Gov. Otu committed to restoring Cross River’s lost glory – Commissioner
By Cecilia Odey
Dr Erasmus Ekpang, the Cross River State Commissioner for Information, has reaffirmed Gov. Bassey Otu’s determination to rebirth the state in all its ramifications.
Ekpang affirmed this in an interview with some members of the FCT Chapter of the Cross River State Journalists Forum (CROSSJOF) in Abuja.
Ekpang said the Otu administration took over a state that was in a sorry state.
According to him, the story is different today because the Otu administration has come to rebuild the state and return it to its former glory.
“Cross River is the cleanest state in Nigeria, a cultural paradise, the most secure, serene, and peaceful town.
“It isn’t about discarding the past but recovering what was lost and strengthening what we have,” he said.
The information commissioner applauded Otu’s “Recovery Strategy” aimed at restoring functionality, reclaiming lost assets, and laying the groundwork for sustainable development in Cross River.
Ekpang acknowledged that Cross River State is celebrated for its tourism potentials and beautiful natural environment, but explained that in recent years, it has suffered visible decline, as crumbling infrastructure, stalled government projects, and environmental degradation, contributed to a general perception of stagnation.
He said Otu, unlike his counterparts elsewhere, has opted for continuity in governance with a more strategic approach, focusing on completing and reviving 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, which had been taken over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, and the Obudu Cattle Ranch, which had reportedly changed hands outside the public glare.
He said, “Also on the governor’s radar is the Deep Sea Port project, a long-proposed maritime hub that remains largely on paper.”
According to the commissioner, by revisiting these legacy projects, the administration seeks to harness their economic potential and reestablish Cross River as an investment destination.
“The governor is not in office to start afresh with abandoned dreams. He’s here to make those past efforts count,” the commissioner added.
Otu’s commitment to continuity is perhaps most evident in his aggressive asset recovery programme.
Ekpang said the government in a strategic land recovery move has negotiated the buyout of a failed land concession to a private firm, reclaiming 18,000 hectares for potential agribusiness investment.
The same land has now been leased to PRC Plantation Ltd, a subsidiary of Wilmar, which employs over 5,000 Cross Riverians.
Ekpang said that more recoveries were made by taking over the official lodges of the Speaker and Deputy Governor, once privatised, but now fully renovated and reinstated for government use.
The commissioner added that the cornerstone of the present administration policy thrust is agriculture.
“Recognising the state’s vast arable land and the urgent need for economic diversification, the government launched a comprehensive soil mapping project to assess the fertility and crop suitability of different types across the state,’’ he stated.
He said that the initiative was designed to boost food production, promote agribusiness, and reduce dependency on federal allocations, adding that the ultimate goal is not just food sufficiency.
Export-oriented agriculture can earn revenue and create jobs for the people among others.
The administration is also working to provide raw materials for agro-processing plants, such as the cocoa processing facility in Ikom established by a previous administration.
By connecting agricultural output to industrial use, the government aims to activate value chains that can strengthen rural economies and reduce poverty.
He noted that agriculture remained central to the administration’s economic agenda, with the completion of a soil mapping exercise to guide crop cultivation.
Also, expansion of existing processing plants like the cocoa factory in Ikom is aiming for food self-sufficiency and export viability.
Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, has significantly improved, growing from 20 billion naira in 2022 to over 40 billion niara in 2024 as a result of 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 dollars facility on the horizon.
Ekpang stated that another major focus of the governor has been on improving the physical state of government institutions.
“Government buildings, including the ministries and the Governor’s Office itself, have undergone substantial renovation.
“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,” Ekpang said.
He stated further that in contrast to high stakes political branding, the Otu administration has quietly pursued its objectives.
“There have been consultative forums such as economic and policy roundtables to engage stakeholders and draw in investors.
“The government is also pushing internal reforms to align ministries and agencies with its broader goals of accountability, service delivery, and long-term planning.
“Although it is too early to fully assess the long-term impact of these interventions, but the signs of policy consistency, asset recovery, and administrative reorganization are seen as positive indicators.”
On healthcare delivery, Ekpang said two new oxygen plants have been established in general hospitals, while over 100 primary healthcare centres are undergoing renovations across the state. In Ikom, a new general hospital is being built from scratch.
Recognising the terrain challenges in reaching remote communities, the state has introduced drone technology for drug delivery. Additionally, the government has upscaled nursing schools in Itigidi and Ogoja and hired 65 doctors and 135 nurses to boost capacity.
A key partnership with an international organisation has equipped health centres with laptops and digital tools for efficient data collection and management, signalling a move toward a more tech-integrated healthcare system.
Aviation sector has not been left behind by the governor, as the Otu’s administration is tackling the age-old challenge of flight cancellations and poor air connectivity in Calabar, also continuing work on the Obudu Cargo Airport, raising the completion rate from 60 per cent to nearly 80 per cent.
The runway has been extended, and the tarmac is in place.
He said although larger aircraft under the Cali Air brand struggled to justify operations due to low traffic volume, “the state is now procuring four smaller CRJ-900 aircraft, two have been acquired, to improve efficiency and revenue generation.
“The process of regulatory approval and documentation is ongoing.
“This recalibrated aviation plan complements ongoing renovations at the German Hospital in Obudu and the broader effort to revive the Obudu Cattle Ranch as a tourism and economic hub,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
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