Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has called for increased clean energy investments to accelerate development across the state’s blue and green economies.
Governor Otu, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, made the call at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) Strategic Roundtable held in Abuja on Tuesday. He commended REA for its strong support in expanding electricity access across the state through regulatory backing, technical assistance, and the development of bankable renewable energy projects.
He highlighted major achievements, including the 10MW solar farm at the University of Calabar, developed with support from the German government and private partners, which has significantly improved power supply to the university and its teaching hospital. He also noted the installation of mini-grids at the General Hospital, Ogoja, and the Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, as well as the distribution of 10,000 home solar units and over 1,000 solar streetlights and transformers.
Despite these gains, Rt. Hon. Odey stressed that 15 of the state’s 18 LGAs still lack reliable power. He cited Ikom’s prolonged blackout and persistent outages in Ogoja as examples, emphasizing the need for increased intervention. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to establishing more solar mini-grids, hybrid systems, and energy-as-a-service models to unlock opportunities in fisheries, agriculture, forestry, and eco-tourism.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, underscored the administration’s “People First” agenda, noting that improving electricity access has remained a top priority since 2023. He said the roundtable brings together RESCOs, policy experts, and government officials to accelerate electrification in unserved communities. According to him, the discussions aim to clarify government support, strengthen partnerships, and secure commitments for mini-grid development.
Setting the tone for the event, REA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Abba Aliyu, praised Cross River State for creating an enabling policy environment. He disclosed that 19 renewable energy projects are currently underway and, upon completion, will inject 26MWh of power, reaching over 78,565 households and SMEs. He emphasized that the 2023 Electricity Act empowers states to shape their energy future, noting that Cross River has taken commendable steps in attracting critical clean energy investments. He also highlighted the deliberate theme, “Sustainable Impact Beyond Policies,” reflecting the state’s transition from policy formulation to real clean energy deployment.
The highpoints of the roundtable included presentations on REA’s community mapping tools and financing by the Agency’s Executive Directors, an overview of renewable energy opportunities in Cross River by the Director General of the State Electrification Agency, Mr. Francis Ekpo, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Cross River State Government and the REA.
Deputy Governor’s Press Unit, Government House, Calabar.