By Onwa Ekor
Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has assured that the state coastal corridor remains a safe and profitable destination for local and international investors.
He gave the assurance during an inspection visit to the Calabar Marina Business Hub, where he toured the newly introduced MV-Eja, a ferry owned by SeaExpress, now operating on the Calabar-Cameroon commercial route.
Otu, accompanied by the Commissioner for Transportation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham; the Special Adviser on Blue Economy, Ms. Melodie Lebo; and other maritime stakeholders, expressed delight at the scale and quality of the investment, describing it as a clear demonstration of growing investors confidence in the state.
He noted that the state’s strategic location and expanding blue economy presents enormous opportunities for economic growth and regional trade.
Commending the promoters of the project for choosing Cross River as their investment destination despite having opportunities elsewhere across the globe, he also assured the management of SeaExpress Transit, of his administration’s zeal in safeguarding the investment and providing the necessary government backing to ensure its success.
“We are proud of this investment, coming down from the United States just to invest in our motherland,” the governor said, maintaining that, “you could have chosen anywhere else, so on that note, we owe you all the necessary support as a people and as a government to ensure that this huge investment is not in vain.”
He informed that his administration has demonstrated an uncompromising stance against criminality through sustained investments in security architecture across the state.
“Security is the core responsibility of government, hence this administration has zero tolerance for any form of criminality, that is why we have invested heavily in strengthening security across the state.
“You have our full backing and I assure you that you will never regret investing in the maritime sector of our state,” Otu assured.
He further enjoined prospective investors to take advantage of the vast commercial opportunities embedded in Cross River’s expansive waterways within the Gulf of Guinea, particularly the Calabar-Cameroon trading corridor as the state’s blue economy remains one of the most promising frontiers for commerce, transportation, tourism and regional integration, with government fully committed to unlocking its immense potential.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SeaExpress, Dr. Thompson Eja, expressed profound appreciation to the governor for personally visiting the facility and reassuring investors of government support.
He applauded the governor’s firm declaration of zero tolerance for insecurity, describing it as a confidence booster for businesses operating within the maritime sector.
“We are deeply encouraged by Your Excellency’s visit and your unequivocal commitment to securing investments.
“We look forward to partnering closely with the Cross River government to enhance service delivery and further expand maritime transportation in the region,” Eja said.
The visit climaxed with the presentation of a commemorative plaque of honour to the governor by the Chief Executive, in recognition of the governor’s support for the maritime industry and for boarding the MV-Eja.
