Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has been honoured with the Governor of the Year Award for Economic Revitalisation by Blueprint Newspapers Limited.

The award, presented on Tuesday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, recognised the Otu administration’s strides in agriculture, investment, infrastructure and economic development.

The Governor was represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Abuja, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche.

Other recipients at the ceremony included APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, Zamfara Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal, former Governor Abdulaziz Yari, and Tantita Security Outfit.

Reacting to the award, Otu described it as “a major incentive to intensify efforts towards improving the welfare of Cross Riverians.”

“Ever since then, we have continued to invest in Cross Riverians, create an enabling environment for investors and seek new opportunities,” he said.

The Governor said his administration identified economic and agricultural development as key pillars for building a sustainable state.

Otu cited the recovery of Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort from AMCON as a major milestone.
“The recovery of Tinapa symbolised not just the reclaiming of a major asset but the revival of a vision that once placed Cross River on the global economic map. The return of Tinapa is not merely an event; it is a rebirth,” he said.

He disclosed plans to reposition Tinapa as a Free Trade Zone and hub for trade, tourism and creative enterprise, with credible investors already being engaged.

On agriculture, Otu said Cross River is positioned to contribute to President Bola Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy ambition. Key initiatives include partnership with JR Farms to cultivate 30 million coffee seedlings across the state, 3,400 hectares of cocoa farmland allocated to smallholder farmers, distribution of sprouted oil palm nuts to boost production, project Grow: a 6-year, N30 billion digitally enabled commercial agriculture credit guarantee scheme and smallholder Farm Input Support Project for fertilisers, seeds and chemicals.

The Governor also highlighted ongoing projects to include the Obudu Cargo Airport which is over *90% completed, Cally Air fleet expansion to 4 aircraft with 2 new Bombardier jets acquired and the return of Carnival Calabar as a premier tourism asset.

On the maritime economy, Otu said the administration is pursuing the Bakassi Deep Seaport,which he described as “central to the industrial future of Cross River.”

“We have secured $3.5 billion in funding from Afreximbank for the project,” he disclosed, while commending the Federal Government for including Bakassi in the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.

“The seaport will not only serve Cross River but will constitute a national asset capable of strengthening Nigeria’s position in global maritime trade,” Otu said.

He attributed part of the progress to increased allocations to states under President Tinubu and urged Nigerians to support the federal government.

“We do not take this award for granted. It is an incentive to work even harder,” he added.