The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Peter Odey, has emphasized that no state can attain sustainable economic growth without deliberately creating an enabling environment for private sector participation.
Odey made this statement on Wednesday while receiving the National President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. Jani Ibrahim, OON, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Calabar.
According to the Deputy Governor, government alone cannot drive economic prosperity, stressing that policies, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks must be intentionally designed to attract and protect private investments. “No state can be economically viable without creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. When businesses succeed, jobs are created, revenues increase, and development becomes sustainable,” Odey said.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to reforms that promote ease of doing business, support small and medium-scale enterprises, and strengthen partnerships with organized private sector groups. He highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the revamping of the Obudu Ranch Resort, the successful reclamation and ongoing restoration of the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, the partnership with Afreximbank for the $3.5 billion Bakassi Deep Seaport Project, and African Development Bank (AfDB) support for the construction of a Special Agro-Processing Zone in the state, among others.
Odey further noted that the administration of Governor Bassey Otu remains focused on leveraging private sector expertise and capital to unlock the state’s economic potential.
Earlier, the NACCIMA President, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, commended the administration of Governor Bassey Otu for its urban renewal initiatives, infrastructure development, and improved security across the state. He described Cross River State as highly rated among sub-national governments in terms of tourism potential and economic drive, applauded its openness to private sector engagement, and called for sustained collaboration to enhance industrialization, trade, and investment.
Assuring the Deputy Governor of NACCIMA’s readiness to work closely with the state government to create opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, Ibrahim appealed for government support for the Renewed Hope NACCIMA Economic Village and the One Billion Palm Tree Planting Project, which he said would create jobs and boost the national economy, in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The highlight of the event was the formal conferment of Rt. Hon. Dr. Peter Odey as a NACCIMA Ambassador, which was attended by former National President of NACCIMA, High Chief Bassey Edem, President of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CALCCIMA), Mr. Kelly Ayamba, members of his executive council, and other stakeholders.
Deputy Governor’s Press Unit, Government House, Calabar
January 21, 2026
