Cross River spent three years crawling out of a deep pit – Archbishop Bassey

The Territorial Archbishop of Calabar, Archbishop Josef Bassey, says Cross River State has spent the last three years “crawling out of a deep pit” of debt and institutional decay inherited by Governor Bassey Otu in 2023.

Speaking on the state of Cross River during a press briefing, Archbishop Bassey said the state was handed over with “all accounts in red”, domestic debt of over N200 billion, unpaid pensions since 2009, a “bastardised” civil service, and ruined public assets, including the Governor’s Office, State Library and Tinapa.

Three years on, he noted significant recovery. DMO figures show domestic debt has dropped by N71.7 billion to N132.3 billion as of March 2026. Internally generated revenue rose from N21.1 billion in 2022 to N31.56 billion in 2023, with state records putting 2024 revenue at N46.3 billion.

Tinapa has been recovered from AMCON, while the Governor’s Office, State Library, Cultural Centre and government lodges have been rebuilt. Pension arrears have also been paid up to 2015.

Moving forward, Archbishop Bassey, who is also the Convener of the Cross River Christian Leaders Forum, said the focus must shift from “recovery to aggressive development”.

“We have spent three years buying back our past. Now, we must build our future,” he said.

“Imagine what becomes possible when the enormous resources presently consumed by recovery can finally be released into growth, that is the future now before us.

“We have spent three years buying back our past, climbing out of a pit we should never have fallen into.

“We must now build our future. The recovery must be completed, the repositioning consolidated and development must be aggressive,” he added.

The Archbishop also listed ongoing efforts on the Bakassi Deep Seaport, agricultural transformation under ‘Project Grow’, and the pursuit of maritime rights as foundations for a new economic architecture.

He also charged Governor Otu to drop appointees lacking capacity, saying some are occupying offices larger than their competence.