The Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State on General Duties, Dr. Ekpenyong Akiba, has attributed the surge in federal projects across the state to Governor Bassey Otu’s strategic relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking in Calabar in response to the Federal Government’s unveiling of the National Policy on Maritime and Blue Economy, Akiba described the governor’s rapport with the presidency as “deliberate, robust, and highly beneficial” to Cross River.
He cited key infrastructure developments as evidence of this synergy, including the long-awaited dredging and modernization of the Calabar Port, the Special Agriculture Processing Zone, and the recently inaugurated Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
“These projects would not have been possible without Governor Otu forging a deliberate and strategic relationship with the Presidency,” Akiba said.
He commended the Tinubu administration for its renewed focus on completing the Bakassi Deep Seaport, which, alongside the modernization of the Calabar Port, he said holds “transformative potential” for the region’s economy.
According to Akiba, Cross River has also benefited from broader federal initiatives such as the Students Loan Scheme and First Lady-led women empowerment programmes—all within Governor Otu’s first two years in office.
“If he can achieve this much in two years, then by the end of his second term, Nigeria is definitely going to experience unprecedented and uncommon development,” he said.
Describing President Tinubu as a “promise keeper,” Akiba urged Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of the Renewed Hope agenda, which he argued is already yielding “steady national recovery.”
He emphasized that the ongoing projects would attract investment, boost the local economy, and create jobs for the state’s youth.
Akiba also appealed for accelerated federal work on the Calabar–Itu and Calabar–Ikom highways, calling them vital for regional trade, logistics, and mobility.
He concluded by underscoring growing bipartisan alignment with the President, citing recent defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a reflection of confidence in both Tinubu and Governor Otu’s leadership.
“Governors, irrespective of party affiliations, now enjoy improved allocations. It’s no surprise the opposition is finding our party more attractive, and the endorsements ahead of 2027 speak volumes,” he said.
