Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu
Barely two and a half years after assuming office on May 29, 2023, Governor Bassey Otu has begun to stamp a distinct identity on Cross River State with what residents now describe as a Season of Sweetness—a wave of visible infrastructure upgrades, social interventions and renewed optimism, coming just as the state prepares to host the 20th anniversary of the Calabar Carnival, globally celebrated as Africa’s biggest street party.
Across Calabar, the impact is hard to miss. Major streets within the municipality have been given a facelift, free bus services now ply key routes in the capital and other parts of the state, and public spaces once neglected are being reborn. Millennium Park has been modernised, Mary Slessor Road has evolved into a vibrant “Fun City,” while strategic roads—especially along the Carnival route—have been remodelled to match the festive expectations of residents and visitors alike.
Beyond aesthetics, the administration has restored over 270 solar-powered street lights across Calabar South, Yakurr and Ogoja, installed 14 transformers within Calabar, and embarked on the construction of schools, health centres and markets. These interventions, residents say, reflect a government determined to deliver tangible dividends of democracy.
However, amid the applause, long-marginalised communities are also raising their voices—this time with cautious hope that the Season of Sweetness will reach them too.
For more than five decades, residents of the Azikiwe/Akparika axis of Calabar South have lived with decaying, impassable roads that cut them off from the rest of the city. What started as frustration has grown into a collective plea for inclusion.
Speaking during an interaction with our reporter, the traditional leader of Efut Ekondo, Muri Akparika Okon Edem, made a passionate appeal to the governor.
According to him, “The citizens of the Azikiwe/Akparika area have been cut off from the city for over fifty years.
As the leader of this area, I appeal to our governor to consider the rehabilitation of our ten streets so we can also feel the impact of democracy like other parts of the state.”
Describing Governor Otu as “a beloved son of the community,” the traditional ruler said it was painful that an area of such historical importance—home to streets named after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first indigenous president—had remained stagnant for decades.
“Our people feel forgotten,” he said. “All we ask for is the restoration of our dignity through good roads.”
A prominent economist and disciplinarian, Emmanuel Otu-Ekong Oyoita, described the situation as “a national embarrassment,” blaming years of poor urban planning.
According to Oyoita, “Infrastructure provision is supposed to depend on population density, not on who lives in an area. Roads should not be built because a particular individual is there; they should be built because the population needs them. That is the global best practice.”
He lamented that Nigeria often builds houses before infrastructure, adding, “It is unfortunate that, in this part of the world, houses come before infrastructure.”
Listing streets such as Akparika, Azikiwe, Azikiwe Lane, Abasi Edem, Ekpo Ase, National Commercial, Atakpa and Palm Lane, he warned that the decay has crippled daily life.
“You cannot even communicate with people in the area because the roads have become impassable. A pregnant woman cannot safely pass through these streets on a commercial bike,” he said.
Oyoita also raised security concerns, noting, “How do you expect security agents to pursue criminals in such an area? Businesses have shut down, houses are being submerged by flood, and the entire area has lost its economic life.”
While acknowledging that officials of the Ministry of Works have surveyed the area, he urged firm action:
“It is one thing to put these roads in the budget, and another thing to implement them. We are asking the government to include the 15-kilometre stretch in the state budget and ensure execution.”
Despite the challenges, he commended Governor Otu’s security efforts, saying, “The governor has done well in security. We also have a vigilante group to support government efforts. Residents must keep contributing to sustain security measures.”
Youth leaders echoed similar sentiments. Etubom Ekpeyong Asuquo Okon, youth leader of the area, said, “We are the indigenous people of Ekpri Ekondo Clan, and we have been disappointed by the continued negligence. We appeal once again to our ‘Sweet Prince,’ Governor Bassey Edet Otu, to please come and fix these roads for us.”
From Musaha Clan, Michael Eyo InyangAbasi recounted tragic consequences of erosion:
“A child going to school was swept into the gutter by erosion and died instantly. Many houses have been abandoned because the community keeps flooding every rainy day. My compound is submerged each time it rains.”
He added, “We have no general borehole, no street lights, nothing that reflects the fact that we live in a state capital.”
Businessman Okon Etim Eyoma said decades of neglect had turned a once-thriving community into a disaster zone.
“For the past forty years, this place has been abandoned by both past and present governments… If nothing is done, this place may be swept away someday.”
Women leaders also raised concerns. Mrs. Bassey Okon said, “The terrible road conditions endanger our children, hinder access to markets, and worsen health emergencies. We beg the state government to rescue our neighbourhood.”
Another youth leader, Etubom Efiom Nya Lawrence, appealed for Kent and Esin Streets to be included in rehabilitation efforts, while Henshaw Eyoma-Obong, a resident of Kent Street, warned, “We trek long distances to fetch water. Our street has been forgotten for more than fifty years.”
Despite these concerns, many other parts of Calabar are already feeling the impact of the Season of Sweetness. Streets such as Nyong Edem, Eyo Edem, Wembley, Trenchard, Brook, Methodist Drive, Eniong, Otomo, Etinyin-Abasi and Etim-Abasi have seen significant improvements, alongside the reconstruction of a long-abandoned gully erosion site at Yellow Duke.
In the Atamunu axis, residents expressed joy over the turnaround.
One resident, Mr. Ezekiel of Wembley Street, said, “I am happy about the road, that is how to govern, the governor has kept his campaign promise.”
Mr. Uwem Sunday of Otomo Street added, “Governor Otu has done well, tarring Otomo is a dream come true.”
A resident simply remarked, “I am happy, who will not be happy over a tarred road, at least it serves some stress.”
From Methodist Drive, Perez Thomas said, “Before now, we were in the dark.”
Mrs. Akon Ikpeme expressed gratitude but called for corrections:
“I am grateful to our Sweet Prince, because he has done a very nice job for us… So, I am using this opportunity to call on the government to order them to correct the job error to avert further damage.”
Another resident, Perez Thompson, said, “Before now we were unable to use this road… it was a greatest surprise when our sweet Prince… came to our rescue… now we have a good road network, we are happy.”
Responding to the concerns, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Affairs, Comrade Gill Nsa, assured residents that no community has been abandoned.
“This government is a listening one. Residents should not lose hope. The fact that a particular road has not yet received attention does not mean it has been abandoned. Resources are being distributed strategically to meet current challenges,” he said.
As Cross River counts down to the landmark 20th Calabar Carnival, the Season of Sweetness has already brought renewed confidence to many communities—while others wait, hopeful that the same wave of development will soon reach their streets.
