From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The Commissioner for Information, Cross River State, Mr Erasmus Ekpang has given a pass mark to the administration of Senator Bassey Otu’s administration after about 9 months in office

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Asset in Calabar in his office, the Commissioner said within nine months, Bassey Otu’s administration is beginning to address the infrastructural deficit by lighting up Calabar the state capital and other parts of the State.

According to the Commissioner, “when this administration came on board the Governor wanted to change the narrative because Cross River State was not a productive State.

He said the Governor, being an expert in Banking and a seasoned legislator, promised to consolidate on the previous regime by completing all ongoing projects he inherited.

“The truth about it is that in the last seven months Sen. Bassey Otu assumed office on the 29th of May, 2023, he wasted no time in hitting the ground running, as he immediately constituted sectorial transition report review committees to, amongst other things, review the state of affairs, recommend and proffer possible structural adjustments in MDA’s, policies and programmes that will help his administration leave lasting legacies in the sands of time”

“For Otu, the need to have a full understanding of the existing government structures to serve as a guide to provide the right interventions, deploy the right policies and programmes in the implementation of The People’s First Mandate.”

“Calabar and, indeed, Cross River State has always been known for her serenity and cleanliness: the ancient city has won several national awards in the past as the most clean, green and serene city in Nigeria.”

Immediately the governor assumed office, As part of efforts to restore the clean and green status of Calabar, the Cross River State capital, he set in motion the evacuation of refuse waste and garbage from the Calabar metropolis and reintroduced the sweeping of streets, a quick intervention aimed at restoring the cleanliness Calabar and, indeed, Cross River State is known for.

In his determination to confront the issues of waste disposal, he visited the filled and overflowing dump site and directed that the dumpsite be put in proper conditions, while arrangements for another dumpsite is underway

To enhance effective and efficient monitoring of indiscriminate refuse disposal by residents as well as ensure robust evacuation by relevant government agencies, the governor introduced a new refuse disposal guideline. According to the new guidelines, refuse disposal by residents is to be carried out between the hours of 6pm and 10pm daily to give room for evacuators who are expected to affect the final clearance of such waste from dumpsters to designated disposal points.

Otu also directed the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA) to, effectively, mobilize its staff in their day-to-day cleaning of streets and desilting of gutters where necessary to allow easy and free flow of water in the drains.

He maintained that the most visible impact in the course of action this administration has taken so far in respect to the environment is the disappearance of heaps of garbage on major streets and highways in Calabar, the state capital.