•Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State
The Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, has declared that Governor Bassey Otu’s administration has compressed six years’ worth of development into just three years, citing far-reaching achievements in infrastructure, security, transportation, healthcare and public service delivery across the state.
Ekpang made the assertion while receiving the editorial team of Echoes of HWASA, led by its Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Julius Ephraim, during a courtesy visit to his office in Calabar.
“We are open to constructive criticism. Tell us where we have not done well and where we need to improve, and we will listen. But when you compare where Cross River was a few years ago with where we are today, the progress is evident. This government has compressed six years into three years,” the commissioner said.
He said the administration has transformed the state’s landscape through the rehabilitation of roads, installation of solar-powered streetlights, recovery of government assets, improved internally generated revenue, acquisition of three CRJ-1000 aircraft to boost air connectivity, construction of a new General Hospital in Ikom, and renewed momentum on the Bakassi Deep Seaport and Tinapa projects.
Ekpang also credited the Otu administration with restoring public confidence in security, noting that coordinated efforts by security agencies have drastically reduced criminal activities and made Cross River one of the safest states in the country.
He further disclosed that the government has prioritised workers’ welfare through the procurement of official vehicles for permanent secretaries and senior civil servants, the introduction of electric shuttle buses, and other reforms aimed at improving service delivery across the state.
While acknowledging that no administration can execute every project simultaneously, the commissioner maintained that the achievements recorded within three years compare favourably with what many governments accomplish in two terms.
“I am proud to be associated with Hope Waddell Training Institution because the values and discipline I acquired there continue to guide me today. We will continue to support this initiative because it is helping to preserve our history and tell our stories,” he said, pledging the Ministry of Information’s support for the publication through access to official information, goodwill messages and institutional collaboration.
Earlier, the Editor-in-Chief of Echoes of HWASA, Mr. Julius Ephraim, said he led the publication’s editorial team on the courtesy visit as part of activities marking the first anniversary of the quarterly newsletter.
According to Ephraim, Echoes of HWASA was established by thecros class of 1989 to celebrate outstanding alumni of Hope Waddell Training Institution while documenting significant events, developmental milestones and untold stories within Cross River State and beyond.
He disclosed that the publication has maintained uninterrupted quarterly circulation for one year and will release its first anniversary edition on July 1, expressing optimism that it would evolve into a comprehensive historical repository for the institution and its distinguished alumni.
The Editor-in-Chief appealed for the Ministry of Information’s partnership, expressing confidence that collaboration with the ministry would further strengthen the publication’s mission of preserving institutional heritage and projecting the positive stories and developmental strides of Cross River State.
The visit featured the presentation of copies of the state’s flagship publication, Giant Strides magazine and a compendium of Three-Year Scorecard of Governor Bassey Otu, to the visiting team, while members of the Echoes of HWASA editorial team presented copies of their quarterly newsletter to the Commissioner, highlighting a shared commitment to promoting quality storytelling, preserving institutional heritage and showcasing the progress of Cross River State.
