Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has presented a proposed ₦987.8 billion budget for the 2027 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly, describing the financial plan as a budget of consolidation and renewal aimed at sustaining development, strengthening public services and improving the living conditions of residents.
Presenting the appropriation bill before lawmakers, the governor said the proposed budget was designed to consolidate ongoing projects, address critical infrastructure gaps and sustain investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, aviation, power and other strategic sectors of the state economy.
Otu said the budget was prepared in line with Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, stressing that its successful implementation would depend on fiscal discipline, accountability and prudent management of public resources.
He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to responsible financial management, noting that the state had avoided taking fresh domestic and external loans since he assumed office in 2023. He attributed the growing pressure on government finances partly to inherited debts and the cost of servicing existing obligations, which he said had affected the pace of development.
According to the governor, resources that could have been channelled into critical projects had been diverted to debt servicing, while foreign exchange fluctuations had increased the naira cost of certain financial obligations.
He maintained that his administration would continue to pursue economic growth without compromising the interests of future generations, through improved internally generated revenue, federal allocations, support from development partners and public private partnerships.
Reviewing the performance of the 2026 budget, Otu acknowledged the impact of foreign exchange volatility, rising operational costs, supply chain disruptions and debt repayment obligations on the implementation of some projects. He said the state government responded by working with the House of Assembly to approve a supplementary budget, raising the spending framework to accommodate emerging priorities.
On infrastructure, the governor said his administration had delivered more than 608 kilometres of roads across the three senatorial districts under its development agenda. He added that investments in solar streetlights, rural electricity infrastructure and related projects had helped restore economic activities in previously underserved communities.
In agriculture, Otu disclosed that 20,000 bags of fertiliser had been distributed to 8,000 farmers, while a 50,000 hectare rice project was being pursued as part of efforts to strengthen food production. He also said more than 5,300 livestock farmers had received support and that improved seedlings, including oil palm, cowpea and cocoa varieties, had been distributed to farmers across the state.
The governor said the administration had also provided agricultural loans, grants and machinery to smallholder and large scale farmers to improve productivity and expand economic opportunities. He expressed confidence that the state's agricultural initiatives would strengthen food security, create jobs and increase Cross River's contribution to national agricultural production.
In the health sector, Otu highlighted investments in hospital infrastructure, essential medicines, immunisation and healthcare workers' welfare. He said immunisation coverage had reached 95 per cent, while measures had been introduced to improve access to medical supplies and strengthen the regulation of pharmaceutical products.
He also cited the implementation of an improved salary structure for health workers and the extension of their retirement age from 60 to 65 years as part of efforts to motivate personnel and strengthen healthcare delivery.
On education, the governor said the state had invested in classroom construction, school rehabilitation, teaching materials and improved access to public education. He disclosed that 449 classrooms had been constructed, 15 classroom blocks rehabilitated and solar power facilities installed in selected schools.
Otu further said the number of public secondary schools had increased from 276 to 308, while the government paid external examination fees for 45,694 indigenous students. He added that more than 14,000 teaching and non teaching staff had received promotions, while 200 science and technical teachers were recruited to address staffing gaps.
The administration, he said, had also distributed more than 209,000 literacy and numeracy textbooks and 24,000 teacher guides, alongside efforts to digitise examination processes and improve the quality of teaching and learning.
The governor noted that the state government had increased its monthly subvention to the University of Cross River State from ₦220 million to ₦300 million and approved the recruitment of 219 academic and non academic staff for the institution, subject to relevant accreditation requirements.
In the aviation sector, Otu said the state had expanded its aviation assets with additional Bombardier aircraft, bringing the reported fleet to seven, with five operational. He said work was also progressing at the proposed passenger and cargo airport, which he described as a strategic investment for tourism, trade and the attraction of investors.
He further listed the acquisition of 730 vehicles, 10 intercity buses, 20 metropolitan shuttle buses, 500 tricycles and 200 motorcycles among the transportation initiatives undertaken in 2026 to improve mobility and support affordable commuting.
On maritime development, the governor said the Bakassi Deep Seaport project had recorded progress, including steps towards securing financing and advancing the necessary approvals. He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support and announced plans for a presidential groundbreaking ceremony at Bakassi on November 13, 2026.
Otu said the project would strengthen Cross River's maritime position, promote regional trade and create opportunities for employment, investment and industrial development.
He also highlighted progress in hydrographic mapping and maritime charting, saying the work would improve navigational information and enhance the state's position within the Gulf of Guinea.
For the 2027 fiscal year, the governor proposed total expenditure of ₦987,808,089,210.92, representing an increase of approximately 2.57 per cent over the preceding budget framework.
Of the proposed expenditure, ₦708.43 billion, representing 71.72 per cent, was earmarked for capital projects, while ₦279.38 billion, or 28.28 per cent, was allocated to recurrent expenditure.
Infrastructure received the largest sectoral allocation of ₦246.1 billion, followed by health with ₦85.4 billion, education with ₦39.6 billion and agriculture with ₦28.2 billion. Aviation was allocated ₦21.8 billion, government ₦20.2 billion, the judiciary ₦19.1 billion and power ₦16.6 billion.
Other allocations included ₦11.8 billion for tourism, ₦10.8 billion for special duties and intergovernmental relations, ₦6.1 billion for science, technology and innovation, and ₦4.7 billion for information and women affairs.
The governor said the 2027 budget would continue to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with emphasis on completing ongoing projects and sustaining programmes in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education and other priority areas.
He pledged that his administration would continue to construct roads and bridges, reactivate dormant industries and deepen collaboration with private sector investors to accelerate economic growth and job creation.
On education, Otu reiterated his commitment to free and compulsory schooling, alongside continued support for examination fees and targeted assistance for eligible indigenous students. He also pledged further investments in healthcare facilities, medical equipment and essential supplies.
Agriculture and food security, he said, would remain central to the government's development agenda, with plans to expand agricultural support, encourage private investment and strengthen value chains to increase production and improve farmers' incomes.
The governor also promised sustained attention to environmental protection, forest conservation and green economy initiatives, noting that the state's natural resources could generate economic benefits if managed sustainably.
In the justice sector, he said the government would prioritise the completion and rehabilitation of judicial facilities, improve access to justice and strengthen the capacity of courts to perform their constitutional responsibilities.
On security, Otu described Cross River as one of Nigeria's more peaceful states and pledged continued support for security agencies to combat criminality and protect residents. He also urged citizens to cooperate with security personnel by providing credible information that could help prevent crime.
The governor concluded by calling for continued cooperation between the executive, legislature and judiciary, expressing confidence that a shared commitment to responsible governance would help build a peaceful, prosperous and economically stronger Cross River State.
He said the successful implementation of the proposed budget would depend on collective responsibility, effective oversight and the prudent use of public funds to deliver tangible benefits to the people.
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