President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the importance of credible public information and institutional memory as Cross River State revived its long-dormant newspaper corporation and commissioned a new government printing press in Calabar.
Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris represented the President at the reopening of the former Cross River State Newspaper Corporation, now renamed the Cross River Information Hub.
The state also commissioned a new Government Printing Press.
Idris said the revival represented more than reopening a building.
He described it as an effort to restore an institution, preserve historical records and strengthen public trust in professional journalism.
The Nigerian Chronicle and Weekend Chronicle were among the publications historically produced by the corporation.
Idris said the media environment had changed dramatically because of websites, social platforms and artificial intelligence.
He argued, however, that technology could not replace truth, accuracy, fairness and professional judgement.
The minister urged the new information hub to become a centre for journalism, digital innovation, professional development and public engagement.
Cross River Governor Bassey Otu said the revival fulfilled an earlier promise to rebuild state-owned information institutions.
He said his administration had also upgraded facilities at the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation.
The Nigerian Chronicle had been largely inactive for about two decades.
Otu said the state had invested in modern printing equipment and rebuilt facilities damaged during the 2020 EndSARS protests.
He called on management and staff to justify the investment through professionalism and effective maintenance.
The governor also directed the editorial board to develop a Critical Response Initiative capable of responding quickly to breaking news, misinformation and emergencies.
Former Cross River Governor Clement Ebri, who began his journalism career at the Chronicle in 1978, recalled that the newspaper once recorded daily circulation of up to 120,000 copies.
He described its earlier era as one in which the publication functioned as a major journalistic institution.
The revival is intended to combine that historical identity with a more digital and multimedia-focused information strategy.
