the state and the ongoing water facilities rehabilitation.
He said that the minstry had been repositioned to provide sustainable, potable water supply, sanitation, and hygiene to Cross Riverians in line with the United Nation Sustainable Development Goal-6 in 2030.
“This past two years has been that of profound shift in the Cross River state water sector with monumental rehabilitation and restoration of obsolete and vandalized water facilities across the state.
Mensah said that other notable achievement was the putting in use the KGR drilling rig which had been idle, saying that it was working at different locations across the state.
On health, Dr Henry Ayuk, said the governor was improving access to healthcare through the renovation of 92 Primary Healthcare centers as well as renovation and construction of new general hospitals.
Ayuk, the Commissioner for Health, further said that aside from training of health workers, the administration also upgraded and ensured the accreditation of courses of nursing sciences colleges in Calabar, Ogoja, Odubu and Itigidi.
Other achievements included two constructed oxygen plants in Ogoja and Calabar, the increased enrollees into the state health insurance scheme by over 11,000.
“In fact, a whole lot has been going on in the state health sector since this present administration came into being,’’ he said.
In Akwa Ibom, Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umanah said that Gov. Umo Eno-led administration, under his developmental blueprint, the ARISE Agenda, led a revolutionary trajectory that is transforming Akwa Ibom and touching lives.
He said that under the agricultural revolution of the Agenda, the government launched the construction of the Ibom Model Farm, a 50-hectare pilot Songhai-model farm in Nsit Ubium LGA.
He said within the last two years, Eno-led administration had provided N2 billion in grants to farmers and another N2 billion to traders while cooperatives and SMEs were boosted with equipment and funding.
“Government empowered farmers, declared work-free farming days for civil servants, instituted the ARISE Home Farmers Scheme with direct support to beneficiaries; distributed farm inputs, processing equipment.
“Within the period, government also activated Young Farmers’ Clubs across our secondary schools to grow a new generation of agripreneurs and also made strong interventions through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
On road infrastructure, he said about 163 roads covering more than 700 kilometers were under construction.
He explained that some of the roads included inherited projects from the previous administration but had been completed with solar-powered streetlights.
On education, the commissioner said that the administration was building Model Primary Schools across all LGAs, explaining that some model schools had been completed and put to use with uniformed shoes provided for the pupils.
Umanah said that educational advancement as an essential pillar of the ARISE Agenda received deserved attention with increased students’ bursaries and funding of free education policy amongst other programmes.
The commissioner said that Eno delivered 206 fully built ARISE Compassionate Homes to indigent citizens as well as benefitted over 500, 000 households with subsidised food from the Bulk Purchase Agency
On maritime and blue Economy, he said the construction of the Oron Beach with new terminals, jetties, ferries, warehouses, and parks was ongoing while Ibom Air was strengthened with newly acquired aircraft.
“Finishing touches are being put to the new terminal building, while investments are ongoing to complete the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft maintenance.
“A brand-new Aviation Village is under construction to ensure Akwa Ibom continues to play a leading role in Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem,” Umanah said.
He said that Eno-led administration placed premium on workers’ welfare and had paid the new 80, 000 minimum wage to all state workers while over N78 billion was paid for retirees’ outstanding gratuities and entitlements.
‘’Our tourism, he said that the ARISE Resort had reclaimed and transformed over 70 hectares of gully land into a stunning destination, featuring a 9-hole golf course, artificial lakes, luxurious apartments, shops and other facilities.’’
Speaking on security, Umanah said the administration established a stand-alone Ministry of Internal Security, procured gunboats, patrol vehicles, and other support for security agencies, and launched the Ibom Community Watch for rural intelligence gathering
He said, “today, Akwa Ibom is ranked as one of the safest states in Nigeria and that is not by accident.”
Similarly, Dr. Offiong Offor, the State Commissioner for Agriculture explained that N5.1 million was given to 108 farmers under the N2 billion ARISE Farmers’ Loan Scheme which aimed at fostering economic growth and development.
She said that the state government had distributed farm inputs to state public primary schools in 2025, and would collaborate with paramount rulers to ensure that livestock owners manage their animals properly,
Offor lauded the governor’s efforts in laying a solid foundation for sustainable agriculture by focusing on primary schools and supporting public primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions, farmers, and cooperative societies to boost agricultural output.
In Rivers, Mr Sampsom Digbara, a businesman in Mile One Market, Diobu, Port Harcourt, said that the Siminalayi Fubara-led admninistration had successfully addressed some critical needs which had positive impacts on residents of the state.
He recalled that traders in Port Harcourt usually faced huge loses whenever there were incidences of fire outbreaks in their markets due to lack of efficient fire fighting equipments.
”Before his suspension, the governor ensured total upgrade of equipment of major fire fighting stations here in Port Harcourt which aimed at enhancing rescue operations in event of fire in markets and homes,” he said.
Mr Ineme Renah, a politician in the state, noted that Fubara had consistently demonstrated commitment to good governance irrespective of the political crises that engulfed his administration.
”Barely a day after Supreme Court barred the state from receiving monthly allocations from the federal government, Fubara unveiled a ten-day project launch, showcasing developmental projects cutting across the various local area councils.
He said the projects could invariably serve as a testimonial to the governor’s second year’s achievements, lamenting that the emegency administration of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas(Rtd) had specific mandate to restore peace in the state.
Renah said that without emergency rule, state development would have skyrocketed in the state as Fubara’ administration had shown its passion for the total development of the state.
Mrs Theresa Mark, civil servant also acknowledged that Rivers democracy had suffered setbacks since the emergency rule, claiming that the state Administrator was not empowered to implement developmental projects.
She, however, commended Fubara for ensuring the completion of the Government House Staff Quarters which would reduce the burden of housing and transportation on beneficiaries.
Mark added that the government under Fubara had initiated partnerships with some Housing/Estate developers on low cost housing geared towards addressing housing deficit in the state.
A civil servant, who did not want his name mentioned, listed projects commissioned by Fubara-led administration during first quarter of his second year in office which includes Government House Staff Quarters, Judges’ Quarters, Bori General Hospital.
‘’Others are Okrika Grammar School Upgrade and construction of the Palace of the Akpor Monarch, and Furnishing & Electrification of the Nigerian Law School.
‘’Firefighting vehicles/equipments provided to the State Fire Service and an Helicopter donated to the Nigerian Air Force are part of his achievements in second,’’ he said. (NAN)
