I Didn’t Inherit Empty Treasury From Liyel Imoke, Says C/River Gov

BEN-AYADEGovernor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers on Tuesday said that he did not inherit empty treasury from the immediate past administration in the state as was being speculated in some quarters.

Ayade said this in Calabar while briefing stakeholders, including the media, on his development agenda for the state.

“I did not inherit empty treasury but a great potential from my predecessor”, he said.

The governor said that as part of efforts to tap the abundant resources in the state, his administration was exploring the option of setting up state Mining Corporation.

He stated that through the mining corporation, the state would take advantage of the vast mineral resource and establish its own Cement factory and quarry company.

“This will help us to source the needed raw materials for the construction of the proposed Calabar Seaport and 240-kilometre highway from Calabar to Obudu.

“It will reduce the cost of the projects and make it realizable”, he said.

Ayade said that his administration was working on a number of options to boost the revenue generation capacity of the state.

He condemned the current system where consultants were being used to collect revenue for the state, describing it as “crude and unacceptable in modern society”.

“I believe we can generate revenue through wealth creation for the citizens”, he said.

Ayade also said that the Obudu Mountain Resort needed to be restructured to make it more functional to attract tourists. (NAN)