By Anietie Akpan
Cross River state government, August 12, took delivery of two Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jets to boost its Cally Air operations.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned the 100-seat capacity plane for use by the state-owned airline, Cally Air. He was assisted by the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu.
This is seen as a significant step towards boosting air transport, tourism, and economic connectivity in the state.
The commissioning witnessed lots of fanfare and excitement in Calabar raising hopes of regular flights for Lagos and Abuja bound passengers to and from Calabar.
Similarly the Vice President commissioned the remodeled and fully digitalized Cross River State Library Complex, which also houses the Cross River State ICT Hub, bringing knowledge access and innovation into the digital age for our citizens.
This library complex, Pillar Today gathered was first remodeled by the then Donald Duke government in the year 2,000 but went dilapidated and abandoned from the year 2015 to 2023 when two professors ruled the state as governor and deputy governor.
At the the 8th Expanded MSME Clinic at CICC, designed to empower small businesses and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cross River, Vice President noted that this was part of the Tinubu-led administration’s commitment to bringing the Federal Government’s support directly to the doorsteps of businesses across the country.
Speaking during the launch of the MSME Clinic in Calabar, Senator Shettima commended Senator Bassey Otu, for his drive and efforts in positioning the State on the right map.
He also announced the disbursement of ₦250,000 unconditional grants each to outstanding business owners in the state as part of ongoing efforts to support MSMEs nationwide.
Governor Otu, in his remarks, traced the state’s economic strategy to the integration of three “engines” set in motion by his predecessors: tourism under Donald Duke, rural development under Senator Liyel Imoke, and industrialization under Professor Ben Ayade. “My goal has been to fuse these into a robust, diversified economy that frees us from overdependence on FAAC allocations,” Otu explained.
Otu said the expansion of Cally Air from two to four aircraft, with three more planned, is a key plank of the state’s tourism policy and its ambition to create an aviation hub serving not just Nigeria but the entire Gulf of Guinea.
On the MSME, he said, that beyond agriculture, the state is positioning itself as both a strong MSME hub and a digital hub for the young and vibrant population of Cross River.
These milestones marked yet another bold step forward as the state continues building a stronger, smarter, and more connected Cross River.
