By EFFANGA OSOK

FG Applauds Cross River’s Revival of Chronicle, Modern Government Printing Press

THE Federal Government has commended the Cross River State Government for reviving key public information infrastructure, describing the remodelling of the state newspaper corporation and the commissioning of a modern Government Printing Press as strategic investments in journalism, institutional memory and effective governance.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the commendation on Thursday in Calabar during the reactivation of the Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, now operating as the Cross River Information Hub, and the commissioning of the new printing facility by Governor Bassey Otu.

The projects mark a significant attempt to restore infrastructure that had played an important role in the state’s media and information ecosystem.

From Dormancy to a New Information Hub

Idris said the revival of the newspaper corporation represented more than the renovation of an old physical facility.

He challenged the Cross River Information Hub to evolve beyond conventional newspaper publishing and become a modern centre for credible journalism, digital innovation, professional development and engagement between government and citizens.

His position reflects the changing nature of the media industry, where traditional print organisations increasingly have to combine newspapers with digital platforms, real-time reporting, multimedia storytelling and audience engagement.

The minister commended Governor Otu for recognising information infrastructure as an important component of governance and development.

He also urged the state government to sustain investment in training and retraining journalists, editors, printers, communication professionals and technical personnel.

Such investment, he noted, would be necessary if the revived facilities are to remain relevant in an increasingly digital and rapidly changing media environment.

Printing Press & the Preservation of Public Records

The new Government Printing Press represents another component of the state’s information infrastructure revival.

Idris said the facility would contribute to the preservation of official records and strengthen government communication.

Government documents such as laws, gazettes, white papers and official reports are not merely administrative materials. They constitute part of the institutional record through which government decisions, policies and historical developments can be traced.

“A government that fails to preserve its records risks losing its history, while a people who fail to document their journey may leave others to tell their story,” Idris said.

The emphasis on record preservation gives the printing press significance beyond its commercial function. It potentially provides the state with greater control over the production and preservation of sensitive official documents.

2027 Elections & the Information Challenge

The minister also used the occasion to remind journalists of their responsibilities as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He urged media professionals to guard against misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and incitement.

According to him, the credibility of the elections would depend not only on political and electoral institutions but also on the integrity of the information environment surrounding the electoral process.

“The 2027 elections will test not only our political institutions but also the integrity of our information ecosystem,” he said.

Idris urged journalists to interrogate claims and verify information before publication rather than allow speed or sensationalism to override accuracy.

He encouraged media workers to embrace new technology without abandoning professional ethics.

“Be fast, but be accurate. Be competitive, but be ethical,” he told journalists.

Otu’s Long-Planned Media Revival

Governor Otu said the revival of the Nigerian Chronicle formed part of his administration’s broader plan to rebuild the state’s information machinery and improve communication between government and citizens.

He recalled that he had promised to revitalise Cross River’s information assets during his first media parley after assuming office.

The administration first upgraded transmission equipment and renovated facilities at the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation before turning its attention to the Nigerian Chronicle.

The newspaper had reportedly remained dormant for about two decades.

Its complex also sustained damage during the 2020 #EndSARS protests, creating another obstacle to its revival.

According to Otu, modern printing machines and other accessories have now been installed as part of the restoration programme.

He urged employees to protect the equipment and demonstrate through hard work that the state’s investment was justified.

Building a Faster Response to Misinformation

Otu also directed the editorial board of the Nigerian Chronicle to establish a Critical Response Initiative.

The proposed mechanism is intended to enable the newspaper to respond quickly to breaking developments, misleading information and emergencies.

The instruction reflects the growing competition between professional journalism and the speed of information circulating through social media.

For a revived public newspaper, the challenge will therefore not simply be to return to print. It will be to establish credibility and relevance in an environment where citizens increasingly receive information through multiple digital channels.

The governor consequently urged the Chronicle to maintain fact-checking and responsible journalism while accurately reporting developments in the state.

Remembering the Chronicle’s Golden Years

The revival also brought back memories of the newspaper’s former prominence.

Former Cross River Governor and former Nigerian Chronicle journalist, Chief Clement Ebri, described the development as historic.

Ebri recalled joining the newspaper in 1978 and subsequently serving as Features Editor and Acting Editor.

According to him, the Chronicle once operated on a significant national scale, with a daily print run of about 80,000 copies and, on some occasions, approximately 120,000 copies.

It maintained correspondents in major Nigerian cities, produced multiple editions and served as a training ground for journalists.

Ebri attributed part of the newspaper’s decline to the departure of experienced personnel without adequate replacement.

He also recalled the destruction of its premises during the 2020 #EndSARS crisis.

Preserving the Chronicle’s Institutional Memory

Ebri called for the restoration of the newspaper’s library and archives.

He appealed to individuals and institutions holding old copies of the Chronicle, photographs, newspaper cuttings and other historical materials to donate them for preservation.

The appeal highlights another dimension of the revival: restoring a newspaper is not only about reconstructing offices and installing printing machines. It is also about recovering the institutional memory accumulated through decades of journalism.

“We must not simply restore the Chronicle of yesterday. We must build the Chronicle of tomorrow,” Ebri said.

That challenge captures the balance facing the revived publication — preserve its history while developing a sustainable model for contemporary journalism.

Reducing Outsourcing, Creating Revenue

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Ene Cobham, said the new Government Printing Press would reduce the state’s dependence on outsourced printing services.

He said the facility would also strengthen the security and confidentiality of sensitive government documents.

Beyond those administrative benefits, the press is expected to create employment and generate revenue through commercial printing services.

That gives the project a potentially broader economic role. Instead of government funds continually leaving the state for outsourced printing, the facility could provide some printing services internally while also serving external clients.

A Test of Sustainability

The revival of Cross River’s information infrastructure is therefore only the beginning.

The long-term test will be whether the Nigerian Chronicle and the new printing press can operate sustainably, maintain professional standards, preserve institutional records and adapt to the realities of digital media.

The Federal Government’s commendation provides political backing, while the state government’s investment provides the physical foundation.

But the success of the initiative will ultimately depend on what happens after the commissioning ceremonies: whether the facilities remain functional, whether journalists receive continuous professional development, whether archives are preserved and whether citizens find the revived information platforms credible and useful.

For Cross River, the challenge is no longer simply bringing dormant infrastructure back to life. It is turning that infrastructure into a modern, credible and sustainable public information system.