The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is considering Cross River State’s Obudu Mountain Resort as a primary site for its proposed integrated dairy production and processing platform.
This development was disclosed when a Cross River State government delegation, led by the Special Adviser for the Cross River Liaison Office, Mrs. Sarah Archibong, paid a courtesy visit to the NSIA headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking during the meeting, Mrs. Archibong stated that the visit aimed to explore strategic areas of partnership between the NSIA and Cross River State, emphasizing the state government’s commitment to transparency and sustained collaboration on prospective projects.
Welcoming the delegation, the Secretary to the Governing Council of the NSIA, Mr. Uduak Ukpeh, commended the Cross River State government for taking proactive steps to engage the Authority.
Describing the visit as a notable move, Mr. Ukpeh noted that direct state-level engagement has historically been challenging, adding that this was a welcome departure from the norm where states approached by the organization provide little to no feedback.
Addressing the delegation, Senior Vice President at the NSIA, Mr. Itoandon Iruansi, stated that the organization remains focused on investing in initiatives that stimulate local economic activity across Nigeria. He revealed that the Ministry of Livestock Development highlighted the Obudu facility, formerly known as the Obudu Cattle Ranch as a prime site for the national dairy project.
Mr. Iruansi expressed enthusiasm over the state government's proactive steps, particularly regarding infrastructure upgrades surrounding the resort. He noted that the NSIA’s investment scope spans industrialization, agriculture, climate sustainability, and logistics, adding that the state’s proposals on the Bakassi Deep Seaport and carbon credit initiatives align directly with the NSIA’s investment framework.
He further clarified that NSIA’s ultimate participation will depend on the technical data and documentation provided by the state, as well as meeting key compliance requirements.
Highlighting specific investment opportunities, the Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Hon. Chris Mbu-Ogar, noted that Cross River is seeking collaboration across agriculture, tourism, climate finance, carbon markets, logistics, and transport infrastructure. He pointed to the strategic proximity of the Bakassi Deep Seaport to the Gulf of Guinea and underscored the untapped economic potential of the state's cocoa value chain.
Adding to the presentation, the Chairman of the Cross River Forestry Commission, Rt. Hon. George O’ben-Etchi, identified processing infrastructure as the primary bottleneck facing the state's agro-industry. He explained that establishing processing facilities would immediately scale the value of key cash crops, including cocoa, palm oil, and coffee grown in the state.
Regarding Obudu, Rt. Hon. O’ben-Etchi noted that the dairy factory originally built during Governor Donald Duke’s administration remains intact due to ongoing maintenance under Governor Bassey Otu’s administration. He added that the 70 percent completion of the Obudu Cargo Airport and ongoing road rehabilitation efforts reflect Governor Otu’s broader drive to position Cross River as a premier investment destination.
By Uchino Amatey
