C'River Launches POA Awareness for MDAs
By Ekanem ASUQUO
The Cross River State Government has stepped up efforts to implement the Proof of Address initiative, describing it as a key strategy for improving security and governance across the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Owan Enoh, spoke at a stakeholders meeting on the rollout of the Proof of Address concept in Calabar. He was represented by Rev. Victor Usibe, Director of Administration in the Office of the SSG.
Professor Owan Enoh said the initiative will provide credible residential documentation to aid intelligence gathering, crime detection, and emergency response. He added that accurate address data will also strengthen planning, enhance service delivery, and expand access to government interventions.
The Permanent Secretary, Local Government Commission, Mrs Odu Oji, assured participants of the readiness of local government councils to support seamless implementation. She noted that councils would collaborate with stakeholders to boost security coverage and ensure residents benefit from government programmes.
Cross River State Proof of Address Coordinator, Ufere Adat Sunday, explained that the sensitization programme aligns Ministries, Departments and Agencies with a unified implementation framework.
He emphasized that the initiative would improve data integrity, optimize revenue, and promote effective policy execution at both state and local government levels.
Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of the Proof of Address initiative, Mrs Isi Okwuada, described the programme as a federal government supported intervention aimed at bridging security and social gaps while enhancing emergency response systems. She highlighted benefits including improved identification of residents, stronger security surveillance, faster emergency response, easier access to financial and public services, increased revenue efficiency, and better governance planning.
Stakeholders at the meeting pledged full support, describing the initiative as a significant step toward building a more accountable, transparent, and data driven governance system in Cross River State.
