Cross River Spends ₦3.58bn on Local, Foreign Trips in Six Months Despite Salary Protests

The Cross River State Government spent over ₦3.3 billion on local travels, training, and related activities, alongside ₦278 million on international trips during the first six months of 2026, according to the state’s budget performance report.

The budget performance document, covering expenditures between January 1 and June 30, 2026, indicates that the state spent ₦278 million on foreign travels, making it the 10th highest spending state on international trips during the period. According to a report by SaharaReporters, Cross River was the only South-South state to appear on the list.

The disclosure comes amid ongoing protests by civil servants over the alleged non-payment of salaries for several months.

A deeper analysis by CrossRiverWatch showed that the state budgeted ₦2.004 billion for international travels in 2026, of which ₦278 million, representing 13.9 percent, had been spent by the end of June.

The report further revealed that ₦5.953 billion was allocated for local travels, with ₦1.470 billion—equivalent to 24.7 percent of the budget—already expended within the first half of the year.

In addition, the state earmarked ₦5.470 billion for local transportation and travel related to training. Out of this amount, ₦1.599 billion, representing 29.2 percent, had been spent during the same period.

Combined, expenditures on regular local travels and travel for training amounted to approximately ₦3.069 billion in the first six months of 2026.

Overall, the budget performance report indicates that the Cross River State Government spent about ₦3.3 billion on local travels, training, and related activities, in addition to ₦278 million on international trips between January and June 2026.