From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone F (South-South), has reaffirmed that governance is truly working in Cross River State, showering encomiums on Governor Bassey Otu and commending his administration for what it described as remarkable development strides and purposeful leadership across critical sectors of the state’s economy.
The commendation was made on Saturday by the Vice President of NUJ Zone F, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, while speaking with journalists after leading members of the South-South leadership of the union on an inspection tour of key projects undertaken by the Cross River State Government in Calabar.
Dokubo, who led the zonal delegation to the state for its meeting, said the visit afforded journalists from across the region the opportunity to independently assess the performance of the Otu administration and witness firsthand the impact of government interventions on the lives of the people.
“We can boldly say that governance truly works here because we have seen it for ourselves. There are not many states where the impact of government is this visible,” he said.
According to him, the projects inspected reflected a deliberate commitment by the administration to restore public infrastructure, revive strategic state assets, and reposition Cross River on the path of sustainable growth and development.
The delegation visited several landmark projects, including the Marina Resort, where the state government is facilitating the development of the iconic Blake Resort through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The journalists also toured the rebuilt Cross River State Library and the ongoing reconstruction of the Nigerian Chronicle complex.
He particularly applauded the government’s efforts to revitalize the tourism sector, noting that ongoing investments in tourism infrastructure are gradually restoring Cross River’s status as Nigeria’s premier tourism destination.
The NUJ leader observed that a state once confronted with the decline of some of its signature assets is now experiencing a steady resurgence under Governor Otu’s leadership, describing the transformation as evidence that the state’s glory days are returning.
Dokubo also commended the extensive renovation of the Cross River State Library, describing the facility as a world-class centre for learning and research that underscores the administration’s commitment to education, knowledge acquisition, and human capital development.
He further expressed satisfaction with the ongoing reconstruction and modernization of the Nigerian Chronicle complex, noting that the iconic newspaper establishment is receiving the attention required to restore its pride of place among Nigeria’s leading media institutions.
Recalling that the facility suffered extensive damage during the EndSARS protests, Dokubo said the quality and pace of work being carried out by the government had impressed members of the union and rekindled hope for the newspaper’s full revival.
The NUJ Vice President also praised the cordial relationship between the Cross River State Government and the media, stressing that effective governance thrives when government maintains strong engagement with journalists as critical partners in development and public accountability.
While urging the administration to sustain the momentum, Dokubo said journalists across the South-South region were impressed by the progress recorded so far, adding that the projects inspected provide compelling evidence that governance is delivering tangible dividends to the people of Cross River State.