Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has commissioned the remodelled complex of the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Chronicle, now transformed into the Cross River Information Hub, alongside a newly installed Government Printing Press.
The facility had remained shut for nearly six years following the #EndSARS crisis.
It will be recalled that on October 23, 2020, hoodlums invaded the premises, set the entire _Chronicle_ building ablaze, looted the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, warehouses, and vandalized equipment at the newly installed printing press.
Speaking at the ceremony in Calabar on Thursday, Governor Otu said the project was part of his administration’s commitment to rehabilitate public infrastructure and strengthen state-owned media institutions.
According to the Governor, transmission equipment and office facilities at the state’s radio and television stations have also been upgraded, expanding their coverage across the State.
He described The Chronicle, established in 1974, as a vital institution of government. He disclosed that 30 ad-hoc staff had been approved for the Government Printing Press, while 25 permanent staff would be recruited by the Newspaper Corporation.
“The renovated complex will serve as an information and commercial hub, with a business centre, restaurant and event centre,” Otu said, adding that several Ministries, Departments and Agencies had expressed interest in operating from the facility.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, commended Governor Otu for revitalizing the newspaper corporation and strengthening the state’s information infrastructure.
Idris said the transformation went beyond renovating buildings, describing it as an effort to restore institutional memory, promote credible journalism and improve communication between government and citizens.
He urged the new Information Hub to drive digital innovation, professional development and public engagement, while encouraging journalists to embrace technology without compromising accuracy, fairness and ethical standards.
The Minister also stressed the importance of preserving official records through the new printing press and called on the media and political actors to guard against misinformation, disinformation and hate speech ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In his goodwill message, former Editor of _The Nigerian Chronicle_, Mr. Clement Ebri, described the revitalization as a personal milestone. He recalled joining the newspaper in 1978 and later serving as Acting Editor.
Ebri said the newspaper was once a leading institution, with daily circulation reaching about 80,000 copies and, at times, 120,000 copies, supported by correspondents in major Nigerian cities.
He, however, lamented the decline in professional standards and the damage caused by the 2020 #EndSARS crisis, which resulted in the loss of equipment, books, records and archives.
Ebri called for the restoration of the newspaper’s library and archives, describing them as essential to preserving Cross River State’s institutional memory.
The commissioning marks a new chapter in the state’s efforts to preserve The Chronicle’s heritage while repositioning its information infrastructure for modern operations and sustainable growth.
In his welcome remarks, the immediate past Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, said the project had created jobs for 30 ad-hoc staff at the Printing Press and 25 permanent staff at the Newspaper Corporation.
He revealed that the complex would also house a full-fledged event centre, expanding the Information Hub into a wider communication and commerce ecosystem.
He acknowledged contractors Davanla Nigeria Limited, Darienze Nigeria Limited and Mefiko Nigeria Limited for delivering the project.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Ene Cobham, described the commissioning as a historic milestone toward self-reliance.
Cobham noted that for years the state had depended on third-party vendors for printing at high cost and with security risks — a dependency the new facility is designed to eliminate.
He thanked Governor Otu for leadership that has “not only illuminated the economic hemisphere of our state but also enhanced the capacity for effective information dissemination.”
“By investing in this initiative, the Governor has strengthened the foundation for communication and public awareness, ensuring that the people of Cross River can benefit from timely and reliable access to information,” Cobham said.
By Nakanda Iyadim and Daniel Bebia
