Iloke Egbe
The Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Nigeria (FOLUR-NG) Project has commended the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, for his people-oriented governance and policy framework, which it says are creating an enabling environment for effective project implementation, increased productivity and sustainable development.
The commendation was made during the fourth-quarter 2026 meeting of the State Project Management Committee of FOLUR-NG, held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations office, opposite Navy Field, State Housing Estate, Calabar.
The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review the project's performance throughout 2026, assess progress across its various components and deliberate on strategies for improving implementation and strengthening interventions in beneficiary communities.
Speaking at the meeting, the National Project Coordinator, Professor Oladapo Akinyemi, praised Governor Otu for demonstrating visionary leadership and pursuing policies that prioritise the welfare and interests of the people.
Professor Akinyemi disclosed that the project's interventions in Cross River State would be doubled, attributing the planned expansion to the supportive disposition of the state government towards development initiatives.
He also announced plans to strengthen the capacity of project staff to improve their competence and ensure effective and efficient service delivery to the people of Cross River State.
The National Project Coordinator further commended the Ministry of International Donor Coordination (MIDC), under the leadership of its Commissioner, Elder Dr. Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata, for its commitment to facilitating development partnerships and ensuring effective coordination of donor-supported projects.
According to him, the level of progress recorded in Cross River State demonstrates the importance of strong institutional support and effective coordination in achieving development objectives.
He observed that if both Cross River and Ondo states, where FOLUR-NG operates, had commissioners demonstrating the same level of commitment attributed to the MIDC Commissioner, the project would have recorded even greater progress.
In his response, the Commissioner for International Donor Coordination, Elder Dr. Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata, reaffirmed the Cross River State Government's commitment to meeting its obligations to FOLUR-NG and other development projects operating across the state.
He disclosed that approximately 95 per cent of the support commitments agreed upon by the state government for the project had been fulfilled, assuring stakeholders that the outstanding contributions would be completed within the coming days.
Lukpata emphasised that the government remained committed to honouring its obligations and supporting development interventions designed to improve livelihoods and promote sustainable development in communities across Cross River State.
He stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between government institutions, development partners and project implementation teams in achieving shared development goals.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Clatus Ogbiji, presented an overview of the project's progress and achievements across its various components.
Among the achievements highlighted were efforts to promote gender-equitable land rights and land titling, as well as capacity development programmes targeting male and female smallholder farmers.
He also highlighted capacity-building initiatives for extension officers, local government area facilitators and community facilitators, who have been equipped with the knowledge and practical skills required to develop, implement and monitor integrated land-use and investment plans.
According to him, these interventions are designed to promote sustainable land management, environmental conservation, improved agricultural productivity and better livelihoods for beneficiary communities.
Ogbiji further reported progress in the implementation of participatory forest restoration action plans in priority local government areas, underscoring the project's commitment to restoring degraded landscapes and strengthening sustainable natural resource management.
The meeting also featured deliberations on subcontracting arrangements, fund disbursement procedures, co-financing protocols and guidelines for the utilisation of resources under the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
These discussions were aimed at strengthening financial accountability, improving coordination and ensuring that project resources are deployed effectively to achieve the intended development outcomes.
The Project's Chief Technical Adviser, Professor Adebayo Shittu, also presented an overview of FOLUR-NG, outlining its objectives and implementation framework.
The meeting was attended by members of the FOLUR-NG Project Management Committee and Permanent Secretaries from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of the Cross River State Government.
The fourth-quarter meeting reaffirmed the importance of government commitment, institutional coordination and strategic partnerships in advancing sustainable food systems, responsible land use, forest restoration and inclusive economic development in Cross River State.
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