By Ehigimetor Igbaugba
Controversy has emerged among aides to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River over the number of kilometres of roads constructed by the administration since it assumed office in May 2023.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Linus Obogu, announced that 450 kilometres of roads had been constructed across the 18 local government areas of the state within the last three years, the governor’s Special Adviser on Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Ray Morphy, put the figure at 120 kilometres.
Obogo had made the claim in various advertorials marking the governor’s three years in office.
However, Morphy disclosed the 120-kilometre figure during a sectoral media briefing organised by the Forum of Special Advisers to the governor.
According to him, the projects include the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar, measuring 19.17 kilometres, as well as the construction and rehabilitation of 2.078 kilometres of road network within the 13 Brigade area.
He also listed the rehabilitation and maintenance of the 6.6-kilometre Parliamentary Extension Road in Calabar Municipality as one of the projects executed.
NAN further reports that the governor’s aide mentioned the Mkpani-Agoi Road in Yakurr Local Government Area and the 1.2-kilometre Ofumbongha Road project in Obubra Local Government Area, both in the Central Senatorial District of the state.
For the Northern Senatorial District, Morphy listed several completed and ongoing road projects, including the 1.9-kilometre Ishibori-Cathedral Road and the 3.5-kilometre Sankwala Ring Road, among others.
Meanwhile, the state government disclosed that it had registered 30,000 indigent students for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) within the last three years.
The Special Adviser on Education to the Governor, Mr Ekpenyong Akiba, disclosed this during the sectoral media briefing.
Akiba said the Governor Bassey Otu administration had prioritised human capital development and made significant investments in the sector.
He noted that several schools across the state’s 18 local government areas were undergoing rehabilitation, while work had been completed in others.
According to him, the Government achieved the feat through prudent management of scarce resources despite competing public demands.
“We have registered over 30,000 indigent students for WASSCE in the state within the period under review, and this has positively impacted many families.
“Also, as a matter of priority in this administration, about 15,000 personnel in the education sector were promoted after years of stagnation in the civil service.
“In the same vein, over 200 health workers were recruited to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state,” he said.
