From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Capital projects account for N708.43 billion in the N987.8 billion budget proposal for 2027 presented by Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, to the state House of Assembly in Calabar yesterday.
The capital allocation represents 71.72 per cent of the proposed expenditure, while recurrent spending takes N279.38 billion, or 28.28 per cent, reflecting the administration’s emphasis on infrastructure, human capital development and productive investments.
The proposal, valued at precisely N987,808,089,235.92, represents a 2.57 per cent increase over the revised 2026 budget of N963.07 billion.
Infrastructure receives the largest sectoral allocation of N246.1 billion, followed by education with N99.6 billion and health with N85.4 billion.
Other provisions include N28.2 billion for agriculture, N21.8 billion for aviation, N20.2 billion for the House of Assembly, N19.1 billion for the judiciary, N16.6 billion for power and N11.3 billion for tourism.
Otu said the capital provision underscored his administration’s determination to complete ongoing projects, stimulate economic activity, create jobs and improve public services.
He described the budget as more than an aggregation of figures, calling it “a solemn and sacred pact laden with the trust, expectation and aspiration of the people for their improved livelihoods.”
According to him, successful implementation would depend on prudent resource management, accountability and disciplined expenditure to translate the government’s commitments into improvements in living conditions.
“The imperative of this exercise underscores our collective resolve to chart a sustainable course for the growth and development of our dear state.”
The governor explained that the estimates were developed within the 2027–2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, with emphasis on sustaining ongoing programmes and opening new opportunities for investment and employment.
Addressing the state’s debt profile, Otu said his administration had not contracted fresh domestic or foreign loans since assuming office in 2023.
He attributed the existing burden to obligations inherited from previous administrations, explaining that naira depreciation had increased the local-currency value of external debt, while servicing the obligations constrained resources available for development.
“I cannot, and will never mortgage the future of our children with unsustainable loans.”
He pledged to strengthen internally generated revenue, maximise federal allocations and attract development assistance and private-sector investment to finance the state’s priorities.
Reviewing the outgoing fiscal year, Otu acknowledged pressures from exchange-rate volatility, rising operating costs, supply-chain disruptions and inherited financial commitments.
He said a supplementary budget had raised the 2026 spending framework to N963.07 billion to accommodate urgent interventions and counterpart-funding requirements.
Among the achievements highlighted was the delivery of more than 608 kilometres of interconnected road projects across the three senatorial districts, including the Nsan–Oban Road in Akamkpa, Adiabo–Ikoneto Road in Odukpani and Yahe–Ebo–Wanakade Road in Yala.
He also reported progress in rural electrification through solar streetlights, mini-grids and network rehabilitation, describing the interventions as essential to improving mobility and supporting commercial activity in underserved communities.
In education, Otu said the administration had deployed more than N17 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission intervention funds, supported classroom construction and rehabilitation, and paid examination fees for 43,694 indigenes.
He cited the approval of promotions for more than 14,000 teaching and non-teaching staff and reaffirmed the policy of free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school.
The governor said the government was targeting a literacy rate of 98 per cent, from an estimated 80.7 per cent, while strengthening technical and vocational education to equip young people with employable and entrepreneurial skills.
On healthcare, he highlighted hospital rehabilitation, medical oxygen plants in Calabar and Ogoja established in partnership with UNICEF, and improvements to state-owned nursing and midwifery institutions.
He also cited implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and an increase in health workers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
Otu said more than 20,000 bags of fertiliser had been distributed to 8,000 farmers, alongside over one million improved oil-palm, cowpea and cocoa seedlings.
He highlighted a 50,000-hectare rice project, support for more than 5,300 livestock farmers and an N18 billion offtake arrangement among measures to expand agricultural production.
“There is no food security without agriculture,” he said, adding that the government intended to position Cross River as Nigeria’s leading cocoa- and oil-palm-producing state through expanded cultivation, mechanisation and private-sector partnerships.
On transportation and economic diversification, Otu said the addition of a Bombardier CRJ regional jet had brought the state’s aircraft fleet to five, while construction continued at the Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport.
“Our overall target in this sector is to transform our aviation business model into a highly profitable and self-sustaining revenue asset for the state,” he said.
He also highlighted the acquisition of 730 electric vehicles, comprising buses, tricycles and motorcycles, to reduce commuting costs and support cleaner transportation.
The governor said the Bakassi Deep Seaport had secured Federal Government approval and a Certificate of Compliance, with construction awaiting commencement and anticipated private investment of about $3.5 billion.
Seeking timely consideration and passage of the Appropriation Bill, Otu pledged accountable implementation.
“My administration shall continue to be responsive to the yearnings of the citizenry, prudent in the management of the state’s resources and accountable to the people,” he said.
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