Ukorebi Esien | September 2, 2026
CALABAR — From the ruins of the #EndSARS protests to a new lease of life, the 55-year-old Cross River State Newspaper Corporation is set for a major comeback under the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
The historic media establishment, which was severely vandalised during the October 2020 #EndSARS unrest, has been comprehensively remodelled and transformed into what the state government now calls the Cross River Information Hub.
The rebirth of the corporation comes as part of Governor Otu’s drive to strengthen information management, public communication and documentation in the state.
Established in 1971, the corporation has for decades been a major platform for government information and public communication through its publications, including The Nigerian Chronicle* and *Weekend Chronicle.
But its fortunes suffered a major setback in 2020 when hoodlums, taking advantage of the #EndSARS crisis, descended on public facilities in Calabar, vandalising and destroying parts of the corporation, including its infrastructure and equipment.
The devastation left the once-vibrant institution struggling to regain its footing.
Five years later, the story has changed.
The Otu administration has embarked on a comprehensive reconstruction of the facility, replacing damaged infrastructure and installing a new state-of-the-art Government Printing Press.
The new printing facility is expected to boost the production of government publications, official documents and other materials, while also opening up opportunities for commercial printing and revenue generation.
The intervention, however, goes beyond bricks, machines and renovated offices.
The state government has also moved to strengthen the human capacity of the corporation, with approval for the employment of 25 new staff to support its operations. Another 30 ad-hoc workers have been approved for the newly installed Government Printing Press.
For an institution that once appeared destined to fade into history after the #EndSARS destruction, the development represents a dramatic turnaround.
The government says the broader objective is to reposition Cross River’s information sector for effective public communication, transparency and improved documentation of government activities.
The transformation is also expected to provide a modern platform for preserving the state’s documentary heritage while supporting the evolving demands of digital-era journalism and government communication.
The newly remodelled complex will be officially re-activated and the Government Printing Press commissioned on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the corporation’s premises along Barracks Road, Calabar.
Former Governor of Cross River State, Chief Clement David Ebri, is expected to serve as the Diamond Guest of Honour at the ceremony.
For a corporation born in 1971, battered by years of decline and almost brought to its knees by the #EndSARS crisis, Thursday’s ceremony will mark more than the unveiling of a renovated building.
It will be a statement of revival.
After 55 years, the Cross River Newspaper Corporation is getting another chance to tell the Cross River story.
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