Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has made a triumphant return to Calabar after a three-week annual leave, declaring he is back with “renewed vigour and a double dose of energy” to push forward the state’s transformation.

Addressing a crowd of supporters and government officials at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport on Thursday, Governor Otu expressed his commitment to his administration’s development agenda. He noted that the brief break had given him the refreshment needed to serve the state with even greater determination.

“We have a manifesto to fulfil, and by the second year, we can already see some of those promises taking shape,” Otu said, stressing that his time away had only strengthened his resolve. “I missed all of you dearly, and I return stronger and clearer in my objectives.”

The Governor highlighted the progress made during his administration, asserting that the foundational work was now starting to bear fruit. “We have sown the seeds; now we must nurture them for a harvest,” he remarked.

Otu also emphasized key federal projects coming to the state, including the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone project and the long-awaited Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, calling them historic advancements that will integrate Cross River more deeply into Nigeria’s economic framework.

Looking ahead, Otu pointed to the upcoming visit of the President of the African Development Bank and Nigeria’s Vice President, both of whom are scheduled to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Export Processing Economic Zone. He described this initiative as transformative, promising it would reshape the state’s economy and generate significant employment and investment opportunities.

“There will be open opportunities for everyone to engage in this economic revival. The sky is the limit for Cross River,” Governor Otu declared.