By Abasi Ita
A former Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Oliver Orok, has praised Governor Bassey Otu for what he described as purposeful leadership and sustained engagement with the Federal Government, which he said was central to securing federal support for the Bakassi Deep Sea Port project.
Orok spoke while reacting to the recent approval of major Public Private Partnership projects by the Federal Executive Council, including the Bakassi Deep Sea Port, describing the decision as a milestone for Cross River State and the wider South South region.
He said the inclusion of the Bakassi project among nationally approved PPP initiatives demonstrates Governor Otu’s determination to reposition the state as an emerging maritime and economic hub.
According to Orok, the governor’s proactive diplomacy, alignment with federal development priorities and consistent advocacy for strategic infrastructure have placed Bakassi firmly on the national development agenda.
“The Bakassi Deep Sea Port has been discussed for many years, but it has taken focused leadership and strong political will to move it to this advanced stage. Governor Bassey Otu deserves commendation for ensuring that Cross River State benefits from the Federal Government’s infrastructure expansion programme,” he said.
Orok noted that the project has the potential to drive economic diversification, create jobs and stimulate industrial growth, especially in Bakassi and other coastal communities.
He expressed confidence that the deep sea port would enhance maritime trade, attract foreign investment and complement existing facilities such as the Calabar Port and planned industrial zones in the state.
The former commissioner, who also served as Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Social Welfare in the previous administration, urged stakeholders and residents to support the Otu administration to ensure seamless implementation of the project. He stressed that the Bakassi Deep Sea Port could become a major catalyst for long term economic transformation in Cross River State.
Recall that the Federal Executive Council recently approved three major Public Private Partnership projects valued at over N6.43 trillion as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to attract private investment into critical infrastructure.
The approved projects include two deep seaports and a 460 megawatt hydropower plant and represent the second batch of PPP initiatives cleared within one month under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Mr Jobson Ewalefoh, said the approvals indicate that ongoing economic reforms are producing positive results. According to him, the projects will inject over 4.29 billion dollars in private capital into the economy and promote growth, competitiveness and job creation through private sector led infrastructure development.
The projects are the 2.27 billion dollar Bakassi Deep Sea Port, the 1.14 billion dollar Port of Ondo Deep Sea Port and the 878.1 million dollar Katsina Ala Hydropower Plant. All are to be financed, developed and operated by private investors under the supervision of the ICRC.
Ewalefoh said the Bakassi Deep Sea Port will serve as a new maritime gateway for the North Central and North East regions and position Nigeria as a key hub for West and Central African trade. He added that the Port of Ondo Deep Sea Port will create new logistics and export opportunities in the South West.
On the power project, he said the Katsina Ala Hydropower Plant will help address electricity supply challenges and expand Nigeria’s renewable energy capacity.
With the latest approvals, the number of PPP projects endorsed in 2025 has risen to more than 13 across sectors including maritime, aviation, power, health and industry, as the country continues to rely on private sector participation to bridge its infrastructure gap.