By Abasi Ita
The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its determination to restore the state’s lost glory through a focused agenda of asset recovery, infrastructure revitalization, and agricultural transformation.
This assurance was given by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, during a recent media parley with members of the Cross River State Journalists Forum (CROSSJOF) in Abuja.
He declared that Governor Bassey Otu’s administration inherited a state that was “sarcastically laughed at, mocked, and talked about in negative narratives,” but is now undergoing a remarkable turnaround.
“Today, the story is different,” Ekpang said. “We came to rebuild Cross River State and return it to its former glory , the cleanest state in Nigeria, a cultural paradise, the most secure, serene, and peaceful. It’s not about discarding the past, but recovering what was lost and strengthening what we have.”
Dr. Ekpang outlined the governor’s comprehensive recovery strategy, which includes the revival of stalled projects, reclamation of state-owned assets, and the laying of a foundation for sustainable economic growth.
According to him, Cross River, once celebrated for its tourism potential and natural beauty, had in recent years suffered visible decline due to crumbling infrastructure, environmental degradation, and uncompleted initiatives.
Unlike many of his counterparts, Ekpang noted, Governor Otu has embraced continuity, choosing to complete and revive major projects that previously consumed public resources without yielding results.
“This approach ensures that past investments begin to deliver benefits for the state, rather than being written off as failed efforts,” he said.
The information boos disclosed that”Among the administration’s first key moves was the recovery of strategic assets such as the Tinapa Business Resort, previously taken over by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), and the Obudu Cattle Ranch, which had reportedly changed hands outside public scrutiny.
Both are now being repositioned for public use and economic rejuvenation”.
Also high on the governor’s agenda Ekpang posited is the long-proposed Deep Sea Port project, which had remained largely theoretical for years.
Ekpang confirmed that the government is now working closely with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to secure a $3.5 billion financing facility to bring the project to life ,a move expected to redefine the state’s economic profile.
” The administration has also made significant gains in land recovery’
Ekpang revealed that the government negotiated the buyback of a failed concession involving 18,000 hectares of state land disclosing that the land has since been leased to PRC Plantation Limited, a subsidiary of Wilmar, which now employs over 5,000 Cross Riverians.
“In a similar vein, government lodges formerly privatized — including the official residences of the Speaker and Deputy Governor , have been fully renovated and restored for public use, further underscoring the administration’s asset recovery drive.
The Commissioner emphasized that agriculture remains the cornerstone of the Otu administration’s development strategy. “Recognizing the state’s vast arable land and the need for economic diversification, we launched a comprehensive soil mapping project to assess fertility and crop suitability across different regions of the state,” he said.
This initiative, he explained, is not just aimed at achieving food sufficiency but at building an export-oriented agricultural economy. “We are working to supply raw materials to agro-processing industries, such as the cocoa processing facility in Ikom, to activate value chains that strengthen rural economies and reduce poverty,” Ekpang added.
According to him, with the completion of the soil mapping exercise and plans to expand existing processing facilities, Cross River is on course to become a model for food security and agricultural export in Nigeria.
He also highlighted the administration’s fiscal discipline and reforms, which have led to a dramatic increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) — growing from ₦20 billion in 2022 to over ₦40 billion in 2024. This improvement, he said, was made possible by plugging revenue leakages, automating payment systems, and restoring public confidence in tax administration.
Dr. Ekpang concluded by affirming that Governor Otu is not in office to start from scratch but to complete abandoned dreams and make meaningful progress with existing investments. “His commitment to continuity and sustainable development is clear in every decision being made. Cross River is back on track, and the future looks bright,” he said.