By Frank Ulom
The Government of Cross River State has partnered Swiss firm, De Medical AG, to establish a drone manufacturing plant in Tinapa as well as an ultra-modern health centre in Calabar.
The partnership also includes a 5,000-hectare modern technology for precision farming and data-driven crop management by Netiol Incorporated.
This, according to the State Executive Council, SEC, was due to Governor Bassey Otu’s result-oriented attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The SEC listed other laudable strides to include the completion of the upgraded Ikom health facility to a General Hospital in the first quarter of 2024, rejigging of the State Health Insurance Scheme, employment of more medical staff and upgrade of facilities in the state-owned Colleges of Nursing to boost quality nursing education.
In the Council Meeting held at the Council of Chiefs Chamber, Calabar on Wednesday, 7 February 2024, Governor Otu also tasked appointees to brace up for optimal performance to justify their appointments.
“With the successful ending of 2023, and our entrance into 2024, it behoves us all to sit up to our responsibilities and increase the happiness of those whose destinies have been placed on us to govern,” the Governor said at the SEC.
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The Governor further disclosed that “10 sectoral clusters have been identified through which all MDAs shall be grouped to collaborate in developing their Action Plans for speedy and impactful results. This approach is highly necessary to ensure that cluster members learn from each other, utilise their time and energy in place of inactivity and unproductive pursuits, and above all, benefit from the expected policy and project peer review which emanates therefrom.”
In the clusters, he said, “Every MDA is expected to draw up a proper Action Plan indicating goals, activities and timelines through a series of periodic meetings with its management. At Cluster meetings, comprising several MDAs, these will be strengthened through collaborative scrutiny until perfection is attained.
“Thereafter, clusters will be meeting periodically as well, where every MDA will be expected to report on its achievements to the hearing of all. At the end of every quarter, performance evaluation will be carried out and a ranking order made public.”
The Governor stated that the system will keep the entire government machinery in check as well as cabinet members and MDA’s performance.