By Kingsley Agim
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has signed nine transformative bills into law, setting the stage for inclusive growth and institutional renewal across key sectors.
The signing ceremony, held in Calabar, also witnessed a resounding endorsement of the Governor for a second term by the Cross River State House of Assembly.
Led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, the Assembly passed a formal motion endorsing Governor Otu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing his impactful leadership and progressive legislative agenda.
The newly signed laws cut across water access, health, security, infrastructure, traffic management, environmental sustainability, and record-keeping. These include the Cross River State Water Supply and Sanitation Law No. 5, 2025, which guarantees citizens’ access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services while establishing a regulatory framework for the sector. The Cross River State Fire Fighting and Rescue Service Law No. 4, 2024 enhances emergency response capabilities and contributes to the state’s internally generated revenue. Also signed into law is the Cross River State Security Trust Fund (Amendment) Law No. 6, 2024, which empowers the Governor to appoint a qualified individual as chairman to better coordinate the state’s security operations.
Further legislation includes the Cross River State Scraps Regulatory Agency (Amendment) Law No. 9, 2025, aimed at curbing the activities of scavengers and vandals targeting public and private property. The Cross River State Rural Access Road Authority Law No. 8, 2025 is designed to ensure continuous attention to rural roads, especially those linking vital agricultural communities. Another important amendment, the Cross River State Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (Amendment) Law No. 4, 2024, clarifies the agency’s functions and addresses overlaps in motor vehicle licensing and revenue collection.
The Cross River State Records and Archives Bureau Law No. 7, 2024 establishes an agency responsible for managing and archiving critical state documents. The Cross River State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency Law No. 10, 2025 strengthens the supply chain for medical essentials to both public and private healthcare facilities and promotes public-private partnerships. Lastly, the Cross River State Forestry Research Institute (Establishment) Law No. 6, 2024 sets up an institution dedicated to forestry and environmental research, supporting academic development and sustainable resource management.
Speaker Elvert Ayambem praised the Governor’s performance and highlighted the Assembly’s record under his leadership. “In two years, the 10th Assembly has passed 30 bills and 87 resolutions—more than half already implemented. That’s unprecedented. Your commitment has inspired our performance, and we stand fully behind your second-term bid,” he said.
Governor Otu, in his remarks, commended the 10th Assembly for its dedication and high productivity. “Despite economic headwinds and constrained resources, we’ve remained focused. These laws are tools of transformation—each aimed at improving governance and people’s lives. We’ve procured three fire trucks, secured ₦4.5 billion for rural road upgrades, and restructured the security fund. This is just the beginning,” he stated.
The endorsement motion was moved by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Sylvester Agabi and seconded by Deputy Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Davis Ettah, signaling a strong and unified executive-legislative partnership in driving the state’s development agenda.
