By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State Government has secured a partnership with indigenous automaker, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, to train youths and establish an automobile assembly plant in the state an outcome driven by its renewed local content strategy.
This development followed a strategic visit by the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Local Content, Awatt Caleb, to the Chairman of Innoson Group, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, at his residence in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Speaking to journalists during a follow-up briefing on Monday at the Ernest Bassey Press Center in Calabar, Caleb revealed that the Innoson Group has expressed readiness to partner with the Cross River State Government and local media on youth training, automobile production, tyre manufacturing, and agro-industrial development.
“The governor is my friend. I’m ready to extend Innoson’s operations to Cross River. Let’s start with training your youths and setting up production in Tinapa,” Chukwuma was quoted as saying.
He also unveiled plans to introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, electric cars, and a rubber-to-tyre value chain in the state. Innoson has already requested data on rubber output from Cross River for both export and local processing.
Caleb noted that the deal aligns with Governor Otu’s “People First” agenda, emphasizing a move from policy rhetoric to practical action by attracting real investments that will generate employment and drive industrialization.
“As a state, we’re moving from rhetoric to action. This partnership with Innoson opens a new chapter for Cross River’s local content drive,” he said.
He further announced that Innoson has pledged to subsidize vehicle prices for Cross River indigenes, especially transport operators, to ease access and support micro-enterprise.
Caleb assured that the youth selection process for the training program will not be influenced by politics. “The selection of participants will not be based on political influence but strictly on merit,” he emphasized.
The state delegation, which included retired army officer Akiba, was later taken on a tour of Innoson’s manufacturing facilities, where diesel, electric, and CNG-powered vehicles are produced.
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state and Innoson is expected to be signed soon.
Caleb also disclosed plans by the state government to host a Local Content Summit aimed at attracting Cross River professionals and investors from the diaspora to contribute to the state’s economic revival.
