Governor Otu Repositioning Cross River with Data Governance – Insights by Ebriku John Friday
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
In a detailed assessment of Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s administration, Ebriku John Friday, the Senior Special Assistant on Data Analytics to the Governor, has painted a comprehensive picture of how the state is being transformed through data governance and a people-centred approach to leadership.
According to Ebriku, Governor Otu, who assumed office on 29th May 2023 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), came in with a clear vision: the People First Mantra. Popularly described as the “Season of Sweetness,” this vision seeks to prioritise the needs of ordinary citizens, making governance more responsive, accountable, and effective.
At the heart of this transformation, Ebriku explained, lies data governance—the deliberate use of verified facts, statistics, and digital systems to guide planning, reduce waste, and measure outcomes.
Using Data to Drive Decision-Making
Ebriku highlighted that one of Governor Otu’s earliest reforms was the establishment of a Special Data Governance Committee in March 2025 to strengthen the state’s data infrastructure. This committee, he said, has been tasked with ensuring accuracy, transparency, and collaboration with development partners.
Similarly, the digitalisation of the state’s asset registry—another initiative introduced under Otu—now enables real-time monitoring of government properties, helping curb losses, prevent asset mismanagement, and simplify audits.
Through the Cross River State Bureau of Statistics, the administration routinely uses economic indicators such as GDP measurements and sectoral data to inform policy decisions. “This systematic use of data,” Ebriku noted, “is what differentiates this government and sets it on the path of lasting success.”
Education Reform: More Schools, More Opportunities
Ebriku revealed that education has been a top priority for the governor, with Senator Professor Stephen Odey, the Commissioner for Education, spearheading reforms that have already begun yielding results.
- 16,301 senior secondary school students were registered for the 2024 May/June examinations, widening opportunities for youths to complete their studies.
- The state library has been modernised with better learning materials, internet access, and digital literacy training programmes.
- Merit-based teacher recruitment, combined with data-driven monitoring, has improved classroom quality and accountability.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, school enrolment has risen by 10–15% in key local government areas since 2023.
Health Sector: A Transformation Rooted in Data
In the health sector, Ebriku praised the administration for what he described as “one of the most ambitious overhauls in the history of Cross River.”
He cited a keynote presentation by Dr Tah Daniel Takon and Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Egbe Ayuk, which highlighted:
- 82 upgraded primary health centres (PHCs) with delivery rooms, laboratories, and staff quarters.
- A transformed Calabar General Hospital, now boasting a fistula centre, dialysis unit, digital health systems, and uninterrupted power and water supply.
- 78% of PHCs now meet national standards, a leap from 33% in 2023.
- 41% increase in facility-based deliveries and 65% growth in outpatient visits.
- Over 300 safe caesarean sections performed at Ugep General Hospital in 2024 alone.
- State Health Palliative Programme removing user fees for pregnant women, under-fives, and the elderly, while enabling 24/7 PHC operations.
Ebriku stressed that these achievements were possible because data identified gaps in manpower, infrastructure, and service delivery.
Through the Human Resource and Capacity Building Programme (2023–2025), over 300 nurses and community health workers and 230 medical professionals have been recruited and deployed. Waiting times have fallen by 33%, skilled birth attendance has grown by 50%, and maternal complications have reduced by 35%.
Agriculture: Feeding the State, Growing the Economy
According to Ebriku, Governor Otu has revitalised agriculture by introducing mechanised farming and diversifying into rice, cocoa, and oil palm production.
- Over 5,000 farmers have benefited directly.
- Food production has increased by 30%, aided by soil and weather data that guide planting decisions.
- Cross River is now positioning itself as a food hub with export potential, thereby strengthening the local economy.
Employment and Wealth Creation
Ebriku reported that lifting the ban on recruitment has created thousands of jobs across civil service and private sectors.
- N10 billion has been released to clear outstanding gratuities for retirees.
- New minimum wage policies ensure workers are paid fairly and promptly.
- Unemployment has fallen by 15%, while 10,000 small businesses have received loans and grants under wealth creation schemes tracked digitally for accountability.
Infrastructure: Roads, Power, Water, Aviation
Key projects highlighted by Ebriku include:
- Upgrading the Calabar–Odukpani dual carriageway and major roads in Boki, Ikom, Obubra, Akamkpa, Okuku-Okpoma-Yahe, and Yahe-Wanokom-Wanikem-Benue border.
- The ambitious 365-kilometre Calabar–Obudu railway, expected to create 2,000 construction jobs.
- Solar energy projects cutting rural power outages by 40%.
- Expanded clean water access for households.
- Planned airport upgrades to boost tourism, guided by air traffic data.
Overall, infrastructure spending has increased by 50% since 2023, Ebriku confirmed.
Lands, Housing, and Sports
Through digital land management systems, land disputes have dropped by 25%. Affordable housing schemes have provided homes for 1,000 families, while sports development programmes have improved facilities and enabled Cross River athletes to win more medals nationally.
Economic Growth and Political Stability
According to Ebriku, internal revenue has grown by 30–40% through improved tax systems. Investor confidence is rising, tourism is expanding, and opposition politics has weakened because “the results speak for themselves.”
Civil society groups, labour unions, and religious organisations, including the Catholic Church, have commended the administration’s inclusive approach, with fewer protests recorded in two years.
A Data-Driven Future
Summarising his analysis, Ebriku John Friday said Governor Otu’s “Season of Sweetness” has delivered tangible results across health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, employment, and governance.
With N10 billion gratuities paid, 365 km railway projects, 30% agricultural growth, 82 upgraded health centres, and rising school enrolment, Cross River State is firmly on the path to sustainable progress.
“Data governance,” Ebriku concluded, “is not just a policy choice; it is the foundation for lasting transformation.”
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