Cross River Rebirth on Course as Otu Unveils Plans for Aviation, Agriculture, Education

By Okpashi Odama

The Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, has pledged to sustain the growing dividends of democracy in the state despite its limited resources.

Governor Otu gave the assurance in Abuja during a special town hall meeting with Cross River indigenes, stakeholders, and investors held to commemorate his third anniversary in office.
The event, organised by the state government under the theme, “Inside Gov. Otu’s Three Years of Rebirth of Cross River,” provided an opportunity to review the administration’s achievements, assess progress, and outline future plans.
According to the governor, his administration is set to revamp critical sectors including aviation, education, and agriculture to further enhance service delivery and improve the welfare of the people.
Otu said, “We will be looking to buy more aircraft, and it will be a regional aircraft, not just a jet or an internal aircraft. The vision is quite huge. We are looking at plying the whole of West Africa.
“We are already training over 16 people to become pilots. We are looking to train a little more in aircraft engineering, aeronautics engineering, and other related areas.
“Some airlines were making decisions at their convenience, and we were at their whims and caprices. They cancelled flights to other states, but those things have stopped since we started.”
Speaking on the aviation sector, the governor revealed plans to acquire additional aircraft and establish a regional airline network that would operate across West Africa. He added that the state was investing heavily in human capital development, with more than 16 Cross River indigenes currently undergoing pilot training, while programmes in aircraft engineering and aeronautical studies were also being expanded.
Otu noted that the state’s intervention in the aviation sector had significantly reduced disruptions previously caused by commercial airline operators.
In the area of education, he highlighted the payment of WAEC fees for indigenous students in 2024, 2025, and 2026. He also cited the establishment of the University of Education and Entrepreneurship as well as the College of Agriculture and Forestry as major milestones.
The governor acknowledged the shortage of healthcare personnel in the state and disclosed that improved remuneration packages had been introduced to attract and retain medical professionals.
On agriculture, he disclosed that the government had procured 108 mini tractors, with more than 50 already distributed to farmers. Additionally, 77 motorcycles were provided to agricultural extension officers to improve service delivery.
He further highlighted ongoing road construction, bridge development, and solar-powered electricity projects aimed at strengthening infrastructure and driving economic growth across Cross River State.