By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State Government has revived the state-owned Newspaper Corporation, 55 years after its establishment, transforming it into the Cross River Information Hub as part of efforts to strengthen information management and promote credible journalism.
The development marks a major step in the state government’s efforts to modernise its information infrastructure while preserving the institution’s rich history.
The facility was officially reactivated on Thursday in Calabar by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, alongside the commissioning of a new Government Printing Press.
Speaking at the event, Idris commended Governor Bassey Otu for reviving the institution instead of allowing it to disappear, describing the move as an investment in credible journalism, institutional memory and effective communication.
The minister said information infrastructure was an important component of development, stressing that government could not effectively serve citizens without communicating properly with them.
He said the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, established in 1971, had for decades documented the activities of government and the people of the state through publications including the Nigerian Chronicle and Weekend Chronicle.
Idris said its transformation into the Cross River Information Hub should position it as a centre for credible journalism, digital innovation, professional development and public engagement.
He noted that the information landscape had changed significantly, with news now travelling rapidly through newspapers, radio, television, websites and social media, while artificial intelligence was also transforming content creation and distribution.
The minister, however, warned that technological advancement must not undermine professional journalism, urging journalists to prioritise verification, accuracy, fairness and professional judgment.
“The faster information travels, the greater the premium we must place on verification. Technology may change the tools of journalism, but it cannot replace truth, accuracy, fairness and professional judgement,” Idris said.
He also described the commissioning of the modern Government Printing Press as significant, noting that official documentation remained essential for preserving institutional memory.
“A government that does not preserve its records risks losing its history; a people who do not document their journey leave others to tell their story,” he said.
On the 2027 general elections, Idris urged political actors, journalists and citizens to reject misinformation, hate speech, incitement and divisive narratives, stressing the need to place national unity above partisan and sectional interests.
“Elections will come and go; Nigeria will remain,” the minister said, urging journalists to verify claims and resist sensationalism.
In his remarks, Governor Otu said the reactivation of the corporation was part of his administration’s commitment to restoring important state institutions and strengthening information management.
“Our vision is to restore the Newspaper Corporation by bringing together its rich heritage and institutional history with modern technology, so that it can once again play a strong role in informing the people and telling the Cross River story,” Otu said.
Idris congratulated the governor, government and people of Cross River State, as well as the management and staff of the Cross River Information Hub, expressing confidence that the institution would strengthen the state’s voice, preserve its history and promote professionalism in journalism.
