Shettima commissions aircraft, ICT hub in Cross River

Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday, commissioned two new aircraft for the Cross River State Government and an ICT hub/Library designed to boost Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to economic diversification under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The event, held in Calabar, was attended by top government officials, legislators, royal fathers, and business leaders.

Shettima, in his remarks, commended the Cross River government’s forward-looking initiatives and officially commissioned the aircraft “for service to God and humanity” on behalf of President Tinubu.

In his welcome remarks, Governor Bassey Otu described Shettima’s visit as a moment of pride for the state, noting that Cross River is fully aligned with the national reform agenda.

Governor Otu explained that his administration is consolidating the three major “engines of growth” initiated by his predecessors: tourism under former Governor Donald Duke, rural development under Senator Liyel Imoke, and industrialisation under Professor Ben Ayade.

“Rather than chart a new course hastily, I am integrating these three origins to ensure a robust and sustainable economy for Cross River State,” Otu said.

“Today’s commissioning is part of strengthening our aviation sector, which is crucial to our tourism development policy. With two aircraft already flying, we are adding two more now and will soon add three more, creating an aviation hub that serves not just Nigeria, but extends to Guinea-Bissau and the Gulf of Guinea.”

The governor emphasised that the state’s development priorities, spanning food security, energy security, and economic independence, are in harmony with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision.

The second leg of the event was the commissioning of a state-of-the-art ICT hub and Library dedicated to supporting MSMEs. Governor Otu said the facility aligns with his administration’s strategy to empower citizens through education, entrepreneurship, and technology.

“This ICT hub forms part of the ‘Season of Sweetness’ which keys into the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Otu stated. “We are determined to build a subnational economy that will serve both Cross River and Nigeria at large. Already, our economy is changing, food prices have dropped, and with ongoing infrastructure work, transportation costs will follow suit.”

Otu also revealed that the Federal Government had promised to deliver two additional ICT hubs to the state.

The ceremonies underscored Cross River’s ambition to position itself as a strategic economic player in the Gulf of Guinea region while contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s overall growth trajectory.

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