By: Joseph Abasi-Abasi, Calabàr
The Evidence Group has concluded its 18-local government area tour of Cross River State with a grand finale in Calabar South, where it provided free medical services to residents as part of efforts to complement government programmes in the state.
The Director-General of the group, Bassey Henry Eyoma, disclosed this during the grand finale of the tour held at Atu Field, Calabar South.
Eyoma said the tour was undertaken to showcase projects and programmes of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and those of the Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, while also inaugurating chapter executives of the group across the state.
He said Calabar South was deliberately chosen for the grand finale because it was the 18th and final local government visited by the group and also the local government where the state capital is located.
According to him, the tour provided the group with an opportunity to document government projects and interact with residents on the impact of government policies and programmes across the state.
Eyoma said the group encountered no major challenges during the tour, but recorded pockets of complaints from residents in some local government areas, which it subsequently brought to the attention of the government.
He cited the rehabilitation of the Abocheche Roundabout in Bekwarra as an example, noting that although the roundabout was located on a federal highway, the state government had commenced rehabilitation work to address concerns raised by residents.
He also said the group met with the paramount ruler of Bekwarra and informed him that the road leading to his community had been awarded for construction.
Eyoma said the Evidence Group would continue to interface with the government and communities to ensure that concerns raised during its tour were communicated to the appropriate authorities for possible intervention.
He disclosed that the group would next take its engagement to tertiary institutions across the state, with 12 campuses already identified for visits.
“We intend to go into the different campuses in Cross River State. We have marked out 12 campuses from the north to the south,” he said.
Eyoma said the objective of the campus tour was to engage students, listen to their concerns and identify challenges requiring government intervention.
He added that the engagement would also enable the group to sensitise students on the state government’s plans for bursary payments following the signing of the budget into law.
The group also used the occasion to call on Cross Riverians to support the All Progressives Congress (APC), with Eyoma urging residents to vote for the party in all elective positions
.
He said the Federal Government under President Tinubu and the state government under Governor Otu had demonstrated commitment to development in Cross River State through various projects and programmes.
Meanwhile, the convener of the Evidence Group, Edem Bassey, announced the commencement of free medical care for residents of Calabar South.
The initiative, held at Atu Field, included free medical consultations, health screenings and medications.
Bassey said the intervention was aimed at making healthcare more accessible to residents, stressing that a healthy population was essential for meaningful participation in civic activities.
The Evidence Group’s 18-LGA tour was aimed at highlighting government projects and policies while creating a platform for residents to raise concerns and communicate them to government authorities.
