By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has presented a proposed N987.8bn budget for the 2027 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly, with N708.4bn earmarked for capital projects.
The governor, who christened the proposal the “Budget of Consolidation and Renewed Hope,” said the estimates were designed to sustain ongoing development projects, improve public services and promote economic growth across the state.
The proposed budget, valued at N987,808,089,235.92, represents an increase of approximately 2.57 percent over the 2026 budget.
Capital expenditure accounts for 71.72 percent of the total proposal, while recurrent expenditure stands at N279.38bn, representing 28.28 percent.
Presenting the estimates in Calabar, at the state house of assembly on Wednesday Otu described the budget as “a solemn and sacred pact laden with the trust, expectation and aspiration of the people for their improved livelihoods.”
He said effective implementation would require prudent management of public resources, accountability and disciplined spending.
Addressing concerns about the state’s debt profile, the governor said his administration had not obtained fresh domestic or external loans since assuming office in 2023.
Otu attributed the state’s existing debt burden to obligations inherited from previous administrations, adding that debt servicing had limited the resources available for development projects.
“I cannot, and will never mortgage the future of our children with unsustainable loans,” he declared.
He said the government would strengthen internally generated revenue, maximise federal allocations and attract development assistance and private-sector investment to finance its priorities.
Reviewing the 2026 budget, Otu disclosed that the spending framework had been raised to N963.07bn through a supplementary budget to accommodate urgent interventions and counterpart-funding requirements.
He listed the construction of more than 608 kilometres of interconnected roads across the state’s three senatorial districts among the achievements of his administration.
The projects include the Nsan–Oban Road in Akamkpa, the Adiabo–Ikoneto Road in Odukpani and the Yahe–Ebo–Wanakade Road in Yala.
The governor also highlighted agricultural interventions, including the distribution of more than 20,000 bags of fertiliser to 8,000 farmers and the provision of over one million improved oil-palm, cowpea and cocoa seedlings.
He said the government had also established a 50,000-hectare rice project and supported more than 5,300 livestock farmers through various interventions.
On healthcare and education, Otu cited the rehabilitation of hospitals, the establishment of medical oxygen plants in Calabar and Ogoja in partnership with UNICEF, and the upgrading of state-owned nursing and midwifery schools.
He also said the state had deployed more than N17bn in Universal Basic Education Commission intervention funds, paid West African Senior School Certificate Examination fees for 43,694 indigenes and approved the promotion of more than 14,000 teaching and non-teaching staff.
The governor said infrastructure received the largest sectoral allocation of N246.1bn in the proposed 2027 budget, followed by education with N99.6bn and health with N85.4bn.
Agriculture was allocated N28.2bn, aviation N21.8bn, the House of Assembly N20.2bn, the judiciary N19.1bn, power N16.6bn and tourism N11.3bn.
Otu further disclosed that the state had acquired 730 electric vehicles, comprising buses, tricycles and motorcycles, as part of efforts to improve transportation and reduce commuting costs.
He also said the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport had received Federal Government approval and a Certificate of Compliance, with anticipated private investment of about $3.5bn.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school, alongside continued investment in security, youth empowerment, environmental conservation and judicial infrastructure.
He urged lawmakers to give the proposed Appropriation Bill timely consideration and passage, expressing confidence that its implementation would accelerate development and improve the welfare of residents.
“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,” Otu said.
