The Cross River Basin Development Authority, CRBDA, has constituted an Advisory Council as part of efforts to reposition the Authority for effective service delivery.
This was part of the resolution taken at the end of the first inaugural board meeting of the 13th Board of the CRBDA held at the authorities headquarters in Calabar.
According to the Board Chairman, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, the advisory council shall among others
provide technical advise, source for windows of opportunities for private public partnership, deploy their expertise to facilitate the incentives for project conceptualisation, funding, implementation, completion and commissioning among others.
According to Eyiboh, CRBDA is a special purpose vehicle set out to intervene in food security and accelerate agricultural development through land and water resources management.
In his words, “The Authority is a well intentioned creature and creation of the River Basins Development Authorities Act of 1986 to among other functions, develop a comprehensive surface and underground water resources management that would enhance the utilisation of the nation’s land resources, and a corresponding development of ancillary infrastructure for the benefit of the Nigerian people”.
He explained that the President in accordance with the law aforementioned, appointed and inaugurated the Governing Board of Cross River Basin Development Authority on the 22nd February 2018 to add verve to his demonstrated commitment to rebuild the national institutions and restore public trust in our democratic engagements.
He noted that in furtherance of this presidential effort at the restoration of public confidence and trust, he led the board members – Barrister Lazarus Undie; Hon Garba Butalawa; Engr Ademola Oyadare; Alhaji Salihu Abdulkareem and Engr Bassey Nkposong to embark on courtesy visits to the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (v) and the Ndidem of the Quas, His Royal Majesty Edidem Dr. Patrick Oquaagbor.
“The visits were aimed at bridging the observable communication gap between the Authority, traditional institutions and various stakeholders in the headquarters catchment area”, he stated.
The Chairman said the inaugural board meeting resolved to pursue a vigorous adherence to good corporate governance that would adhere to established best standards; develop new thinking to usher into the authority a positive approach to transparency, accountability, social justice, corporate governance, and a return on the investment of public trust.
The board he noted is poised to build a synergy that would involve building a team of internal and external stakeholders cooperation and involvement through continuous constructive engagements, which is expected to oil the relationship of all concerned, for the smooth operation of the Authority.
He explained that to institute strategic development plans to enhance the actualization of the Authority core mandates, through innovative reforms, capacity building and effective deployment of resources is also a priority.
According to Eyiboh, the Advisory Council is to additionally assist the authority in peace building and confidence within the host communities in particular and the respective catchment states in general. He stated that the Board in the exercise of its oversight responsibility on the implementation of its core mandates, good corporate governance and supervision of public policy directions, has decided by its resolution to suspend all activities, investments and negotiations on all new land acquisition.
“This action is premised on account of the need to refocus attention on the litany of uncompleted projects within the authority’s jurisdiction and ensure vigorous pursuit of completion, commissioning and effective utilisation by the host communities”, he explained.
He declared that to stem the observed drift, the Board directed the management to concentrate and apply the lean financial resources on legacy projects of the Authority such as Headquarters Farm, Abak Irrigation Project, Itu irrigation/Flood control project, Oniong Nung Ndem Irrigation Project, Conclusion on the development of Uruan Farm Project, Obubra/Owakande Irrigation/Flood project, Itigidi Irrigation Project, Ogoja irrigation project, Obudu Dam/Irrigation project as well as the Ijegu Yala Dam project.
The Board he noted resolved to institute a regime of accountability, fiscal discipline, transparent resource management and ethical integrity in its procurement process through  inventorisation of assets, effective information management platform and cutting edge revenue generation strategy and solicited for the cooperation of the traditional rulers, local  and state governments in particular and other stakeholders to collaborate towards achieving a functional partnership to achieve envisaged goals.
As part of reforms, the said the board has upgraded the Uyo office to Akwa Ibom State Office to ensure that all key departments existing in the headquarters are replicated to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.
