Cross River Government Orders Audit, Recovery of Abandoned Official Vehicles

The Cross River State Government has issued a stern warning to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) over the increasing trend of abandoning official vehicles, condemning the practice as a violation of asset management protocols and a costly drain on public resources.

In a statement released on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Linus Obogo, Governor Bassey Otu expressed grave concern at the number of government-owned vehicles left idle or parked indefinitely at mechanical workshops, in some cases over minor and easily reparable faults.

The governor described the situation as “a disturbing display of fiscal indiscipline, administrative laxity, and disregard for operational efficiency,” warning that such conduct runs contrary to the core principles of his administration’s governance strategy, which prioritises accountability, prudent resource management, and service delivery.

To address the issue, Governor Otu has directed all MDAs to carry out a comprehensive audit of every government vehicle currently under repair or parked at workshops, whether within or outside Cross River State. The resulting inventory is to be compiled and submitted to the Office of the Special Adviser on Asset Management and Recovery within three weeks from the date of the directive.

In addition, the governor has ordered that all identified vehicles be repaired without delay and returned to active service to strengthen the operational capacity of public institutions.

“For the avoidance of doubt, any official vehicle found to be idle, abandoned, or underutilised without verifiable justification shall be recovered by the Department of Asset Management and Recovery and redeployed to MDAs with urgent operational needs,” the statement warned.

Governor Otu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that public assets are utilised effectively for the benefit of the people, stressing that government property must not be treated with neglect or waste. He also hinted that further measures could be introduced to enforce stricter compliance with asset management rules.

The directive is part of broader efforts by the state government to instil a culture of discipline and efficiency in the management of public resources, amid growing concerns about the misuse and deterioration of government-owned equipment across various sectors.