By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has released the total sum of N339,903,000.00 (Three Hundred and Thirty-Nine Million, Nine Hundred and Three Thousand Naira) for the registration of 12,589 indigenous students in the 2026 West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
This was disclosed at the first 2026 Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, at the State Council Chamber, Calabar.
The meeting, presided over by Governor Otu, and attended by the Deputy Governor Peter Odey, Commissioners and other critical stakeholders in the state, also saw the approval of several other projects.
The EXCO also resolved the construction of network of roads across some Local Government Areas, including emergency repairs on 10km sections of Ikom-Obudu road; 5km intervention on Oban-Ekang Road; construction of network of roads in Akpabuyo including 5km Ikot Ekpo Eyo- Esuk Mbat; 23.5 km Ikot Edemesa Abakot-Ikot Ekpo-Esuk Eyo-Abasi Obo Roads, Abi, Biase network of roads including Ikot Ana Road, 10kmAdim-Ijom, Etono Beach and Uwana-Abawan Road; Bekwarra Network of roads, Obanliku, Odukpani, Etung, Obudu, Bakassi, Calabar South, old roads in Akamkpa; rehabilitation of roads in Calabar Metropolis, construction of Ikom Network of roads Phase II; emergency Channelisation of Parliamentary Extension, Jonathan Bypass and Ikot Ansa, construction of NAF Hanger/Apron at Margaret Ekpo International Airport, amongst others.
The Council also approved the enactment of several laws by the State House of Assembly.
It also gave approval for the release of the total sum of N790,062,259.00 only for the Commencement of hosting obligations and related works at the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC) for AFSNET 2026.
Earlier in his remarks, the Governor expressed confidence that greater things will be achieved in 2026, assuring that he is very committed to all MDAs reaching their targeted results.
The Governor also restated his determination to operate an open-door policy and make his administration more participatory, pointing out that more appointments are underway for all stakeholders.
He charged all appointees to increase physical responsibilities in order to be more visible in attracting investors to expand businesses in the State with the ultimate target of increased internally generated revenue.
As preparations are on-going towards his 3rd anniversary, Governor Otu directed all Heads of MDAs to submit a comprehensive report of their milestones in the last almost three years of his stewardship to reach the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the State on or before 1st May 2026, while all political appointees with intentions to participate in the 2027 general elections were given up to 26th March 2026 to resign in order to be within the Electoral Act time frame.
