Governor Otu says 127km of roads completed quietly

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has announced that his administration has finished building 127 kilometers of roads across the state without making a big deal about it.

Mr Otu shared this information at a thanksgiving service for the 2026 Democracy Day celebration on Friday in Calabar. He was represented by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey.

He stated that these projects show his administration's commitment to serving the people, and they were not done for show. "We have completed 127km of road without cutting a ribbon; the roads are serving the interests of our people, that’s our concern," he said.

The governor also mentioned that Cross River has become one of the safest states in Nigeria because of ongoing investments in security. He explained that the government is using both active and passive methods to fight crime in the state.

"171 suspected criminals recently surrendered to security agencies after sustained pressure from government-backed security operations," he noted. He praised the security agencies for their teamwork and hard work in keeping the peace and protecting the lives and property of people in Cross River.

Governor Otu described democracy as a government that should be of the people. He urged citizens to keep supporting good leadership. He took the time to honor the late Moshood Abiola and others who made sacrifices for Nigeria's democratic growth.

During the sermon, the Anglican Bishop of Calabar Diocese, Nneoyi Egbe, urged public officials to serve the community with gratitude, humility, and accountability. He called for more transparency in governance and suggested that budget performance reports should be released regularly to build public trust.

Erasmus Ekpang, the commissioner for information in Cross River, said that Nigeria's 27 years of uninterrupted democracy shows steady progress. He pointed out that despite its problems, democracy is still better than military rule and urged citizens to always support their leaders for better service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria also reported that there was a special Jumat Service to mark the 2026 Democracy Day in Cross River.