The Cross River State Government has started building a new fun center at Tortugal Island, Marina Resort, Calabar. This will cost about N4 billion. They want to make more people visit their state and make more money from tourism.
Ojoi Ekpenyong, who leads the Cross River Tourism Bureau, shared this news during a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.
Mr. Ekpenyong said this project is being funded by private businesses. This is a smart way to make the state’s tourism more exciting.
“The fun center will create around 250 permanent jobs,” Mr. Ekpenyong said. He also mentioned that about 700 people will work on building it.
The fun center will have lots of cool stuff like lounges for different kinds of customers, a play zone for kids, and even activities for water sports.
Mr. Ekpenyong also said that this project will attract visitors from other countries, making Cross River a top spot for travelers once again.
“This project is not just about building a place; it’s about making Cross River known for its great hospitality again. We expect to make at least N10 million every day, which will help our local economy a lot,” he added.
Besides the fun center, Mr. Ekpenyong said there are plans to hand over the Qua Falls Resort in Akamkpa to a private company. This will help make Qua Falls more profitable.
“Qua Falls is a natural treasure. We are talking to a private company to take care of it and make it even better,” he mentioned.
Things You Should Know
These projects are part of a bigger plan by Cross River State to get more investments and tourists. They are using their beautiful nature and culture to make this happen.
The fun center and Qua Falls improvements are key in making the state a top choice for both Nigerian and international tourists.
Also, there’s a big project to build a 700-kilometer highway from Lagos to Calabar that started in March 2024.
The project is being done by Hitech Construction Company Limited. This plan moves most of the risks to the contractor, while the government shares the costs.
The first part of the highway is 47.7 kilometers long, stretching from Eko Atlantic to Eleko in Lagos State. In May 2024, Works Minister David Umahi said they would start construction in Akwa Ibom and Cross River after finishing the paperwork.
The highway will be built in different sections at the same time. They will start in Akwa Ibom and Cross River first.
Additionally, there is a 477-kilometer superhighway that will connect Calabar to other states like Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa, ending in Abuja.
These new roads will make it easier to travel to Cross River. This will help the state’s projects and make their economy even stronger.