President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has pledged significant investment in Cross River State’s health and agriculture sectors.
Adesina made this commitment on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, during a state banquet held in his honour by the Cross River State Government, in connection with the launch of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) project.
He stated that the AfDB would support Gov. Bassey Otu’s efforts to revitalise primary healthcare centres and strengthen the state’s health insurance initiative.
Adesina also encouraged the adoption of a sustainable, franchise-based business model for healthcare delivery to enhance accessibility and improve quality of care nationwide.
Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about the SAPZ project, describing it as a “game-changer” for Cross River’s economy.
“We will help ensure that primary healthcare centres are not only revitalised but also digitally connected to allow seamless access and portability of health records,” he said.
Adesina also lauded the governor’s collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on the Bakassi Deep Seaport project, noting that it positioned Cross River to become a key logistics and industrial processing hub.
In his remarks, Otu reiterated his administration’s commitment to achieving economic independence and reducing overdependence on federal allocations.
He identified three strategic development pillars, security, food security, and energy security as essential to unlocking sustainable growth in the state.
The governor also highlighted plans to integrate Cross River into regional economic corridors with Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, while boosting agricultural productivity through large-scale cultivation of cocoa, cassava, and other key crops.
By Christian Njoku