Cross River State Governor Senator Bassey Otu has announced that the state government will soon unveil one additional aircraft acquired to boost the fleet of its airline, CallyAir. The governor made this disclosure during a remark at an interdenominational church service held at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Calabar, as part of activities to mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration in the state. He stated that the move will significantly improve Calabar's accessibility, positioning the state as a more attractive destination for tourism and investment.
Fleet Expansion and Economic Impact
The new aircraft will bring the total number of aircraft in the CallyAir fleet to five. Governor Otu emphasized that this expansion is designed to strengthen investor confidence and open up new opportunities across various sectors, including hospitality, agriculture, conferences, and export. The governor, represented by his deputy, Rt Hon Peter Odey, made these remarks during the church service.
Electric Vehicles for Civil Servants
As part of the Democracy Day activities, the government also presented 36 electric vehicles (EVs) to permanent secretaries, marking a broader shift to clean energy transport. Governor Otu stated that the gesture is intended to dignify public service, improve efficiency in governance, and reduce the burden of transportation costs on senior civil servants. He noted that the 36 EVs are the first batch of a 100-vehicle plus 100-electric tricycle programme for empowerment and public transport. The governor revealed plans to extend the initiative to other arms of government and set up charging infrastructure across the state.
People First Initiatives
Governor Otu highlighted that over the past three years, his People First government has initiated programmes and projects that have directly and positively affected the lives of Cross Riverians in areas such as healthcare delivery, infrastructure, education, human capital, agriculture, transportation, and employment. He also mentioned that the government has released N10 billion to offset the backlog of gratuity owed to pensioners. The governor further disclosed that another tranche of money would soon be approved to clear the remaining arrears.
