The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Peter Odey, has said the ongoing construction of a governor’s Lodge in the Ogoja Local Government Area is a deliberate move to strengthen governance and improve government presence in the Northern Senatorial District of the state.
Recall that Governor Bassey Otu had in December 2024, laid the foundation for the facility in Ogoja town, describing the project as part of efforts at bringing government closer to communities in the that part of the state.
Peter Odey
Cross River State Deputy Governor, Peter Odey
For years, the administrative activities of the state government have largely been concentrated in Calabar, the state capital, making access to government officials difficult for residents of northern local government areas such as Ogoja, Obudu, Obanliku, Yala and Bekwarra.
However, speaking when he paid an unscheduled visit to the project site to assess the level of work done, Odey described the project as a significant step toward expanding infrastructure and administrative reach across the state, adding that the lodge will strengthen engagement between the state government and grassroots communities in the Northern Senatorial District.
He said, “Governor Prince Bassey Otu, has done something that a lot of people are really happy about. He decided to build a new Governor’s Lodge in Ogoja in the Cross River North Senatorial District. And honestly, many are seeing this as a smart move to bring government closer to the people up north.”
According to him, the proposed lodge is expected to serve as an operational base for the governor and other top government officials whenever they visit the area, thereby reducing the distance between the government and residents in the district.
The facility, located in Igoli in the Ogoja Local Government Area, sits on about 12,000 square metres of land and will feature a residential lodge for the governor, office spaces, a banquet hall, and apartments for staff, guest accommodation, kitchen facilities and other supporting infrastructure.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects, Programmes, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ralph Adoga Morphy, said the Ogoja Governor’s Lodge, when completed, is expected to enhance administrative convenience, improve government accessibility and promote balanced development across the state.
He added that the facility would enable the governor and other officials to spend more time in the area.
“This project aligns with the People’s First agenda of Governor Bassey Otu which emphasises equitable development and inclusive governance across all parts of Cross River State.
“With the actualization of this lodge, the governor and other officials will spend more time in this part of the state, interact directly with residents and respond more quickly to their concerns”, he added.