The Cross River state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, has said that the state Governor, Prince Bassey Otu-led administration was restoring the state to its lost glory despite inheriting a state that was laughed at and talked about in a negative light two years ago.
Ekpang at an interactive session with the leadership of Cross River State Journalists Forum (CROSSJOF), weekend in Abuja, maintained that the story was now different in the state, stating: “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.”
The commissioner underscored Senator Otu’s focus on a recovery strategy aimed at restoring functionality, reclaiming lost assets, and laying the groundwork for sustainable development.
Ekpang noted that in the past Cross River state was celebrated for its tourism potential and beautiful natural environment, but in recent years the state has suffered visible decline, as crumbling infrastructure, stalled government projects, and environmental degradation contributed to a general perception of stagnation.
He said Governor Otu unlike his counterparts elsewhere has opted for a more strategic approach, focusing on completing and reviving existing projects, particularly those that had consumed huge sum of taxpayers’ money but failed to deliver expected returns.
According to Ekpang, 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 was the Deep Sea Port project, a long-proposed maritime hub that remains largely on paper, noting that by revisiting the 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 said.
Governor Otu’s commitment to continuity is perhaps most evident in his aggressive asset recovery programme.
Ekpang said in a strategic land recovery move the government negotiated the buyout of a failed land concession to a private firm, reclaiming 18,000 hectares for potential agribusiness investment, noting that: “The same land has now been leased to PRC Plantation Ltd, a subsidiary of Wilmar, which employs over 5,000 Cross Riverians.
“Also recovered are official lodges for the Speaker and Deputy Governor, once privatized, now fully renovated and reinstated for government use.”
According to the commissioner, a cornerstone of the administration’s 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 regions across the state.
“The initiative is designed to boost food production, promote agribusiness, and reduce dependency on federal allocations. The ultimate goal is not just food sufficiency, but export-oriented agriculture that can earn revenue and create jobs,” he stated.
The commission stressed that the administration was also working to provide raw materials for agro-processing plants, such as the cocoa processing facility in Ikom established by a previous administration.
He noted that by connecting agricultural output to industrial use, the government aims to activate value chains that can strengthen rural economies and reduce poverty.
While noting that Agriculture remains central to the administration’s economic agenda, he said with the completion of a soil mapping exercise to guide crop cultivation and expansion of existing processing plants like the cocoa factory in Ikom, Cross River was aiming for food self-sufficiency and export viability.
Speaking further, he said: “Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has significantly improved, growing from N20 billion in 2022 to over N40 billion in 2024, 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 facility on the horizon.”
Ekpang disclosed 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,” he said.