Inyali Peter
Tourism is not just about beautiful places, attractive hotels or government promises. It is also about how easily people can reach their destinations. You may have the finest resorts, breathtaking landscapes and world class hospitality, but if visitors struggle to get there, many will simply go elsewhere. This is why Governor Bassey Otu’s restructuring of Cross River State’s transportation system is central to revitalising the tourism sector that put the state on the global map in the early 2000s. He understands that tourism can only thrive when movement into, out of and within the state becomes easier.
For years, some portions of the federal highways connecting Cross River to other parts of Nigeria have been a nightmare for motorists. The President Bola Tinubu administration has pursued road infrastructure projects across the country but some sections of the major routes serving Cross River remain in deplorable condition. Last year, Governor Otu stepped in with state resources to repair some of the worst portions. That intervention speaks to a practical reality that a state cannot afford to sit back and wait indefinitely while bad roads undermine its economic prospects.
What the administration is doing goes beyond road transportation. Safety on our waterways has been given priority. Communities and businesses that depend on river and coastal transport have witnessed improved security. Improving security in sea transportation can make movement safer, encourage commercial activity and open up opportunities for waterfront tourism.
There is also the long standing dream of a state owned seaport in the state. Building on the foundation laid by former Governor Ben Ayade, the Otu administration is pursuing the project, which could provide a valuable evacuation corridor for parts of northern Nigeria, neighbouring Cameroun, etc. With the necessary regulatory approvals already secured, the challenge now is to translate the ambition into a functioning port.
But perhaps the most impressive improvement for frequent travellers has been in the aviation. There was a time when flight schedules to and from Cross River were so limited that visitors had to organise their activities around the few available flying days. For an investor with a tight schedule, a business executive attending several meetings or a tourist planning a short holiday, that arrangement was hardly attractive. Some opportunities may have been lost simply because people could not be certain they could get in and out of the state when necessary.
To improve flights availability and make Cross River more accessible, the Otu administration has expanded the proposed Cally Air fleet beyond what it inherited. This may sound like an ordinary improvement, but it is not. Investors value their time, conferences depend on reliable travel arrangements and tourists want flexibility. When people can travel with greater certainty, the state becomes easier to consider for business meetings, holidays, conventions and new investments.
There is also the continuing work on the proposed Obudu Cargo International Airport, alongside renovation efforts at the Bebi airstrip. These projects could give different parts of Cross River better access to air transportation and create opportunities beyond passenger travel. A functional cargo airport could support the movement of agricultural produce, reduce delays in transporting goods and help local businesses reach wider markets. If the seaport becomes operational, the highways improve and air cargo services become viable, Cross River could develop a connected transport network that supports commerce, agriculture, logistics and tourism across the state.
Think about what this could mean for tourism. Obudu’s mountain resort and the quality healthcare services associated with the Obudu German Hospital could attract more visitors if reaching the area becomes easier. Reliable flights would help business and conference tourism in Calabar while better roads could encourage domestic tourists to explore the state’s waterfalls, cultural festivals, beaches and natural attractions.
A functioning seaport could stimulate maritime commerce and related waterfront businesses. Hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport companies, artisans and local communities would all have more opportunities to earn from the increased movement of people and goods. Transportation is not tourism itself, but it can determine whether tourism pays.
Of course, these ambitions require sustained funding, sound planning and timely delivery. Every Cross Riverian should hope that the lingering dispute over the state’s oil wells is resolved fairly, so that the state can access the resources it is entitled to and strengthen its capacity to complete critical projects. Truth is, if these investments are completed and properly managed, Cross River could become far more than a place people admire from a distance but a destination they can reach easily, invest in confidently and return to repeatedly.
