Calabar – The Innoson Group of Companies, one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous industrial giants, is set to make significant investments in Cross River state across key sectors including automobile assembly, agriculture, and clean energy.
This development was disclosed by the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Edet Otu on Local Content, Ambassador Awatt Caleb, during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar on Monday.
According to Caleb, the Chairman of Innoson Group, Chief (Dr) Innocent Chukwuma, conveyed his interest during a recent engagement with the Cross River delegation at his residence in Nnewi, Anambra State. Chukwuma reportedly expressed willingness to expand Innoson’s operations to Cross River, beginning with youth training in automobile engineering and the establishment of production facilities in the Tinapa Free Trade Zone.
“Innoson is eager to partner with us by training young people and setting up production lines in the state,” Caleb said, quoting Chukwuma. “He emphasized readiness to collaborate in areas such as CNG vehicle deployment, electric mobility, and agricultural investment, especially commercial rice farming using improved seedlings that mature within three to six months.”
Caleb further revealed that Innoson plans to introduce a rubber-to-tyre value chain in Cross River and has already requested data on rubber output from the state for both domestic processing and export.
He noted that the proposed partnership aligns with Governor Otu’s “People First” development agenda and marks a shift from policy talk to actionable economic transformation.
“This isn’t just about promises—it’s about practical steps to industrialize our state and create jobs,” Caleb stated. “We’re committed to delivering real value for our people.”
In addition, the SA disclosed that Innoson has pledged to offer vehicle subsidies for Cross Riverians, especially transport operators, as part of its support for small and medium-scale enterprises in the state.
To ensure transparency and fairness, Caleb assured that the selection process for the automobile training program will be merit-based and free from political interference.
He also mentioned that he and his delegation, which included retired military officer Akiba, toured Innoson’s manufacturing facilities, where they inspected production lines for diesel, electric, and CNG-powered vehicles.
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cross River State and the Innoson Group is expected to be signed soon.
Meanwhile, Caleb also announced plans for a Local Content Summit scheduled for October this year. The summit will serve as a platform to attract investment from Cross River professionals in the diaspora and foster partnerships that will drive the state’s economic revival.
