A World Bank delegation has commended the Cross River State Government for its proactive measures toward compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The commendation was made during an interactive session with the Director-General of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), following a facility tour of the agency.
The team expressed satisfaction with the initiatives implemented under the administration of His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, aimed at ensuring that agricultural commodities produced in Cross River State are fully traceable and remain eligible for access to European markets beyond the EUDR compliance deadline of 31 December 2026.
The delegation specifically commended the collaborative efforts of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo; the Director General of CRGIA, Mr. William Archibong Jnr; the Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Hon. George Oben-Etchi; and the Chairman of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee on Coffee, Cocoa and Oil Palm, Professor Susan Ohen.
According to the team, Cross River State has demonstrated strong leadership in subnational traceability systems and was described as a pioneer in EUDR preparedness. The State was further encouraged to document and share its experiences with other states and where possible, provide technical support to facilitate nationwide compliance ahead of the deadline.
The World Bank delegation was led by Dr. Hiri Channa and Dr. Godwin Oyediji.
