Governor Otu explains slogan
Cross River State Governor Otu reveals the reason behind his slogan, presenting a People’s First Leadership approach. Speaking in Calabar, he says the motto puts residents at the center of policy and service delivery, with focus on healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The governor outlines a practical roadmap, promising transparent governance, inclusive development, and regular progress updates to Cross River indigenes and communities, as he moves to translate the slogan into tangible projects in the coming months.
UNHCR Commends Cross River Leaders
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commends the Cross River State Government and Ogoja Local Government for sustained support to refugees and host communities. During a courtesy visit, UNHCR officials praised the state’s refugee protection efforts and the leadership of Ogoja’s Hon. Christopher Eweh Agbeh for creating an enabling environment. Agbeh revealed plans to rename Adagom Refugee Settlement to Adagom 4 Settlement to strengthen social integration and reduce stigma, while promising continued collaboration to improve living conditions for refugees and residents alike.
APC Grassroots Weakness in CRS
A Cross River APC open letter to Governor Otu and party stakeholders highlights concerns about the party’s grassroots structure across all 18 local government areas. The writer notes that local chairmen and ward officials are being sidelined, welfare is meager, and consultative engagement with state and ward officers has declined. The piece urges revival of the grassroots, better welfare, and stronger constitutional roles to keep the APC united and prepared for future elections.
Cross River Three-Year Milestones
The Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, reports that Governor Bassey Otu’s administration has condensed six years of development into three, highlighting progress in infrastructure, security, transportation, and public services across the state. Speaking in Calabar during a courtesy visit with Echoes of HWASA, Ekpang cited road rehabilitations, solar-powered streetlights, asset recovery, and new air and healthcare initiatives, including three CRJ-1000 aircraft and a General Hospital in Ikom. He emphasized improved security and welfare reforms aimed at better service delivery for Cross River residents.
Fitness Meets Tourism at Obudu
Cross River’s Healthy Billionaires Fitness Club returns to Obudu Mountain Resort for the seventh edition of the OMR 7.0 L’Aventure Edition, uniting wellness with destination tourism. From Calabar, more than 50 professionals participate in a four‑day program featuring an 11‑kilometre hike through the Obudu hills, a welcome bonfire, brunch, and poolside activities. Government support, and partners like Nugi Tech and Odere Brothers, highlight Cross River’s drive to promote healthy living and showcase the resort’s tourism assets.
CSO urges SMEDAN widen programmes
STYLAI, a Civil Society Organisation, has urged SMEDAN to expand its intervention programmes beyond Abuja and state capitals to reach rural communities, including Cross River residents. Speaking during World MSMEs Day in Abuja, Executive Director Jacob Okpanachi stated that more inclusive outreach will help farmers and small traders access government support and information. He commended SMEDAN’s transparency and partnerships, while pressing for broader regional coverage, better local engagement, and sustained accountability. SMEDAN Director-General Charles Odii affirmed ongoing support for MSMEs, with skills development, formalisation, and improved access to services.
Rehabilitation Board Seeks Funding
The Registrar of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTBN), Dr Yusuf Rufai, announces that the board is pushing for increased government funding and a broader physiotherapy workforce nationwide, including Cross River residents who rely on rehabilitation services. Speaking during a weekend training in Abuja, Rufai emphasized expanding financing, training, and the adoption of modern rehabilitation technologies through a formal partnership with Built to Last (BTL). The initiative aligns with the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 framework to improve access and outcomes for patients requiring physiotherapy. (NAN)
Cross River Government Messaging
A Calitown analysis examines how Cross River State communicates with citizens, arguing that the quality of messaging shapes public trust more than volume. It highlights weak writing, incoherent statements, and a lack of a central messaging system across Government House and LGAs. The piece calls for audits of the media unit, recruitment of qualified PR professionals, and clear style guidelines to ensure accurate policy explanations and timely responses. The author stresses that better communication supports governance and accountability.
Gov. Otu’s Health Revolution
Cross River Health Ministry says CNPP’s criticisms do not reflect gains under Governor Bassey Otu’s administration. In Calabar and across the state, the government highlights the modernisation of General Hospital Calabar, oxygen plants, and a shift to digital hospital operations. Officials say more than 100 Primary Health Centres have been revitalised across 18 LGAs, bringing services closer to rural communities. Rehabilitation at Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital includes TB laboratory upgrades and oxygen infrastructure; Obudu’s hospital has seen dialysis and essential services restored. The administration says these investments improve care despite economic headwinds as of June 29, 2026.
FG pushes climate-resilient WASH agenda
The Federal Government and WASH stakeholders meet at the 3rd Annual National Climate Change and WASH Conference in Abuja on Monday, June 29, 2026. They call for more investment, better coordination, and climate-resilient infrastructure to safeguard water security and public health. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Prof. Joseph Utsev says climate change threatens water resources and sanitation, making resilient WASH essential. The gathering outlines actions to align ND C 3.0 with adaptation priorities, promising improved WASH access for Cross River residents through coordinated national programs.
DNEMIS rolls out July 1
The Federal Ministry of Education will unveil the Digital National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) on July 1 in Abuja, as part of the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure initiative. The system will digitise the Annual School Census and provide timely, reliable data to support planning, budgeting, policymaking and service delivery across Cross River schools and institutions. DNEMIS will be accessible to government agencies, researchers, development partners, civil society, journalists and the public, enabling evidence-based decisions that directly impact Cross River residents and learners.