Governor OTU who reposition Cross River with data governance

Governor OTU who reposition Cross River with data governance

By Ebriku John Friday

The Governor of Calabar (Core Reporter) Prince Bassey Edet Otu is the current leader of the Cross River State in Nigeria. He started his work on May 29, 2023, after winning the elections with the All Progressives Congress (APC). His main idea to manage the state is the “People First Mantra”, which always means thinking about what people need first. Call this time the “season of sweetness”, promising to make life better, happier and more significant for everyone at Cross River.

Governor Otu is changing cross River using data governance. It is like having an intelligent system to collect, control and use facts and numbers to make decisions. It helps the government better to plan better, avoid waste and keep track of progress. For example, he created a special committee in March 2025 to make the state data system stronger, more accurate and useful for working with others. He also ordered the digitization of the state resources register, creating a central online tool to watch over government properties in real time. This reduces losses and simplifies audit. Through the Cross State Bureau of Statistics, it ensures that every great choice begins with solid data, such as controlling the GDP of the state (gross domestic product) to measure economic growth. These steps show how the data are helping to reposition the state for long -term success.

In just over two years, Governor Otu has made great changes in many areas. Let’s take a look at its key results with some numbers and facts to show the impact.

Instruction

Governor Otu focused on improving schools and helping students to be successful. His team was led by the commissioner for education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey recorded 16.301 senior secondary school students for the exams of 2024 May/June, giving more children the possibility of finishing high school and moving forward. He renewed the state library, transforming it into a modern place for learning with better books and technologies. Digital literacy programs teach people how to use computers and the Internet, preparing them for work in a technological world. These reforms have increased attendance and school performance, with more hiring of merit -based teachers to guarantee quality. The Bureau of Statistics data help to keep track of students’ progress, showing an increase in enrollments by about 10-15% in the key areas since 2023.

Health

In health, the governor has updated hospitals and services to reach more people. He has invested in a better equipment and staff training, leading to fewer deaths for common diseases. For example, the new programs have cut waiting times in the clinics of 20%, based on reports on health data. Its “People First” approach uses data to identify areas that need multiple doctors or medicines, as in rural places. This has improved overall health coverage, with vaccination rates on increase of 25% in the last two years.

By breaking the results of the Governor OTU in the health sector under the clock of the Commissioner for Health, dr. Ayuk, a professional health expert, dr. Tah Daniel Takon, in a recent main speech he captured the success story like this

“By Mid-2025, The Administration Had Recorded Remarkable Progress in Strayening Healthcare Across the State. Eighty-Tatry Health Center Were Fully Upgraded, with Delivery Rooms, Laboratories, and Staff Quarters. The General Hospital in Calabar Was Transformed A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A rating World-Class facility, featuring a state-of-the-art Fistula Center, at Functional Dialysis Unit, A Riliage Oxygen Supply, Digital Health Systems, and A Sondy Water and Power Supply.

“The seventy -eight per cent of our primary health centers now meets national standards, at maximum 33%in 2023. The designed on the structures have increased by 41%, while outpatient visits have grown by 65%.

“Only Ugep general hospital, in 2024 over 300 safe cesarean sections were conducted, challenging the lives of mothers and children.

“By completing these efforts, the Palliative Program for State Health has eliminated user taxes for pregnant women, children under five years of age and the elderly. The Phcs now operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with hundreds of safe births and zero maternal or neonatal deaths.

These results show that when the leadership, the investments and the trust of the community meet, a genuine transformation is actually possible.

The development of human resources and skills (2023-2025), Cross River State, has faced the lack of critical health workforce through the program of building resources and human skills. Over 300 more than 300 community nurses and health workers have been recruited and distributed to underworld phc. In the same way, over 230 health professionals, who include medical doctors, pharmacists and scientists, among others, have been involved and lined up in public hospitals, with an increase from 49% from 2022 to 85%.

Obstetric seventy -five were formed in basic and emergency obstetric and neonatal care have reduced the maternal complications of 35% and an emergency references of 28%.

The outpatient visits increased by 65%, the qualified birth frequency increased by 50%and waiting times by 33%have decreased. Personnel conservation has improved by 22% through the implementation of rural incentives and indemnities. These measures have strengthened the health workforce and advanced progress towards universal health coverage.

Agriculture

Agriculture is obtaining a great push under the governor Otu. He reported mechanized agriculture, such as the use of seeding machines and collection and diversified crops to include more rice, cocoa and palm oil. This has created jobs for over 5,000 farmers and an increase in food production of 30%, according to state relations. The governance of data helps here using soil and meteorological data to guide sowing, reducing crops. It is part of his plan to make a food center cross River, with exports that increase and help the economy.

Creation of employment and wealth

Governor Otu raised the old ban on hiring new workers, adding thousands of jobs in government and private sectors. He released N10 billion (about $ 6 million) to pay old tips for retired workers, eliminate backward and increase morale. New minimum wage rules mean that workers earn more, with salaries paid in time every month. This reduced unemployment of about 15%, based on work data. The wealth creation programs, such as loans for small businesses, have helped over 10,000 people starting the initiatives, monitored through digital systems for better results.

Infrastructure: roads, electricity, water, energy and aviation

The great victories here include the construction and fixing of roads. The double Calabar-Hadkpani roadway is now more fluid, cutting the travel time of half for many people. Other roads in Boki and Ikom are made, connecting farms to the markets. Okuku-Okpoma-Yahe and the Yahe-Wanokom-Wanikem-Bue border are underway. Recently, the streets of Obubra have been assigned for an update and the Uyanga Road in Akamkpa is under reconstruction. A huge project is the 365 kilometer railway from Calabar to Obudu, which will move the goods faster and create 2,000 jobs during the building.

For electricity and energy, it is working on better diet, with new solar projects that illuminate rural areas and reduce the blackouts of 40% in some places. The water systems are updated, giving clean water to multiple houses. In the aviation, plans are underway to improve the airport, using data to predict traffic and increase tourism. Overall, infrastructure expenditure has increased by 50% since 2023, leading to faster growth.

Works, lands, accommodation and sports

In works and lands, digital tools monitor the ownership of the land, reducing disputes of 25%. Housing projects have created houses at affordable prices for over 1,000 families. Sport has obtained a passage with new corrections of the stadium and programs for young people, helping cross River to win multiple national medals. The data help to plan these, such as the use of polls to choose the best points for new buildings.

Politics and economic revolution

Politically, the work of the governor Otu has made the weaker opposition, since people see real changes. The internal revenues of the State (IGR) grew by 30-40%, from a better tax collection using data systems. He is guiding an economic revolution by attracting investors, cultivating tourism and creating jobs. The Catholic Church and the unions praise its inclusive style, without great protests because people feel listened to. The governance of data is the key, transforming the numbers into actions that build wealth and stability.

Finally, Governor Otu is repositioning Cross River State by putting the data at the center of everything. In two years, his “season of sweetness” brought true sweetness through schools, health, farms, jobs and better ways. With numbers such as N10 billion of tips, 365 km of railway and a growth of 30% in agriculture, the state is traveling towards prosperity. This data based on data guarantees the last of the changes, creating a brighter future for everyone. People are proud and the economy is stronger than ever.

Ebriku John Friday is Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on the analysis of the data to cross the governor of the state of the river, his excellence, the senator of the apostle Prince Bassey Edet Otu. He writes from Calabar.