The Cross River State Government has announced plans to take journalists and other stakeholders through some of its projects and policy achievements as it moves to address what it describes as misinformation surrounding the administration’s record, particularly the state’s renewed push to regain its oil-producing status.
The Commissioner for Information, Ekpenyong Cobham, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar on Tuesday.
According to the Commissioner, the engagement was designed to create a clearer channel between government and the media and ensure that information about government policies, programmes and achievements is based on verifiable facts rather than speculation.
Cobham said one of the major issues requiring clarification was Cross River’s progress in the process of being recognised again as an oil-producing state.
The issue is particularly significant for Cross River because the state was removed from the list of oil-producing states in 2008, despite longstanding claims over petroleum resources within the state.
The renewed campaign has gained momentum in 2026 following the completion of a Federal Government inter-agency verification exercise on crude oil and gas coordinates.
In February, the final report of the committee was submitted to the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), with Cross River projected to regain its oil-producing status. The verification covered petroleum coordinates submitted by states between 2017 and 2025 and involved field verification, technical reconciliation and the final plotting of coordinates.
For Cross River, the development represents more than a political talking point. A successful reinstatement could have major implications for the state's revenue position through the derivation framework and could strengthen its economic prospects within the Niger Delta region.
Earlier in April, Governor Bassey Otu had rallied traditional rulers, elders and other stakeholders behind the campaign to restore what he described as Cross River's rightful position among Nigeria's oil-producing states.
The latest comments from the Information Commissioner suggest that the state government wants to ensure that the public understands exactly where the process stands, rather than relying on conflicting claims or political interpretations.
“It’s not about if, it’s about when,” Cobham said, while explaining the administration's determination to communicate its achievements and ongoing programmes more directly to the public.
Government promises project verification
Beyond the oil-producing status issue, the Commissioner announced a two-pronged approach that will involve taking journalists round government projects across the state.
The objective, he explained, is to allow journalists to see projects physically and report their status from firsthand observation.
Cobham urged journalists to move beyond simply receiving government statements and engage more actively in investigative journalism.
He challenged the media to scrutinise the government's record, identify areas where the administration has fallen short and also report achievements where they exist.
The approach could potentially change the nature of government-media engagement in the state, particularly at a time when debates over the performance of the Governor Otu administration are becoming increasingly prominent.
Rather than relying solely on press releases or political claims, the proposed project tours could provide journalists with an opportunity to independently assess the level of completion, quality and impact of government projects across Cross River.
Oil status carries major economic implications
The renewed oil campaign is attracting attention because of what oil-producing status could mean for Cross River's finances.
The Federal Government verification exercise earlier this year provided a major boost to the state's case. Reports on the committee's findings said Cross River was projected to be re-listed as an oil-producing state following the submission of the final report to RMAFC.
However, the latest position from the state government makes clear that the process should not be confused with an instant declaration of new oil revenue.
The verification and recommendation are important milestones, but the administrative and regulatory steps required for the state to fully enjoy the benefits associated with oil-producing status remain critical.
That distinction will be important for Cross Riverians, particularly communities that have watched the oil-producing-status controversy for years.
What it means for Cross Riverians
For ordinary residents, the debate is ultimately about whether the state's petroleum resources can translate into tangible development.
If Cross River eventually secures full recognition and begins benefiting from the associated fiscal arrangements, expectations are likely to rise around roads, healthcare, education, employment, infrastructure and development in oil-bearing communities.
The government will therefore face the additional challenge of convincing residents that the oil campaign is not merely another political achievement to celebrate, but an economic opportunity capable of producing measurable benefits.
For now, the administration appears determined to put its version of the facts before the public and challenge journalists to independently verify them.
Cobham also addressed the controversy surrounding the arrest of Mr. Odama, insisting that the matter should be treated as a legal issue rather than a political confrontation.
He said the petition was filed personally by two government officials and not by Governor Bassey Otu or the Governor's Office, adding that due process was ongoing.
The Commissioner also warned against misinformation, saying his office would remain available to answer questions about government policies and achievements.
For Cross River, the coming months could therefore be important—not only because of the state's quest to regain oil-producing status, but also because the government is placing greater emphasis on publicly demonstrating what it says it has achieved.
The real test, however, will be whether the promised transparency produces independently verifiable evidence and whether the expected economic gains eventually translate into visible improvements in the lives of Cross River residents.
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