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The Cross River State Government has approved the construction of a state-of-the-art administrative and laboratory complex in Obubra to position the state as Nigeria’s leading hub for root and tuber research.
The approval was given on Tuesday, July 28, by the State Executive Council, presided over by Deputy Governor Peter Odey.
The facility, to be sited at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Outstation in Mile 6, Obubra LGA, will also include staff accommodation and supporting infrastructure.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Ebokpo, who presented the memorandum to the Council, said the project aligns with the 47th National Council on Agriculture and the federal government’s agenda to strengthen sub-national food security systems.
The Council described the initiative as a bold investment to reposition Cross River in cassava, yam and sweet potato production, seed technology, and agribusiness development.
It noted that the Obubra-Ikom agricultural corridor has the ideal ecological conditions for varietal trials, certified seed multiplication, and the rapid deployment of improved technologies to farmers.
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“The Obubra-Ikom axis remains one of Nigeria’s most productive agricultural belts and provides the perfect environment for scientific research and commercialisation of improved root crop technologies,” Council said.
A key component of the project is the establishment of a cutting-edge seed production platform using Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology through a partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and NRCRI.
Council said the modernised facility will serve as the foundation for producing certified disease-free planting materials and high-yield varieties capable of transforming productivity across the state and beyond.
It added that because NRCRI is a federal institution, the state’s investment will strategically leverage federal interventions and international donor support.
The project covers site preparation, the administrative complex, modern laboratories, staff accommodation, utilities, and all essential support infrastructure.
