Cross River Food Bank Launch
Dr. Martha Agba, National Director of Support Groups of the City Boy Movement, welcomes the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Cross River State for the South-South Zonal Launch of the National Community Food Bank. The event, organized with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and partners, aims to strengthen food assistance for vulnerable families across the region. The visit underscores renewed government efforts to tackle food insecurity and expand social welfare programs for Cross River residents, with a focus on women and children.
Bakassi backs Tinubu, Otu
Cross River Bakassi stakeholders gathered in Abuja for a rally supporting President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu ahead of the 2027 elections. The Team Cross River State mobilised hundreds of residents, citing ongoing federal infrastructure projects and governance gains as reasons for backing the APC ticket. Coordinator Dr. Don Clem Enamhe and other organizers described the event as a show of public endorsement, with plans for broader mobilisation across Cross River and in local constituencies to secure votes.
Ekpu commends press revitalization
President Ray Ekpu praises Governor Otu for revitalizing Cross River Chronicle State Printing Press in Calabar. The initiative enhances local publishing capacity, supports government communications, and creates job opportunities for Cross River residents. Officials say the press will improve print quality, speed up document production, and encourage local news dissemination. The governor plans to partner with local publishers to expand access across Cross River, with staff training and modern equipment slated for deployment in the coming months.
Cross River Advances HIV Response
Cross River State Health Ministry and partners, including NASCP and the N-SHIP project, held a strategic stakeholders’ engagement in Calabar on September 1, 2026, to strengthen HIV interventions, health financing, integration of services, and supply-chain management. Commissioner for Health Dr. Henry Ayuk stressed state ownership and resource mobilisation, urging closer collaboration with government, partners, and communities to reach 2030 elimination targets. A five-year framework with the United States supports gradual domestic funding starting October 2026 to sustain health services.
Gov Otu Employment Drive
The Cross River State Ministry of Lands is implementing Governor Otu’s employment drive by training newly recruited staff to enhance service delivery. The program brings together recruits from multiple departments to build discipline, professional ethics and essential land-administration skills. The Commissioner for Lands and the Permanent Secretary emphasize accountability, proper channels of authority and teamwork as key to improving efficiency in the Civil Service. The initiative aims to strengthen public service and support investment in Cross River.
Cross River rail backing secured
Cross River State Governor’s office announced that the Federal Government has backed the Uyo-Calabar rail corridor and the expansion of marine transport within the state. The move places Cross River at the forefront of a regional rail network, promising job creation, improved freight movement, and better access to Tinapa and Calabar ports. Local communities, businesses, and institutions should prepare for phased construction, with timelines and funding details to be coordinated by the state and federal transport ministries.
Cross River grills education chiefs
The Cross River State House of Assembly has summoned education officials to address the stalled promotion of teachers across the state. In a plenary session on November 6, 2025, lawmakers urged the Commissioner for Education, the Accountant-General, and agency heads to resolve delays, stressing that timely promotions affect teacher morale and educational quality. The move signals renewed oversight to ensure salary adjustments and promotions align with state policy, benefiting instructors and students in Cross River.
MySmartMedic targets inclusive digital
The UNICCON Group of Companies unveiled its MySmartMedic digital health platform in Abuja, with Prof. Chuks Ekwueme highlighting plans to extend services across Nigeria and Africa. The advisory board was inaugurated on a Thursday, guiding expansion, partnerships, and a forthcoming IPO within the next year to broaden access to telemedicine. The platform aims to serve rural to urban users, including those with limited connectivity, through home-based consultations and offline-friendly devices.
Protect votes in 2027 elections
The Abuja School of Social and Political Thought and other electoral stakeholders have urged Nigerians, including Cross River residents, to protect their votes during the 2027 elections. At a public hearing in Abuja on September 3, 2026, experts called for credible elections through citizen oversight, trained polling agents, and robust electoral reforms. The discussion stressed transparency, voter education, and vigilance to ensure votes count and reduce doubts about the process for Cross River communities. The event highlighted the need for inclusive participation and timely action ahead of polling day.
Walkways Blocked by Traders Cleared
The Cross River State Government, led by Environment Commissioner Bassey Offiong Mensah and with support from Calabar Municipality Chairman James Anam, has moved to reclaim pedestrian walkways in Calabar. Traders blocking walkways at Atimbo roundabout, Airport field, Marian Market, and other hotspots were instructed to relocate to designated markets as enforcement teams dismantled kiosks and tables on public spaces, improving pedestrian safety and accessibility across the city.
Cross River Governance Performance
Cross River’s governor, Bassey Edet Otu, faces scrutiny over progress on roads, education, health, and security. The piece notes 2026 budget emphasis on human capital, electricity, youth, women, infrastructure, and economic expansion, arguing fact-based assessment is overdue. Citizens see visible projects and reforms, while critics seek faster delivery. The government says work continues nationwide, with measurable outcomes expected as projects mature and services improve across Calabar and other Cross River communities.
Governor Otu Signs Three Laws
Governor Otu signs three laws in Calabar, strengthening Cross River’s governance framework. The Cross River State Social Investment and Protection Law, Health Quackery (Prohibition) Law, and the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Law were assented at the Governor’s Office on September 2, 2026. The new laws establish a Social Investment Agency, regulate unlicensed medical practice, and adjust the 2026 budget to address emergent needs, ensuring better support for vulnerable residents and flexible public finance. This move aims to improve welfare, health oversight, and state responsiveness.”
Group backs Gov Otu
The Kalakuta Republic, a Cross River State sociopolitical group led by Comrade Stephen Oru Egbe in Etomi, Etung LGA, has declared its support for Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s bid for a second term, during a gathering in Etomi that included unveiling a billboard. The group calls for peaceful mobilisation and continuation of the administration’s programmes ahead of the 2027 elections, while recognizing Barr. Gilbert Agbor as Grand Patron. Agbor pledged support and promised ongoing engagement with grassroots efforts to strengthen Cross River’s political development.
LIFE-ND boosts incomes in Niger Delta
The LIFE-ND project, led by the Federal Government with IFAD and NDDC, reports notable gains for rural households in the Niger Delta, including Cross River. On December 9, 2025, NAN quoted National Project Coordinator Dr. Abiodun Sanni stating beneficiary incomes rose by about 50 percent, with more than 23,751 direct jobs created across nine states. The program provides start-up capital, inputs, market links, and climate-smart farming to empower youth and women.
NMEC literacy data drive
The Federal Government has ordered the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) to strengthen operations, collect accurate literacy data, and expand learning opportunities for adults and youths nationwide, including Cross River residents. Speaking at a 2026 International Literacy Day event in Abuja, the Education Minister outlined plans to restore NMEC autonomy, rehabilitate facilities, and roll out learning centres with digitised teacher training and Android-friendly platforms. The initiative aims to provide reliable data for planning and to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in mass literacy efforts. Cross River schools, communities, and workers stand to benefit from improved literacy programs and targeted interventions as NMEC progresses.Current date, time, and timezone (ISO): 2026-09-13T22:00:20.544+02:00