Drawing on his study of Cross River’s development trajectory, Inoyo proposed a framework that prioritises sustainable economic growth, financial independence, and improved living conditions for citizens. He argued that the state must begin to measure development by tangible results rather than the number of projects announced, commissioned or showcased.
By TheInvestigator
Development consultant and Country Director of Citizens’ Solution Network, Richard Inoyo, has challenged the Cross River State Government to move beyond political promises, isolated projects, and development rhetoric, insisting the state needs a clear development framework that delivers measurable improvements in the lives of its people.
Inoyo, in a statement on Monday, November 9, warned that without a coherent development philosophy, government policies, programmes and projects risk becoming disconnected interventions that consume public resources without addressing the state’s fundamental development challenges.
Drawing on his study of Cross River’s development trajectory, Inoyo proposed a framework that prioritises sustainable economic growth, financial independence, and improved living conditions for citizens. He argued that the state must begin to measure development by tangible results rather than the number of projects announced, commissioned or showcased.
He questioned the sustainability of development initiatives that threaten the state’s natural resources, noting that Cross River holds significant environmental assets, including extensive tropical rainforests, the Cross River National Park and a major mangrove ecosystem. Citing the proposed 260-kilometre Superhighway through the Ekuri forest, he warned that infrastructure development must not come at the expense of the environment and the livelihoods that depend on it.
Inoyo also drew attention to Cross River’s weakened revenue base following the loss of 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State after the 2012 International Court of Justice ruling. He said the resulting dependence on federal allocations exposed the state’s economic vulnerability, particularly given its enormous potential in tourism, agriculture and solid minerals. He maintained that the government must develop a more deliberate strategy for turning these resources into sustainable revenue and economic opportunities.
More critically, he argued that the government’s development scorecard should not be based on the appearance of progress in Calabar while rural communities continue to struggle with necessities. He cited Boki, Yala, Obanliku and Ogoja, where challenges relating to school enrolment, maternal healthcare and access to potable water remain pressing concerns.
According to him, a state cannot credibly claim meaningful development when economic activities, infrastructure and tourism attractions are not matched by improvements in the everyday lives of its citizens. He said the proposed framework would help assess Cross River’s development from 1999 to date and expose the gaps between government investments and actual public benefits.
Inoyo called on the state government to urgently adopt his proposed framework or develop a credible alternative, warning against running the state’s development agenda without a clear direction, measurable targets and a long-term vision.
“No state can have real development without a theory,” he argued, stressing that Cross River must move from development promises and fragmented interventions to a deliberate strategy that converts its resources and potential into prosperity for its people.
