- Bids for IPP in Odukpani LGA
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The Cross River State Government (CRSG) says arrangements have been concluded to purchase the Independent Power Plant (IPP) located at Odukpani Local Government Area to further boost its energy security policy.
Governor Bassey Edet Otu said Cross River deserves the right of first refusal in the wake of plans by the Federal Government to privatize existing power plants across the country.
According to him, this is so because the power plant is located within the state and would be quite useful in promoting and sustaining his administration’s economic policies that are anchored on energy security.
The 561 Megawatt (MW) IPP located in Odukpani Local Government Area of the State is a project initiated and built by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).
Governor Otu, who unveiled the plans during a press briefing ahead of May 29, 2025 second year anniversary of his People’s First Agenda, said Cross River State is pursuing technology-oriented vision which remains the key driving force for development and growth in most advanced global economies.
He said the administration is assiduously working on plans that would provide regular electricity supply to over 10,000 communities as part of efforts aimed at boosting economy activities across the South South state.
The Governor listed other economic thematic areas, including agriculture and tourism, as distinctive economic potentials which Cross River is noted for, adding that these require special attention in the process of ensuring the State is ranked among economic hubs of note in the country and beyond.
The Governor also used the occasion to express dismay over the attitude of Bakassi Local Government Area Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) who have cultivated the habit of crying foul whenever they are not in elective or political appointments just to draw attention to what he described as “imaginary marginalisation” in the scheme of things.
He said it is totally unacceptable for an immediate past Chairman of Bakassi LGA to draw unnecessary attention on social media concerning an obviously misplaced request that the LGA be deleted from the 774 constitutionally recognized political entities in the country just to portray a mindset of so-called marginalisation.
The Governor also frowned at a situation where the same people, who have cultivated the habit of drawing global attention to themselves, easily do an about-turn any time they find themselves in positions of political authority and relevance just for their selfish reasons.
