By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
The Government of Cross River State, has launched Deforestation-Free Policy, an initiative designed to position the state at the forefront of sustainable, climate-smart commodity production in Nigeria and beyond.
Unveiling the policy recently in Calabar, Governor Bassey Otu represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, described the initiative as a clear statement of intent on how the state will grow, compete and lead in a rapidly changing global agricultural economy where sustainability is no longer optional but essential.
Otu commended the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, members of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee and development partner, UK Propcom+, for what he termed their “professionalism, technical rigour and sustained commitment” in shaping a policy framework that balances productivity with conservation. “This policy reflects deep consultation, strong partnerships and a shared vision for the future,” he noted.
The Governor observed that Cross River State, as custodian of over half of Nigeria’s remaining tropical rainforests, carries “both an extraordinary privilege and a profound responsibility.” According to him, “we must protect these irreplaceable natural assets while ensuring that agriculture continues to deliver jobs, income, food security and inclusive prosperity for our people.”
He explained that tightening global regulations, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), have made sustainability, traceability and transparency prerequisites for access to premium international markets. “Our Deforestation-Free Policy is a direct and strategic response to this new global reality,” he said, adding that “the policy establishes a clear pathway for eliminating deforestation from our priority value chains, while improving productivity, strengthening farmer livelihoods and safeguarding long-term economic growth,” the Governor stressed, adding that environmental protection and economic competitiveness “must now move hand-in-hand.”
Governor Otu disclosed that the state has appointed PULA Advisors as lead consultant for EUDR compliance and traceability across the cocoa, coffee and oil palm value chains.
He emphasized that the policy is people-centred, with smallholder farmers at its core. “Through yield intensification, agroforestry, access to finance and capacity building, we are empowering our farmers to produce more on existing land, earn better incomes and protect our forests,” the Governor said, while calling on MDAs, the private sector and farming communities to align fully with the policy.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, described the launch as “a defining milestone in the transformation of Cross River State’s agricultural sector.” He said the policy provides “a clear, practical framework for responsible land use, improved productivity and inclusive growth,” adding that its success would depend on “strong institutional collaboration, private sector compliance and genuine community ownership.”
Also speaking at the formal presentation, Propcom’s Country Representative and Political Director, Dr. Adiya Ode, represented by the Strategy Director, Dr. Olumide Ojo, described the policy as “a powerful model of collaboration that advances both environmental protection and economic opportunity.” She reaffirmed the UK Government’s commitment, through the Propcom+ program, to deepening investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector with a focus on resilience and climate adaptation.