December 15, (THEWILL) — Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to positioning the state as a major force in Nigeria’s emerging blue economy as he formally launched a World Bank–supported upskilling programme designed to equip citizens with modern, globally relevant competencies for the maritime sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the State Library Complex in Calabar, Governor Otu—represented by his deputy, Dr. Peter Odey—described the programme as “a landmark opportunity for our young people to acquire the advanced technical skills needed to unlock the vast marine resources of Cross River State.”
He maintained that Cross River, blessed with one of Nigeria’s longest coastlines, remains uniquely positioned to benefit from the new national emphasis on the blue economy. According to him, “this initiative reflects our administration’s unyielding commitment to transforming our water-based assets into engines of economic growth, job creation and sustainable development. The time has come for Cross River to take its rightful place in the maritime sector.”
The governor highlighted the impressive contributions of Nigeria’s maritime and marine economy to national prosperity, pointing out that the sector added N113.5 trillion to the country’s GDP in the third quarter of 2025. He referenced projections by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) estimating that the nation’s blue economy potential could exceed $296 billion. “With figures like these,” he said, “we cannot afford to stand on the sidelines. Cross River must lead from the front.”
Governor Otu reaffirmed the government’s resolve to actualise major maritime infrastructure, especially the Bakassi Deep Seaport. He disclosed that a $3.5 billion investment has already been secured for the project, adding that it is awaiting presidential approval for formal groundbreaking.
“We are ready,” he assured partners, “and we will continue to work closely with the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to ensure our waterways, ports, fisheries and logistics platforms deliver maximum economic impact.”
The event which attracted representatives of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the World Bank, the University of Calabar and stakeholders across the maritime value chain, underscored the collaborative nature of the initiative.
