The Cross River State Representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok O. Duke, has described Governor Bassey Edet Otu as a “restorer of hope” whose administration is steadily repositioning the state by confronting its inherited debt burden and pursuing a more disciplined approach to public finance.
Duke, according to the assessment, said Governor Otu’s decision to prioritise the repayment of inherited obligations rather than accumulate new debts was creating a stronger foundation for the economic recovery of Cross River State.
At the centre of the Governor’s fiscal strategy, Duke said, is the deliberate effort to free Cross River from the shackles of debt, while resisting the temptation to finance government through additional borrowing.
This position is supported by figures released by the Cross River State Government. In October 2024, the State Commissioner for Finance, Michael Odere, disclosed that the Otu administration had paid about N70 billion of inherited debt without borrowing.
More recent figures cited by the Cross River State Ministry of Information show that the state's domestic debt declined from approximately N204.05 billion in June 2023 to N132.30 billion by March 2026, representing a reduction of about N71.7 billion. The same report noted that the state still had substantial foreign denominated obligations, meaning the debt challenge has been reduced but not completely eliminated.
Duke's characterisation of Otu as a restorer of hope therefore rests not simply on the amount of money being spent, but on the fiscal direction of the administration.
A different approach to managing the state's finances
For years, debt servicing and accumulated liabilities have constrained the capacity of successive administrations to deploy public resources towards infrastructure, social services and economic development.
Governor Otu's approach, as reflected in the debt reduction figures, has been to use available resources to meet existing obligations while seeking to expand the state's revenue base and create room for productive expenditure.
The significance of that approach is that every debt obligation retired potentially reduces the future pressure on government revenue. Money that would otherwise be committed to servicing accumulated liabilities can progressively become available for infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, security and other productive sectors.
The state's fiscal direction has also coincided with an increase in internally generated revenue. According to figures cited by the Cross River State Ministry of Information, IGR rose from about N21.1 billion in 2022 to N31.56 billion in 2023, while state fiscal records subsequently reported about N46.3 billion in independent revenue for 2024.
For Duke, this combination of debt reduction and improved revenue generation represents an important part of rebuilding confidence in the state's economy.
Restoring confidence in Cross River's economy
The wider implication, according to the narrative advanced by Duke, is that fiscal stability can create the conditions for economic activity to expand.
A state that is gradually reducing its inherited liabilities has greater capacity to plan beyond immediate financial pressures. It can also improve its ability to meet obligations to contractors, workers and service providers, while creating a more predictable environment for private sector participation.
This is particularly important for Cross River, where the administration has identified agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and private sector development as areas requiring increased investment. The state government has said its development strategy is intended to make agriculture more productive, grow tourism, strengthen the private sector and improve infrastructure and social services.
The debt reduction strategy is therefore being pursued alongside efforts to unlock economic assets and attract investment.
A June 2026 analysis published by TheCable similarly reported that the Otu administration had placed significant emphasis on reducing inherited debts, recovering state assets and improving fiscal discipline, while noting that the administration's strategy had attracted debate over the balance between debt repayment and visible infrastructure spending.
A foundation for sustainable development
Duke's description of Governor Otu as a “restorer of hope” can thus be understood within the broader context of an administration attempting to move Cross River from a cycle of accumulated liabilities towards greater fiscal sustainability.
Rather than measuring development solely by the number of projects commissioned, the argument is that the financial condition of the state itself is an essential component of development.
A government that inherits substantial liabilities and succeeds in reducing them without relying on additional borrowing is, in effect, attempting to create greater fiscal space for the years ahead.
For Cross River, that could have implications for the state's ability to finance development, attract private investment and undertake long-term economic planning.
The Otu administration has also continued to work with federal institutions, including the NDDC, on major infrastructure interventions. In April 2026, the NDDC reported ongoing collaboration with the state on the Calabar-Odukpani-Akamkpa-Ogoja road corridor, while NDDC officials highlighted the importance of the route to the movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products and solid minerals.
Against this background, Duke's assessment presents Governor Otu's debt repayment programme not merely as an accounting exercise, but as part of a broader attempt to restore the financial capacity, confidence and economic prospects of Cross River State.
The ultimate test, however, will remain whether the reduction in liabilities and improvement in fiscal capacity translate into sustained investment, stronger productive activity and measurable improvements in the living standards of Cross Riverians.
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