Senator Gershom Bassey, a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and immediate past representative of the Cross River Southern Senatorial District, has voiced strong optimism regarding the transformative potential of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project for Cross River State.
Speaking during a media chat, the two-term senator urged all stakeholders to support the project, emphasizing that its completion would catalyze significant economic growth across the state. Senator Bassey particularly pointed to the proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for managing the highway once operational, noting that private sector involvement is critical to ensuring the infrastructure’s long-term sustainability.
Evaluating the performance of the current Cross River State government, Bassey acknowledged that while citizens have voiced complaints amid prevailing economic hardships, Governor Bassey Edet Otu has made notable progress – most significantly in curbing insecurity and drastically reducing kidnapping incidents across the state. However, he urged the administration to build on these gains and push for further progress in other critical sectors to alleviate living costs for residents.
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The former lawmaker also commended the state government’s ongoing pursuit to secure the allocation of 300 oil fields to Cross River, expressing confidence that a successful outcome would dramatically alter the state’s economic fortunes.
Commenting on the national economy, Senator Bassey characterized the economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu as painful, raising concerns over the strategy employed in their execution.
On constitutional reform, Bassey advocated for true federalism and the devolution of powers as provided within the current constitutional framework. He argued that focusing on these existing avenues is far more practical than pursuing full-scale restructuring or creating new states, which face long, complex constitutional hurdles.
Addressing the national security debate, Senator Bassey supported the bill currently before the National Assembly to establish state police forces to complement federal policing efforts. He stressed, however, that robust safeguards must be instituted alongside any new legislation to prevent potential misuse of local police forces by state governors.
He concluded by calling on Nigerians to embrace patriotism and active citizenship to build a stronger, more prosperous nation.
