Cross Rivers State Governor Ben Ayade broke down in tears on Tuesday as he signed the state’s historic N1.3 trillion budget for 2018.
The emotion-laden governor signed the 2018 Budget at the executive council chambers in Calabar, the Cross River State Capital.
The budget was tagged, ‘Budget of Kinetic Crystallisation.’
Shortly after the signing, Ayade said such humongous amount was budgeted because his administration is driven by a conscious determination anchored on a clear ambition, with timelines and clear performance indicators.
“The state must create a new vista, prospect, horizon and income pattern that will define us by what we are and not what the world sees us to be. We must put an end to the civil service status of Cross River and we can only achieve this when we think out of the box,” he said.
According to him, within 35 months, his administration has completed and secured the entire approvals for the superhighway project, completed detailed design of the deep seaport project and achieved the EIA approvals for both the deep seaport and superhighway, among other projects.
Earlier, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, John Gaul Lebo assured that the House of Assembly will perform its functions to ensure that the budget is crystallised for the benefit of democracy in the state.
Others who were at the signing include members of the Cross River State House of Assembly and state executives.
