Calabar Aims Cleanest City Status
Cross River State Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Bassey Offiong Mensah, announces that Calabar is set to reclaim its status as Nigeria’s cleanest city. Speaking after the August statewide sanitation exercise, he urged residents to observe sanitation hours, stop roadside trading, and relocate activities beneath power lines. The government plans mobile courts to enforce environmental laws and coordinate waste evacuation with waste management authorities. The initiative emphasizes daily cleanliness and stronger collaboration with environmental groups to sustain a cleaner Cross River.
CRS students honour UNICROSS VC
Cross River student leaders from universities and colleges across the state have honoured UNICROSS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Francisca Bassey with an award recognizing her leadership and commitment to student welfare. The ceremony took place at UNICROSS Calabar Campus on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during a courtesy visit to her office. The delegates praised her accessibility, non-discriminatory leadership, and efforts to empower youth, including plans to recommend opportunities at various levels. The students call for continued collaboration with university management to sustain dialogue and improve student representation.
Take Up Your Cross
Rev Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe delivers a sermon on discipleship, urging believers in Cross River and across Nigeria to take up their cross and follow Jesus. The message outlines daily commitment, self-denial, and practical steps to live out faith amid daily challenges, emphasizing service to community, humility, and steadfast prayer. The sermon underscores that true discipleship requires ongoing discipline, communal support, and active engagement in local life to reflect Christian teachings here in Calabar and beyond.
Cross River Compulsory Health Insurance
The Cross River State Government has made enrollment in the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme mandatory for all serving civil/public servants, effective after the August 28, 2026 circular GO/HOS/4/VOL.III/354. The Head of Service, Orok Okon, says the move aims to give state workers access to affordable, quality care while reducing out-of-pocket costs. Help desks will operate at the Office of the Head of Service and the Ministry of Health to assist registration and documentation for CRSHIA enrollment.
Cross River CBT for PS
The Cross River State Government, through the Office of the Head of Service, conducts a Computer-Based Test on August 29, 2026 at UNICROSS Calabar for 263 shortlisted candidates seeking appointment as Permanent Secretaries. The Head of Service, Mr. Orok Bassey Okon, urges candidates to maintain integrity and discipline as the merit-driven selection process continues. The exercise, supervised by state officials, strengthens professional standards in the Civil Service and advances Cross River’s public administration.
Mineral Resources Ministry Upskills Staff
The Cross River State Ministry of Mineral Resources is expanding its workforce capacity with an in-house training programme on ethics, professionalism, effective communication and digital innovation. Held on August 30, 2026, the sessions brought together staff from multiple departments to strengthen workplace ethics, information management and the use of technology in service delivery. The Commissioner for Mineral Resources emphasized ongoing capacity building to meet changing public-service demands, urging staff to apply the lessons to improve performance and public trust in Cross River institutions.
Ikom Driver Assaulted; Discipline Opened
A police officer at the Ikom Border Post is accused of assaulting a driver, leaving the motorist with two broken ribs and requiring hospital treatment. The incident reportedly happened on August 28, 2026, sparking protests from drivers and youths who call for accountability at checkpoints. The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the allegation, said the officer has been recalled to base, and is now facing disciplinary proceedings under police procedures to determine what occurred and any misconduct.
Cross River rents under pressure
The Cross River State Commissioner for Lands, Hon. Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, is urging landlords across Calabar and the entire state to exercise restraint and reconsider steep rent increases in the face of rising living costs. Ekpang made the appeal in a video shared on the official Facebook page of the governor’s Public Advocacy aide, Friday Awade, on August 30, 2026. He notes that many households are already stretched by higher prices for food, transport, and basic utilities, and warns that abrupt rent hikes could push vulnerable families toward housing instability. The commissioner stresses that property owners should view their buildings as homes that provide security and dignity, not merely investments, and calls for humane tenancy practices that balance landlords’ costs with tenants’ ability to pay. While acknowledging landlords’ own financial pressures—from inflation to maintenance costs—Ekpang insists the welfare of residents must guide rent decisions during these difficult economic times. The intervention places a spotlight on Calabar’s housing market, where tenants report frequent, arbitrary increases ahead of lease renewals. Residents and property managers alike are advised to open dialogue, seek fair terms, and document any agreed adjustments to avoid disputes, with government guidance aimed at stabilizing rents while ensuring sustainable housing access for Cross River families.
Cross River Deepens HIV Response
The Cross River State Ministry of Health, in partnership with Maisha Meds and with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and EJAF, launched on August 28, 2026, a Pharmacy-Based HIV Service Delivery Initiative to bring treatment and prevention services closer to residents through accredited community pharmacies across Cross River. The two-year program expands ARV refill access through linked pharmacies and provides PrEP initiation, with strong referral linkages to public health facilities and ongoing community sensitisation to reach vulnerable populations.
Cobham Appointment Proves Otu’s Wisdom
Governor Bassey Edet Otu has appointed Pastor Ekpenyong Ene Cobham as Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Cross River State. The announcement, made August 30, 2026, was welcomed by religious and public figures in Calabar, who describe Cobham as a capable and trusted servant. Cobham’s portfolio will focus on information dissemination and public orientation across the state. The administration says the move strengthens state communications and accountability, with Cobham set to drive clearer messaging and engagement with residents and stakeholders.
Stronger standards, cheaper cement urged
Former President of Nigeria’s Block Moulders association, Mr. Adesegun Banjoko, calls for tougher construction standards and affordable cement to curb building collapses nationwide, with emphasis on better supervision and integrity across the supply chain. Speaking in Lagos, he highlights low-quality materials and compromised quality control as core problems, urges financial institutions to support small operators with modern equipment, and pushes for more cement manufacturers to drive down prices. The push aims to protect Cross River builders, homeowners, and commuters by ensuring safer, compliant structures while promoting sustainable construction practices across Nigeria.
NILDS capacity reaches 31 Assemblies
NILDS Director-General Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman announces that the Institute has extended its capacity-building and legislative-support services to 31 state Houses of Assembly across Nigeria, including Cross River State House of Assembly. The initiative, highlighted during a NAN interview, aims to decentralise training and technical assistance beyond the National Assembly, empowering state legislatures with skills in motion drafting, policy analysis, and inclusive governance. In 2025, NILDS conducted around 60 trainings; in 2026, more than 32 sessions were delivered for sub-national bodies.]
INEC recruitment scam alert
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warns Nigerians about a fraudulent online recruitment notice claiming ad-hoc staff recruitment for the 2027 General Election. The message directs applicants to a fake site; INEC urges the public to verify announcements on its official channels. Nigerians should ignore unverified links and protect personal information. INEC reminds residents in Cross River that official recruitment updates come through its INEC-PRES platform and verified media outlets.
Bassey Akiba Foundation Screening 583
The Bassey Akiba Foundation has begun screening and documenting 583 beneficiaries for its Education Support Programme in Calabar. The exercise runs from Monday, August 31, 2026 to Thursday, September 3, 2026 at the Constituency House near Akim Market. Rt. Hon. Bassey Akiba leads the initiative, which targets Calabar Municipal and Odukpani residents for undergraduate and postgraduate students, with on-site verification and documentation for those invited.
Odey Opens Mbube 40-Bed Facility
The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, breaks ground for a 40-bed Oturikang Hospital in Mbube, Idum-Mbube, Ogoja Local Government Area, on August 31, 2026. The facility, funded through Odey’s personal donation of N100 million, brings health care closer to residents who previously travelled long distances for treatment. Construction will start immediately, with completion expected in months, and the community is urged to take ownership to ensure the project serves families across Idum-Mbube and surrounding areas.Current date, time, and timezone (ISO): 2026-09-07T22:00:25.574+02:00