- Says Gov Otu restoring State’s lost glory
- Unveils achievements in two years
- As govt bids goodbye to abandon projects
BY COBHAM NSA – The Cross River State Government has promised not to abandon any current and inherited projects as part of ongoing rebranding of the state for sustainable economic growth and development
This assurance is coming against the backdrop of Governor Bassey Otu’s resolve to rebuild the State and put it fully back on the path of glory and enduring progress.
The State Commissioner of Information, Dr Erasmus Ekpang, who gave the assurance during an interactive session with members of Cross River State Journalists Forum (CROSSJOF) in Abuja, said being fully committed to long-term progress, Governor Otu is ready to “restore the glory of Cross River State to bring back the Calabar that once served as Nigeria’s first capital”.
Accordingly, he said all projects, including those initiated by previous administrations, would be completed, as they were funded with taxpayers’ money, stressing that, “The governor is not going to abandon any project. He will ensure that those financed with public funds are completed before he leaves office”.
He said despite facing critical challenges in infrastructure, particularly roads, drainages, and environmental degradation, the current administration has recorded significant strides in road construction and urban renewal across the state.
In highlighting the work done in redeeming the State’s image since assuming office on 29th May 2023, the Commissioner said; “The administration of Senator Prince Otu, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, inherited a state that was laughed at and talked about in a negative light.
“But, today the story is different because we came to rebuild Cross River State and return it to its former glory. It wasn’t about discarding the past, but recovering what was lost and strengthening what we have”.
He said the administration’s ‘Peoples’ First’ Agenda focuses on a recovery strategy that seeks to restore functionality, reclaim lost assets, and lay the groundwork for sustainable development in the State.
Ekpang said the governor has continued to deploy more strategic approaches with focus on reviving and completing existing projects, particularly those that had consumed large sums of taxpayers’ money but failed to deliver expected returns.
According to him, one of the first moves was to recover state-owned assets such as Tinapa Business Resort, taken over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), and the Obudu Cattle Ranch, which reportedly changed hands outside the public glare.
Also hinting that the administration is keen on revisiting the Deep Sea Port project, and the long-proposed maritime hub that remains largely on paper, Ekpang said the administration is seeking to harness the economic potential of these legacy projects to re-establish Cross River as an investment destination of choice
“The Governor is not in office to start afresh with abandoned dreams. He’s here to make those past efforts count,” Commissioner Ekpang said, adding that the commitment to continuity is most evident in the aggressive asset recovery programme.
Specifically touching on the strategic land recovery moves, Ekpang said government negotiated the buyout of a failed land concession to a private firm, reclaiming 18,000 hectares for potential agribusiness investment.
He disclosed that the said land has now been leased to PRC Plantation Ltd, a subsidiary of Wilmar, which employs over 5,000 Cross Riverians.
Furthermore, the Commissioner listed as recovered assets the official lodges of the Speaker and Deputy Governor, that were privatized, but now retrieved and fully renovated for government use.
Addressing the administration’s plans for the Calabar Carnival and the Tourism sector, Ekpang said; “Governor Otu has revived the State’s signature tourism brand, Carnival Calabar, Africa’s biggest Street party. With early planning, route upgrades, and hospitality incentives, including N20 million grants to hotels for renovations, the 2025 edition is set to boost the local economy and tourism visibility.”
He also announced that the suspended Obudu Mountain race and other cultural events are being reinstated as part of broader efforts to reposition the State as a globally-acknowledged tourism destination.
While amplifying that agriculture remains central to the administration’s economic agenda and policy thrust, the Commissioner said with the State’s vast arable land and the urgent need for economic diversification, the government has launched a comprehensive soil mapping project to assess the fertility and crop suitability of different regions across the state.
He said the soil mapping exercise to guide crop cultivation and expansion of existing processing plants, like the Cocoa factory in Ikom, is aimed at food self-sufficiency and export viability.
Ekpang explained that the initiative is designed to boost food production, promote agribusiness, and reduce dependency on federal allocations, adding that the ultimate goal is not just food sufficiency, but export-oriented agriculture that can earn revenue and create jobs.
The Commissioner said government is also working on providing raw materials for agro-processing plants, adding that by connecting agricultural output to industrial use, the government aims to activate value chains that can strengthen rural economies and reduce poverty.
On Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), he said there has been significant improvement, growing from N20 billion in 2022 to over N40 billion in 2024, stressing that the milestone was achieved due to blocking plugging leakages, automating payment systems, and fostering taxpayer confidence.
“The state is also partnering with Afreximbank to finance the Deep Seaport project, with a $3.5 billion facility on the horizon”, the Commissioner added.
Citing physical development of infrastructure across the state, Ekpang said government institutions, buildings, including the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have also been given facelift to ensure conducive working environment for workers.
The Commissioner, while pointing at the Governor’s Office that has undergone substantial renovation, said until recently, Governor Otu operated from a temporary office for nearly two years while the official Government House was being refurbished.
“Today, the governor occupies a revamped, fully functional office designed to meet the administrative and ceremonial needs of the state’s top leadership.
“This wasn’t just about convenience; it was about restoring dignity to governance. A befitting governor’s office sends a strong message about the seriousness of leadership,” he said.
