By Blessing Enagu.
GOVERNOR OTU FLAGS OFF 30 MILLION COFFEE SEEDLINGS PLANTATION REPOSITIONS CROSS RIVER AS NIGERIA’S COFFEE CAPITAL.
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has officially flagged off the cultivation of 30 million coffee seedlings across the state, describing the initiative as a bold step to revive and scale up coffee production in all 18 Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Executive Chambers, Governor’s Office, Calabar, Governor Otu described the project as a cornerstone of his administration’s “People First” agenda, which prioritizes sustainable development, economic diversification, and rural prosperity.
“This project is beyond seed distribution. It’s about creating jobs, attracting investment, restoring our environment, and building a thriving agro-industrial future,” the Governor said.
“We have always envisioned a Cross River where farmers are empowered, value chains are functional, and our produce is recognised both locally and globally”, he added.
Hailed as “The Champion of Nigeria’s Coffee Reformation,” Governor Otu emphasized that each coffee seedling represents the opportunity to put food on the table, add to the State’s GDP, and drive trade, value addition, and export.
The Governor further noted that the coffee initiative is directly aligned with the State’s 7-Year Strategic Development Plan for cocoa, oil palm, and coffee which was formulated by a multi-stakeholder committee to guide long-term interventions. The flag-off, he explained, is a practical expression of the Plan’s strategic pillars, which include farmer engagement, seedling distribution, and value chain development.
Governor Otu applauded the partnership with JR Farms, commending the company’s global footprint and technical expertise in the coffee value chain. He also extended an open invitation to other investors to explore the rich investment opportunities in Cross River’s agricultural sector.
In his welcome address, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, hailed the Governor as “the champion of Nigeria’s coffee reformation.” He highlighted the state’s geographical advantage; its highlands and lowlands as ideal for both Arabica and Robusta cultivation which will further position Cross River to lead Africa’s premium coffee production.
He commended the Governor for his visionary leadership and for facilitating the strategic partnership with JR Farms. The Commissioner revealed that the flag-off was made possible by the successful completion of a rigorous enumeration exercise, which recorded massive participation from men, women, and youth.
Hon. Ebokpo also expressed deep appreciation to the Wife of the Governor, Bishop (Mrs.) Eyoanwan Otu, for passionately mobilizing women and youth for the project, thereby promoting inclusive participation and growth.
Mr. Olawale Rotimi, CEO of JR Farms, expressed delight at the reawakening of Nigeria’s coffee industry and commended Cross River for being the first state to commit to such scale. He noted that JR Farms has already initiated training programs across the three senatorial districts, is providing post-planting support through a 3-way communication model, and is working to establish coffee washing stations and a global market access framework.
He pledged JR Farms’ firm commitment to off-take all coffee produced in the state and to promote Cross River coffee on the global stage through storytelling and trade platforms.
“We have seen what coffee has done across East Africa over the last nine years. Today, Cross River is taking the bold step to lead the Nigerian coffee revolution,” he stated.
He also praised Cross River’s peaceful disposition and described the state as a safe haven for business, recounting his positive engagements with local communities during the project rollout.
The event attracted dignitaries from the State Executive Council, diplomatic corps, development agencies, Executive Director, Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm research, Director General, Raw materials and Research Council of Nigeria, private sector leaders, and key stakeholders in the agriculture sector, underlining the national and international importance of the coffee value chain development project.
