Ahead the third anniversary of his government, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State appears to be struggling with independent assessors in defence of his achievements since assuming office, as a report by SBM Intelligence scores him abysmally low.
The SBM Intelligence report, “Where Nigerian Families Actually Thrive” ranked Kano State first for quality of life, while placing Cross River State last across 15 dimensions. The agency said, “despite recording high income levels, Cross River finished last due to severe infrastructure deficits and low scores in safety and health, with 89.9 percent of residents desiring to leave the state”.
On daily life and housing affordability, the agency said Lagos and Cross River are the least affordable, despite higher incomes in some areas. When respondents rated both housing affordability and the overall cost of daily family life, Kano scored 3.53 on daily affordability, the highest of any state. Rivers scored 3.53 on housing and 3.44 on daily life. Both states combine reasonable costs with adequate infrastructure, the agency said further.
“Among the states surveyed, Kano and Rivers offer the most affordable daily life and housing. Lagos and Cross River are the least affordable, despite higher incomes in some areas. In Lagos, housing costs alone consume most family budgets. Rivers balances reasonable rent with low daily expenses”.
On where people are most likely to have extra help for their kids, SBM Intelligence said Cross River is the weakest.
In addition, the state was ranked lowest on safety, with a score of 1.84 against Rivers’ 3.47 and Lagos’ 3.14.
On where families can get fairly quality education for their children and wards, SBM Intelligence scored Cross River last among the states surveyed.
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“Cross River’s poor education scores are consistent with external data. By 2025, the state’s WAEC ranking had tumbled into the bottom ten nationally, while public primary schools reportedly became “poultry shelters, leaking roofs, no chairs, no chalk”. The state’s free education policy exists only on faded billboards while parents pay “voluntary” levies that rival private school fees”, the agency’s report explained.
However, the state government appears quite rattled by the report. It rushed out a list of achievements, which detailed only roads constructed or rehabilitated.
Linus Obogo, chief press secretary to Governor Otu, in a statement, dismissed SBM Intelligence’s report, calling it “A bunch of baloney dressed as research”. He said he came to the “inescapable conclusion that the exercise stands as one of the laziest and most tendentious pieces of armchair research ever foisted on public discourse”.
Later, the governor’s media aid pushed out leaflets containing reports on the state’s scorecard on investment, asset recovery, and IGR. Examples of investment included Presco Plc takeover of Boki and Nsadp palm estates; Wilmar International through its subsidiary, Biase Plantations acquiring Cross River Estates Limited formerly operated by ENG-HUAT Rubber Estates Limited. Now called Uyanga Oil Palm Estates Limited for largescale oil palm production of 8520 hectares.
The government also listed Afreximbank’s $3.5 billion facility for Bakassi Deep Sea Port awaiting presidential ground-breaking ceremony. Others are recovery of Tinapa, a $650 million moribund business resort. Recovery of two aircraft operated by Cally Air, the state’s airline company, but which operates in fits-and-starts.
It also talked of N4 billion Blakes Resort investment in Marina Resort Calabar, a railway between Calabar to Ogoja (work is yet to commence), UNIDO small hydro project at Obudu Cattle Ranch awaiting execution.
The state government also announced road projects in the three senatorial districts of the state, totalling 608.5 km.
However, checks by our correspondent indicate that, for the central senatorial district, in particular Ikom, Boki, Ogoja, Obudu, Bekwarra, Yala, and Obanliku LGAs, most of the roads are yet to touched or partially worked by the contractors. For instance, the Ikom Council secretariat access road – Okim Osabor Road has not received attention since 2023. The same goes for Ikom-Boki-Obudu highway, which is in its worst state in history.
At Yala LGA, roads such as dualisation of Mfom–Okuku–Abuochiche–Obudu Ranch Road is yet to see appreciable work. For Ikom LGA internal network of roads for rehabilitation, such as: Etomi Road – 1.5 km (completed), 4 Corners–Okim Osabor–Bokomo Road – 4km (not touched yet), Mile 2 Road – 1.5 km (not touched yet), Sweet Mother Street – 1 km (not touched yet), Oche Dore maintenance – 0.75 km (only gravels were poured). The Ogoja LGA internal network of roads are not different with Ikom. The Boki East-West road was only awarded in April 2026.
