Twins Spotlight Breastfeeding Week
The birth of healthy twins at the Primary Health Care Centre Ikot Ansa, Calabar, during World Breastfeeding Week highlights the life-saving benefits of early exclusive breastfeeding. The mother delivered a baby boy and a baby girl after a night shift at 9:15 p.m., with midwives guiding immediate breastfeeding to give the twins colostrum for immunity. Health officers say exclusive breastfeeding for six months reduces infant illnesses and mortality, while antenatal care and postnatal support strengthen mother and child health across Cross River.
Cross River SUBEB Receives Furniture
The Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has received thousands of classroom furniture items and 20 minibuses under the 2025 UBEC/Cross River SUBEB Intervention Project, aimed at strengthening basic education across the state. The handover, announced on August 6, 2026, in Calabar, includes desks and chairs for ECCDE, junior and primary schools, plus vehicles to boost school monitoring, supervision, and quality assurance nationwide. The intervention supports Governor Otu’s education-focused agenda and equitable distribution to schools.
Cross River Livestock Export Hub
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, and the Federal Government partner to position the state as a major livestock production and export hub. Speaking in Calabar on August 6, 2026, the governor hosted the Minister of Livestock Development ahead of commissioning Nigeria’s first Livestock Control Post and Guarantee Facility at Mfum, Etung LGA. The visit highlights plans to transform Obudu Ranch into a tourism and livestock destination and to complete the Obudu Cargo Airport by December 2026, with flights starting in early 2027 to boost access to export markets and attract investment.
Mango Industry to Create Jobs
The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria’s mango sector will drive food security and create jobs nationwide, with policy support aimed at boosting production, processing, and value addition. Through NIHORT-led initiatives and coordinated public-private partnerships, the effort will enhance farmgate prices, reduce post-harvest losses, and expand export opportunities. Cross River State farmers and processors stand to benefit from technical training, improved seed varieties, and better market access as the program scales across the country. The federal plan emphasizes rural livelihoods and nationwide food security, with implementation expected to unfold in the coming months.
Nigeria to Host Investors Expo
Nigeria is set to host the maiden Nigeria NOW! Global Investors Expo, organized by EnergyNet Ltd. and backed by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, with the event taking place in Abuja on November 19. The expo aims to connect credible projects with international and local investors and to strengthen public‑private cooperation across sectors. The program will emphasize energy, mining, infrastructure and airports, and will include a Youth Energy Summit to engage young Nigerians. State governments, including Cross River, will present bankable projects to attract funding and partnerships for local development.
FG approves PTA teachers recruitment
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges nationwide. Speaking in Abuja, Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa said the move strengthens teacher capacity and improves learning outcomes, with priority given to PTA teachers who have served for decades. The verification exercise was conducted by an inter-ministerial committee, and the absorption aims to heighten classroom instruction across Cross River and the rest of the country, aligning with broader education reforms.
Health Chief Ensures Outreach Safety
The Cross River State Health Commissioner, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, says General Hospital, Ugep, is safe and ready to host the Governor’s Wife’s Medical Outreach from August 9 to August 15, 2026. He dismissed rumours of insecurity and urged residents in Yakurr and nearby communities to access the free services, which include consultations, surgeries, eye care, dental care, and paediatric care. The outreach, led by the Ministry of Health and hospital staff, aims to improve access to quality healthcare for vulnerable residents.
Cross River rewards four volunteers
The Cross River State Government has rewarded four volunteer health workers at Akpet Cottage Hospital in Akpet Central, Biase Local Government Area, with automatic employment. Health Commissioner Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk announced the move during an inspection on August 7, 2026, praising their years of service delivering care while awaiting formal appointments. Beneficiaries Ada Ukam, Esu Ukweni Abo, Blessing Umera, and Florence Ahong will have their records prepared for submission to the Civil Service Commission for formal hiring.
Idem commends Calabar South station
Idem commends Calabar South Police Station project and reaffirms OTUS commitment to community security in Cross River. The Calabar South Police Station upgrade aims to strengthen local policing, improve response times, and boost safety for residents and businesses. Officials say the development will support law enforcement and youth outreach programs, while OTUS teams up with community leaders to sustain protection, regular patrols, and crime-prevention education across Calabar Metropolis.
Umahi clarifies Lagos-Calabar Highway progress
Minister of Works David Umahi says the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is advancing across several states, including Cross River, following remarks by former governor Donald Duke. Speaking while inspecting Section 4B in Ondo State on August 5, 2026, Umahi confirmed ongoing construction in Ogun, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and others, noting substantial milestones and job creation for local communities as part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nigeria Rejoins World Energy Council
Nigeria has rejoined the World Energy Council and inaugurated a National Member Committee and Governing Board to guide its participation in global energy policy. The announcement was made this week and reported by NAN on August 7, 2026. The Governing Board is chaired by Abdulrazaq Isa of Waltersmith Petroman Oil, with Bala Wunti serving as inaugural CEO. The move aims to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security, access, and sustainability while linking Nigerian institutions to the WEC network ahead of the Riyadh World Energy Congress in April 2027.
UNICAL VC blocks chaplain sack
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an interim injunction to prevent the University of Calabar’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong, from removing Rev. Joseph Ushie, Chaplain of the Chapel of Redemption. The court ordered the university to maintain the status quo and barred any interference with the chapel’s premises, with hearings scheduled for August 20, 2026. The ruling follows accusations of attempts to sack the chaplain, eviction from quarters, and disruptions to worship on UNICAL grounds, affecting staff and students who attend chapel services.
Nigeria: Powering More Communities
The Nigeria Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, announces a shift in the electricity strategy as he inaugurates the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in Abuja. He explains that the sector will move from simply counting kilowatts to measuring how many communities and people are actually powered. The board, led by former Ekiti governor Fayose, will guide reforms and ensure power reaches rural areas, schools, health centers, and productive enterprises nationwide.
IPMAN Inaugurates Calabar Panel
IPMAN has inaugurated a 16-member Eastern Zone Caretaker Committee to oversee Cross River and Akwa Ibom states from Calabar. The caretaker body, led by Chief Nsikan Ekpe Sunday, was formed after the death of the former Zonal Chairman to ensure continuity and prepare for a credible election. The ceremony also established an Eastern Zone Task Force to work with the caretaker committee, with a three-month initial mandate to maintain stability, strengthen stakeholder relations, and lay groundwork for the zone’s leadership transition. Cross River State government’s supportive environment for petroleum marketers is acknowledged, and IPMAN calls for ongoing cooperation from depot communities and fellow unions to sustain orderly operations and investment confidence.
Obubra Incident: Child Protection
A 13-year-old boy in Edondon Village, Obubra LGA, Cross River State, is at the center of a custody and protection debate following a fatal altercation with a 43-year-old man on August 6, 2026. A local child-rights group, Emerging Genderplus Outreach Team, is urging due process, child-centered custody, timely legal representation, and psychosocial support for the minor while authorities investigate the incident and ensure compliance with Nigeria’s juvenile justice laws. The group emphasizes safeguarding the child’s welfare throughout the process.