Gov Bassey Otu of Cross River has promised that the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort will come back to life before the end of the year.
The governor made the promise while fielding questions from newsmen in Calabar on Thursday.
He disclosed that his administration had engaged in lengthy negotiations to recover and reposition the business resort that the state recently recovered from Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
Otu explained that the decision to focus on reviving Tinapa was driven by financial realities and the need to protect existing public investments.
“The state has invested more than 400 million US dollars in Tinapa over the years, making it impossible for his administration to abandon the facility.
“Leaving it unattended would have led to further deterioration of the infrastructure and a waste of the huge public investment already committed to the project.
“I am confident that before the end of the year, Cross River residents would begin to witness a transformed Tinapa,” he stated.
He revealed that rehabilitation work was already ongoing at the retail emporiums and other commercial facilities within the complex.
He added that the government also restored the power generation infrastructure by providing a reliable gas supply to guarantee stable electricity for businesses operating there.
The governor further announced that an anchor tenant has already committed to operating in Tinapa, a move he believed would attract more investors and increase commercial activities.
He also disclosed plans to construct a jetty to improve access to the resort and create more opportunities for local businesses.
Speaking about the proposed gas project, Otu said his administration had to make difficult choices due to limited financial resources.
He noted that Cross River remained one of the states receiving the lowest federal allocations and that many inherited projects were initiated based on revenue projections that never materialised.
He explained that the government’s priority was to complete and revive abandoned investments before embarking on new mega-projects.
According to him, once those projects become fully operational and begin generating value, the state will be better positioned to pursue initiatives such as the gas project.
Otu also highlighted progress made in completing abandoned government infrastructure across the state.
He cited the completion of buildings now occupied by the Local Government Service Commission, noting that several ministries and agencies were gradually relocating into modern office facilities.
“The administration’s goal is to provide a better working environment for civil servants, improve morale within the public service and strengthen service delivery.
“We will also ensure that government operates more efficiently for the benefit of Cross River residents.
