Ukorebi Esien | 22nd May 2025
CALABAR — Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has renewed calls for the revitalization of the long-abandoned Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, urging the Nigeria Customs Service to play a pivotal role in restoring its viability as a major economic hub.
The Governor made this appeal during a strategic visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, at the Service's headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. His mission was clear: to deepen institutional cooperation with Customs in a bid to unlock the vast commercial potential of Cross River State's dormant economic zones—most notably Tinapa and the Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ).
"Tinapa holds untapped promise—not just for Cross River State, but for Nigeria's economy at large. With the right support from Customs and other federal agencies, it can become a thriving export gateway and commercial hub," Governor Otu emphasized.
He stressed that the revitalization of Tinapa and the CFTZ is central to his administration's economic blueprint, which also includes the development of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port and expansion of export infrastructure. The Governor appealed for enhanced Customs presence and streamlined operations to facilitate smoother trade processes and reawaken investor confidence in these zones.
Otu praised the Customs Service for its landmark ₦6.1 trillion revenue generation in 2024, noting that Cross River alone contributed an impressive ₦200 billion to the national purse through its command operations. He also lauded the professionalism of officers posted to the state, particularly those at the Mfum and Ikang border posts with Cameroon, and disclosed that the state recently donated operational vehicles to aid their anti-smuggling and surveillance efforts.
Beyond infrastructure and revenue, the Governor reflected the human cost of insecurity and underdevelopment, drawing attention to the over 50,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently hosted by the state. He urged the Customs Service to consider its critical role in stabilizing the region and promoting legal cross-border trade that benefits communities.
In response, Comptroller-General Adeniyi commended Governor Otu's forward-thinking leadership and affirmed the Service's readiness to collaborate. He noted that the Customs Service has rolled out several trade facilitation reforms—including the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program and the Advanced Ruling System—to simplify business operations and stimulate economic zones across the country.
"The revival of Tinapa aligns with our mandate to enhance trade facilitation. We're committed to partnering with Cross River State to make Tinapa and other strategic projects a success," Adeniyi assured.
He added that the Customs Service's reforms were aligned with President Tinubu's economic vision and assured the Governor of robust institutional backing for the Tinapa revival and the Bakassi Deep Sea Port.
The meeting ended on a positive note, with both parties pledging sustained engagement to transform Cross River's economic corridors into engines of national growth.
Tags: Tinapa, Calabar Free Trade Zone, Cross River, Nigeria Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Bassey Edet Otu, Economic Development, Bakassi Deep Sea Port, Trade Facilitation
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