by George Ozalla
Government and private‑sector interest in powering rural Rural Electrification Agency (REA)‑led infrastructure in Cross River State surged during a high‑level strategic roundtable held on Tuesday under the theme “Sustainable Impact, Beyond Policies: Powering Cross River State’s Blue & Green Economies Through Clean Energy Investments.”
Represented at the event by his deputy, Peter Agbe Odey, the state governor Bassey Otu recalled that only three of Cross River’s 18 local government areas currently enjoy consistent electricity supply, lamenting that millions remain dependent on costly generators. He said the neglect has taken a heavy toll on businesses and households, singling out Ikom and Ogoja to illustrate the scale of the crisis. Ikom, the state’s commercial nerve centre, he said, has had no public electricity for over six months while Ogoja continues to battle recurrent blackouts and erratic voltage that threaten hospitals, agro‑processing enterprises and everyday business activity. The governor described the roundtable as a turning point for Cross River and pledged that his “People‑First” administration will continue to support sustainable energy projects while inviting increased investments and partnerships to drive economic transformation. He commended REA and its partners for the 10‑megawatt solar farm recently delivered at the University of Calabar (a project carried out with the German government and private developers), describing it as concrete proof of what can be achieved when vision and partnership converge.
REA’s Managing Director Abba Aliyu said the agency’s national geo‑spatial mapping exercise has for the first time precisely identified communities across Cross River lacking electricity, along with data on population sizes, economic activity, and growth potential. He argued that electrifying these underserved areas would catalyse small businesses, spur agro‑processing and create jobs for young people. He added that reliable electricity would reduce post‑harvest losses, raise local GDP and significantly strengthen the state’s agricultural value chains—particularly critical for Cross River’s blue and green economies. He said the roundtable remains a vital platform for collaboration, problem‑solving and shared accountability between REA, state governments and private developers.
In his remarks Secretary to the State Government Anthony Owan‑Enoh said energy is the biggest missing link in Cross River’s development journey. He noted that while the state possesses land, tourism potential, agriculture, cultural heritage and mineral resources, the absence of reliable electricity has stalled progress. He welcomed the presence of several Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOs) at the roundtable, stating that the platform affords them direct access to government and clarity on what the state can offer.
The head of the state electrification agency, Cross River State Electrification Agency (CRSEA), led by its Director‑General Francis Ekpo, said the strong turnout and enthusiasm from RESCOs represented a bold vote of confidence in Cross River’s renewable energy prospects. He announced that a steering committee will be constituted immediately to begin engaging developers and fast‑tracking project implementation. He made it clear that the state is open for business, adding that if developers present viable proposals “tomorrow,” Cross River is ready to begin tomorrow.
The roundtable builds on recent progress under the REA‑led interventions in Cross River. Earlier this year the Agency commissioned a 440 kWp interconnected mini‑grid under its Interconnected Mini‑Grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS), supplying reliable power to communities in Etung Local Government Area. That effort, funded through a grant supported by international partners, delivered electricity to thousands of households and is seen as a model for scaling up across rural parts of the state.
With this renewed commitment, Cross River now appears set to accelerate its transition from chronic power deprivation to a future driven by clean energy, productive economic activity and rural inclusion.
