Governor Otu’s “Season of Sweetness” Transforms Lives in Cross River
In a display of compassion and commitment, Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State launched the Season of Sweetness Free Transportation Scheme in December 2024 to alleviate the economic burdens faced by residents during the festive season and New Year.
The free transportation service covered all major routes within the metropolis and extended to long-distance routes such as Calabar to Ogoja, Ikom, Obudu, Abi, Ugep, Yakurr, Akpabuyo, and Bakassi. The initiative, running for over two weeks, delighted residents and visitors, earning widespread praise for the governor’s people-first approach to governance.
Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, Special Adviser on General Duties and chairman of the monitoring committee, described the initiative as part of Governor Otu’s promise to prioritize pro-people policies. “This scheme ensures that Cross Riverians feel the impact of the governor’s compassionate leadership,” Akiba said.
The scheme also highlights the governor’s broader plans to overhaul the transportation sector, including the revival of the state’s transport outfit, CROSSLINE, and infrastructural improvements such as pothole repairs and streetlight installations.
Female Commercial Drivers Association President, Philomina Asibe, expressed gratitude for the initiative and commended the governor’s wife, Bishop Enyoawan Otu, for empowering female drivers with financial support. The governor’s efforts have also extended to groundbreaking infrastructure projects like the Calabar–Obudu Rail Line, aimed at enhancing connectivity and stimulating economic growth.
Governor Otu’s administration continues to deliver on its promise to improve the lives of Cross Riverians, fostering development in health, agriculture, education, and tourism under his People-First governance philosophy.
