The Cross River State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved the construction of a ₦525.3 million state-of-the-art Administrative and Laboratory Complex, complete with staff accommodation, for the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Outstation at Mile 6, Obubra Local Government Area, in a strategic move to strengthen food security, agricultural innovation and rural economic transformation.
The approval was granted at the Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, July 28, following the consideration of a memorandum presented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo.
Describing the project as a strategic investment in the future of agriculture, Council said the facility would reposition Cross River as Nigeria’s foremost hub for root and tuber crop research, seed technology and agribusiness development, while accelerating the state’s drive towards food sufficiency.
Presenting the memorandum, Ebokpo explained that the initiative aligns with the resolutions of the 47th National Council on Agriculture and the Federal Government’s strategic agenda for strengthening sub-national food security systems. He noted that the project is designed to deepen agricultural research, promote localized seed production and accelerate the deployment of climate-smart farming technologies across the state.
According to the memorandum, “This intervention is strategically designed to strengthen agricultural research, technology dissemination and localized seed production ecosystems in order to guarantee long-term food security and stimulate private-sector investment in agribusiness.”
Council observed that Cross River’s comparative advantage in the production of cassava, yam and sweet potato places it in a unique position to emerge as Nigeria’s leading centre for root crop innovation. It noted that the Obubra-Ikom agricultural corridor possesses the ideal ecological conditions for varietal trials, certified seed multiplication and the rapid dissemination of improved technologies to farmers.
“The Obubra-Ikom axis remains one of Nigeria’s most productive agricultural belts and provides the perfect environment for scientific research, innovation and commercialization of improved root crop technologies,” Council affirmed.
The Executive Council further disclosed that the project will pave the way for the establishment of a cutting-edge seed production platform using Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology through a strategic partnership involving the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Root Crops Research Institute.
It stressed that strengthening the physical infrastructure of the NRCRI Outstation is indispensable to unlocking the full benefits of the collaboration.
“The modernized facility will serve as the critical foundation for producing certified disease-free planting materials, high-yield varieties and improved technologies capable of transforming agricultural productivity across Cross River State and beyond,” the memorandum stated.
Reaffirming Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s vision of building a resilient, innovation-driven agricultural economy, Council said the project represents far more than a physical infrastructure initiative. It explained that the complex would evolve into an innovation ecosystem where scientific research meets enterprise, creating opportunities for mechanization, value addition, input development and commercial agriculture.
“The facility will serve as a catalyst for private-sector investment, public-private partnerships and youth agripreneurship, while de-risking farming operations and positioning Cross River as one of Nigeria’s most attractive destinations for agricultural investment,” Council declared.
Council also noted that because the National Root Crops Research Institute is a Federal Government institution, the state’s investment would strategically leverage substantial federal interventions and international donor support, thereby multiplying the impact of the project.
Highlighting the long-term benefits of the investment, Ebokpo stated that “This strategic intervention places Cross River in an advantageous position to attract matching federal resources and global development partnerships, thereby multiplying the impact of the state’s investment.”
According to Council, the project is expected to generate enduring economic dividends through improved food security, seed system independence, agricultural industrialisation and enhanced internally generated revenue.
The approved project covers site preparation, construction of an administrative complex, modern laboratories, staff accommodation, utilities, fittings and other essential support infrastructure. Implementation is expected to commence immediately upon the release of funds.
Concluding its deliberations, Council reaffirmed Governor Otu’s conviction that sustainable development begins with strategic investments in agriculture, stressing that the administration remains committed to building institutions that will guarantee long-term prosperity.
“This administration remains resolute in building enduring institutions that will outlive the present generation, strengthen food sovereignty, empower farmers, attract investment and secure the future of Cross River State as Nigeria’s agricultural powerhouse,” Council declared.
By Daniel Bebia
