The Cross River State Government has secured 1,000 hectares of land to support refugee farming and livelihood programmes, marking a significant step towards improving self-reliance and reducing dependence on humanitarian aid.
The farmland, donated by the Oban Community in Akamkpa Local Government Area, was formalised through an agreement signed by the Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), Efa Nyong, on behalf of the state government. The initiative is expected to provide refugees with access to productive agricultural land, enabling them to improve their livelihoods while contributing to food production and the local economy.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the representative of the Head of the UNHCR Ogoja Sub Office, Alpha Oumar Barry, commended the Cross River State Government and the Oban Community for advancing sustainable solutions for displaced persons. He described access to farmland as a vital pathway to refugee self-reliance, noting that the initiative would reduce humanitarian dependency while fostering dignity, productivity and peaceful coexistence between refugees and their host communities.
In his remarks, CR-SEMA Director-General Efa Nyong praised the Oban Community for its generosity and reaffirmed Governor Bassey Otu's commitment to protecting refugees through sustainable development initiatives. He said the state would continue collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other development partners to integrate refugees into agricultural and economic programmes that benefit both displaced persons and host communities.
Officials said the agreement represents another milestone in Cross River's efforts to provide durable solutions for refugees through strategic partnerships that promote food security, economic inclusion and shared prosperity across the state.
