Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has said his administration is prioritising cocoa, oil palm, cassava and coffee production to boost agricultural output, improve rural incomes and strengthen the state’s export capacity.
The governor, his key officials as well as dignitary from other subnationals had converged at the Calabar International Conference Centre, CICC, to convince the Sixth African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AsFNET) Investment confennce 2026 about their potentialities to utilise the $2 Billion they earmarked to boost local businesses, agriculture and other initiatives in the state.
Otu spoke during a panel discussion on Success Stories from Sub-Sovereign Governments at the 2026 African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) Conference.
He said the government was adopting a community-based agricultural development strategy, with smallholder farmers expected to play a central role in expanding production of the selected commodities.
The governor disclosed that about 1.5 million oil palm seedlings had been cultivated, alongside investments in cocoa and other agricultural products.
He said the initiative was aimed at involving rural communities directly in agricultural investments, improving farmers’ incomes and building supply chains to support the proposed export free zone.
Otu also said the state had digitised its soil resources to identify areas suitable for different agricultural products, enabling farmers in the three senatorial districts to take advantage of their respective soil conditions.
The governor identified insecurity as one of the major challenges his administration faced on assumption of office, noting that restoring security was necessary to encourage farming and other economic activities.
He also listed tourism, animal husbandry, mining and the marine economy among the sectors the government was targeting for investment.
On animal husbandry, Otu said the development of a ranch into an economic hub could attract investors, create jobs and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported meat.
He added that the government was working with investors to establish fishing terminals and improve marine infrastructure, while organising fishermen and women into groups and providing them with relevant training.
The governor described the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport as an important project that could expand commercial activities and international trade in Cross River and neighbouring states.
On the mining sector, he said the government was mapping the state’s mineral resources and engaging prospective investors, expressing optimism that the sector would begin to yield tangible results within two years.
Otu said the state had also established structures, including the Cross River Geographic Information Agency and the One-Stop Investment Centre, to facilitate land access and simplify investment processes.
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