Paradise News

Category: Tourism

  • Governor Ayade lauds FG for Border Market Location in Bakassi

    Governor Ayade of Cross River State (Left) with Alhaji Faruk of NBCDA

    By Solomon Asha


    Cross River governor, Prof Ben Ayade, Monday, lauded the Federal government for awarding contracts for the construction of a 60-stall border market, primary health centre, 4-unit of 1and 2 bedrooms respectively and 70,000 litres of overhead borehole in Bakassi.
    Ayade made the commendation when the Director, National Border Communities Development Agency (NBCDA), Alhaji Faruk Maturare and his team paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office, Calabar.


    His words: “I am happy because this government is sensitive enough to locate such remote areas and trying to provide succour,” adding that “it shows that the Federal government is responsive to our cries on the plight of the Bakassi people.”

    Continuing, the governor said: “I thank the Federal government for identifying such communities because they are more or less decoupled from society and civilization, so for government to identify such communities, I think it is quite noble.”

    Ayade who approved a parcel of land for the projects charged his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, to ensure that the state on its part, assist the federal government through the provision of adequate security as well as other necessary support to aid the projects.

    While assuring that the people of Bakassi are peace loving who find delight in receiving visitors and strangers alike, the governor encouraged the agency to incorporate Bakassi indigenous contractors into the project to enable them boost their economy.

    Ayade solicited a lighting system in the area, as he averred that the area was always dark, adding that the inclusion of power would make the market thrive as parents will have better chances to eke out a living.

    “Since you have a responsibility for infrastructure beyond the market stalls, if there is also a way you can incorporate light because the place is always dark, the better,” the governor said, adding that,” this will help the market thrive, the children will go back to school and the parents will have something to do.”
    Deputy Governor Ivara Esu of Cross River State (Left) with Alhaji Faruk of NBCDA
    Earlier, Alhaji Maturare explained that his team was in the governor’s office to pay a courtesy visit on the governor as well as solicit a piece of land for a project that will positively impact on Bakassi as a border community.

    The agency director also requested for a collaboration from the state to enable them achieve some uncompleted projects inherited from other sister agencies including the National Boundary Commission.

    He explained that with about 20,000 border communities across the country, the choice of Bakassi was to assist the area gain access to various forms of socialization and the provision of livelihood.

    Watch Video Below… 

  • Work begins on the Dualisation of Calabar-Itu Road, Cross River State Water Basin – Buhari

    President Buhari on the 1st of October, 2016, announced that the federal government has already commenced work on all the twelve River Basin Authorities in the country including the Cross River Basin Authority, in a renewed drive to fully commercialise agriculture and to better support crop production, aqua-culture and accelerated rural development.

    The twelves basins include:

    I. Anambra – Imo

    II. Benin – Owena

    III. Chad Basin

    IV. Cross River

    V. Hadejia – Jama’are

    VI. Lower Benue

    VII. Lower Niger

    VIII. Niger Delta

    IX. Ogun – Osun

    X. Sokoto – Rima

    XI. Upper Benue

    XII. Upper Niger

    The President who disclosed this in his 56th Independence Day broadcast aired live on national television networks across the country added that his government has also mobilized contractors to site to commence the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the federal highways including the very deplorable Calabar-Itu road.

    According to President Buhari, “notwithstanding the budgetary constraints, the current budget allocated two hundred and forty billion naira for highway projects against twelve billion naira in 2015.

    “Many contractors who have not been paid for three years have now remobilized to sites. Seven hundred and twenty five billion naira has so far been released this budget year to capital projects.

    “The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has received one hundred and ninety seven five billion naira. Work on the following highways has now resumed.

    1. Dualization of Calabar – Itu Road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom States.

    2. Dualization of Lokoja – Benin Road, Ehor – Benin city, Edo State.

    3. Re-construction of outstanding sections of Benin – Shagamu Express way, Edo/Ogun States.

    4. Expansion works on Lagos – Ibadan Dual carriageway, Ogun/Oyo States

    5. Rehabilitation of Onitsha – Enugu Expressway, Anambra/Enugu States.

    6. Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual carriageway, Abia/Rivers States.

    7. Rehabilitation of Hadejia – Nguru Road, Jigawa State.

    8. Dualization of Kano – Katsina Road, Kano State.

    9. Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road, Borno State.

    10. Dualization of Azare – Potiskum Road, Azare – Sharuri Road, Bauchi State.

    11. Rehabilitation of Ilorin – Jebba – Mokwa – Birnin Gwari Road, Kwara State.

    12. Construction of Oju/Lokoja – Oweto Bridge over River Benue, Benue State.”

    The President who also noted that other major highways are in the queue for rehabilitation or new construction also expressed optimism that with the remobilization of contractors to site, about nine thousand workers laid off by the companies will be recalled and that several hundreds of thousands of workers will be engaged in the next few months.

  • Agba Jalingo is asking for the Breakdown of the CRS Superhighway Project, who can help him out?

    Due to some controversies surrounding the Cross River State Superhighway Project, the publisher and editor in chief of CrossRiverWatch and the former chairman of the Association of Cross River Journalists (ACROJ) who now anchors a weekend show on Hit 95.9 FM Calabar, titled ‘Dialogue with Agba Jalingo’ says he needs someone to breakdown the Superhighway just like the one for 4th Mainland Bridge below.


    Useful Information About Proposed 4th Mainland Bridge:

    LENGTH: 38km (25km on the Mainland axis, 8km on the Lagos Lagoon and 5km in the Lekki axis)

    TYPE OF BRIDGE: Four-lane, dual-carriageway

    NO OF STRUCTURES TO BE AFFECTED: 800 (Eight hundred)

    ESTIMATED COST: N844billion

    COST OF LAND ACQUISITION AND COMPENSATION: N20billion

    COST OF RELOCATION OF THE STRUCTURES TO BE AFFECTED: N17billion

    BRIDGE-BUILDING CONSORTIUM: Julius Berger Nigeria & Hitech Construction

    FINANCING CONSORTIUM: Africa Finance Corporation (Lagos-based
    ), Access Bank & J.P. Morgan
    (USA-based banking giant)

    TYPE OF CONTRACT: Build, operate and transfer (BOT)

    CONCESSION PERIOD: 40years
    INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS: Heavy vehicular traffic and massive population to be served

    PAYBACK PERIOD: 15-20years (as projected by Ayodeji Ebo, Head of Investment Advisory, AFRINVEST, the Lead Adviser for the development of Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge)

    CO-ORDINATOR: Visible Assets (headed by pastor idowu iluyomade)

    FACILITATOR: Lagos State Government

    Please, start forwarding or dropping your comments in the comment section in lieu of Agba’s question. Thanks. 

  • NIMASA gives Tourism Lectures to Young Folks on top of Obudu Cattle Ranch (Photos)

    The Chairman, Board of Directors of NIMASA, General Jonathan India Garba giving a lecture to Amarachi & Chinonso both from Anambra State but resident in Lagos.

    General Garba was delivering a flawless lecture on montane agriculture and biodiversity of the Obudu Mountain Resort & Cattle Ranch.

    As a Geographer, Environmentalist & a Lecturer of Environmental Biology, I was just speechless watching General Garba deliver his lecture on the features of montane climate, and its vegetation. General Garba is a world traveller, his experiences, and diverse knowledge is dazzling.

    General Jonathan India Garba would today be inaugurated as the Board Chairman of NIMASA.

    Congratulations to the NIMASA Board Chairman on your inauguration.

  • Governor Ayade plans City Irrigation for Robust City Capping of Calabar

    Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Mike Eraye interviewed by Government House correspondent, Solomon Asha and Beatrice Akpala 

    By Solomon Asha 


    As part of the deliberate blueprint to make the city of Calabar, the Cross River capital all year round green and aesthetically beautiful, the Governor of cross River, Senator Ben Ayade is putting in place a structure for city irrigation to ensure effective city capping/trees planting and operation restoration of green areas in Calabar.

    The Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Mike Eraye who disclosed this yesterday in an interview with Solomon Asha and Beatrice Akpala, while supervising the on going work of replanting trees and destroyed grasses/carpets along the broken line between 11-11 axis and IBB Way, in Calabar, he explained that the leadership of Senator Ayade in Cross River is committed to ensuring a fresh, clean and healthy air for the residents of the city as well as attracting Carbon Credit to the state.

    On the ministry’s assignment Engr. Eraye explained, “we have a target which is near infinity, which is His Excellency’s 5million trees target and we would be contributing to ensure the realization of that target, and it is going to be continuous, it will recognize no dry season as we are putting structure on ground for city irrigation; And throughout the dry season we would go and by God’s grace we will continue to have rain in Calabar”

    He said disclosed that city capping is the generation of canopies on our roads/ways, and that what they are doing now is to link the broken link to ensure continuity in this portion from 11-11 (stadium) to IBB way, as you will find a good example in MCC and Atekong Drive, while listing the benefits of city capping/operation trees planting to include aesthetic value, checkmating of climate change, attraction of carbon credit to boost revenue generation, fights against dirt’s/carbon dioxide/monoxides from vehicles/generating plants and other sources of pollutants by replacing them with fresh and clean air vital to human beings.

    On the species of trees to be planted the Commissioner for Environment stated that some of the species will be brought from places like Jos, Plateau, Ibadan, Ghana, from the wilds and other locations, and that same variety with the existing one in a particular locality would be brought to link up from where there was a discontinuity, reconnect with similar trees, redesign the structure as it is on ground, adding that some varieties will be difficult to get, and that we are already in September, while taking biological and scientific factors into consideration.

    “You will recalled that the green vehicle has lost through human activities, including the canopy as you can see from IBB to this point where we are working, there are no trees standing again, we want to restore the trees, and for aesthetic values and symmetry, there must be a line. We deploy services of surveyors and we are going to replant to reconnect with IBB. Many factors would be responsible to ensure the success of the assignment. Species are difficult to get we will get them from Jos, Ibadan, Ghana, the wilds and other locations”.

    On the growing rate of the various species, Engr. Eraye explained that it depend on the species, that while some grow fast as the ones along 11-11 which were planted 2013/2014 whiles others may grow slowly, and the reason for bringing those that grow slowly is to plant them along paths where high tension electricity cables passes through, hence the ministry is taking pains to select where we plat what and where”.

    Engr. Eraye concluded with a message to Cross Riverians and other Nigerians loving in Cross River “that everyone should use the walkway, as it is only the hunters that take bush paths. Government has deliberately invested a lot of resources in building walkways, the people should use them and avoid destroying the grasses and the canopies. There are heavy penalties for violating the rule as they will face the mobile court. When we get to buildup areas where we have organized settlements, residents would be at liberty to choose the species of trees we should plant at the front of their houses”.

  • Gov Ayade awards 37 Billion Naira contract for the dualisation of roads in Northern Cross River

    The Cross River State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Professor Ben Ayade has awarded N31.750,525.81 Billion Naira contract for the dualisation of Mfom, Okpoma, Okuku, Imaje, Bekwarra, Obudu and Obanliku road to Sydney Construction Company.

    Sydney Construction Company is an Australian company that based on construction of high end projects including roads,
    Cross River State is working under Governor Ben Ayade the Promise Keeper. God bless Cross River State.

  • The Bakassi Deep Seaport, The Export Opportunities, And The New Economic Architecture

    Modern Global economic integration creates a platform that recognizes individuals, sovereign nations, subsidiary States and giant conglomerates of multinational status as EQUAL ACTORS. It is by this, that Cross River, as a subsidiary of Nigeria is qualified to go into international economic/commercial relations in areas of her comparative advantage like the exports of cocoa, cassava and industrial starch. As I have said earlier, there is no society along the maritime-line that has ever been poor, in history. Therefore, Cross River takes an exception to any of such outlier positions to this reality.

    By volume of cocoa production, Ivory Coast is leading the world at the average of 1.65million metric tonnes of cocoa beans every year that is used in the manufacturing of chocolate which amounts to 33% of cocoa produced in the world. This is followed by Indonesia, Ghana and Nigeria. In Nigeria, Cross River produces the average of four hundred thousand metric tonnes(400,000) of cocoa, yearly which accounts for about 60% of the total cocoa produced in the country, followed by Ondo State.

    It will be important to note that most of the Ivory Coast Cocoa farms are situated close to the Abidjan Seaport with 11.6m draught which makes it possible for shipments of cocoa out of the port by mother vessels to be made. This is the major reason why Ivory Coast is leading because  she easily meets with the growing demand of cocoa in the world which is being supplied at the global market with ease.

    The reason why the above analysis is necessary is because, the only way of translating these volumes of cocoa productions and other cash crops into economic reality that will be meaningful to the state, is to look for a functional maritime export channel with proximity advantage to  these farms. Given that Ikom, as the major producer of cocoa in the state is less than 4 hours from Bakassi, the construction of the Bakassi Deep Seaport becomes an urgent necessity. Once the state production in cocoa has an appreciative export value, the volume of cocoa production will automatically double within the shortest space of time because, motivations in cocoa farming will, naturally, be elicited.

    While Abidjan Seaport has the draught of 11.6m, Bakassi Deep Seaport has 16m draught which means huge departures of cocoa from our shores which means MONEY, aside other multiplier outcomes. But for now since the state does not have a functional seaport, most of the cocoa produced from Ikom are pushed, individually, through Cameroun port, which diminishes the export value of our cocoa.

    Moreover, Cross River is the second largest producer of cassava in the country after Ogun state, and Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world. In the 2016 Budget, there is a plan for private investors to facilitate the production of industrial starch out of cassava, and if this happens with the Bakassi Deep Seaport in place, Cross River will be the largest exporter of industrial starch in the world because Ogun will either rely on Apapa Port, O’nel or Bakassi Port which are very far.

    To this end, the Bakassi Deep Seaport is going to be very consequential in shaping the economic architecture of the state; from subsistent/plantation economy and civil service oriented society to an industrially viable economy of global pedestal where cross river shall occupy prime position at the front burner of global economic/commercial integration.

    In my next discussion, I shall project to the public, the current state of the Bakassi Deep Seaport with specific reference to what has been done so far. Feel free to ask questions. You are the maker of government and government exists because of you. It is your right to know what is happening, as it is our obligation to provide you with such information. Do not see the government as “a Leviathan” because the social contract was signed for your convenience and comfort.

    Eval Asikong is the S.A. to the Governor on Social Media

  • Pouring Of Libation: The Diminishing African Tradition And The Need To Reawaken The It

    I’ll like to start this piece by giving a detailed explanation of the term ‘Ancestors’. What do we really understand by ‘Ancestors’? It’s very common these days that at the mention of ancestors people tend to forbid and reprove with all manner of seriousness. Perhaps we mistake our ancestors to be the devils acting as strongholds to our material advancement in life.

    Some days back, I was engaged in a discussion with a friend, reminisce of the old days was the topic of discussion. Specifically the tradition of our forefathers of pouring libation to ancestors was the focal point, “God forbid ancestors, I rebuke” that was the reaction from my friend. I queried his reaction and sought to know the basis for his reaction. His response was: my pastor have warned severally about that, there is nothing like ancestors, there are agents of the devil, he concluded.

    Well, the aim of this write up is not to criticize pastors or churches, I have no authority to do such rather with my little level of knowhow, I write to illuminate the great minds. Hence this write up addresses particularly great minds; the African tradition enthusiast and not religious fanatics.

    Now, what does the dictionary conceive ancestors to mean? “One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father’s or mother’s side at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather” (Oxford advance learner’s dictionary 8th edition). Biologically we are made to understand that often times offspring do not inherit the traits of their immediate parents rather traits of grandparents and great grandparents are often inherited, therefore to somewhat, ancestors are of vast significance to our existence and deserves our unending respect and honour as long as we still live on the planet earth.

    About the African tradition of pouring libation. Kimani Nehusi (2013) in his book titled: libation: A Ritual of Heritage in African Life, opines; “pour libation to your father and mother who rest in the valley of the dead. God will witness your action and accept it. Do not forget to do this even when you are away from home. For as you do for your parents, your children will do for you also”. Explicating further on what libation signifies to Africans, Kimani asserted that: Libation in Africa is a ritual of heritage, a drink offering to honour and please the Creator, the lesser divinities, our sacred ancestors, humans present and not present, as well as the environment. This ritual is also practiced in many other parts of the world. Among Africans it may also be deployed to issue curses upon wrongdoers” (The same way we pray against the wicked in various churches) According to the Kwanzaa guide, “pouring of libation is a spiritual and venerable act which has its roots in traditional African societies. It was done then and is done now to honour those who have gone before us. Their lives and contributions made it possible for us to live with more dignity, freedom, possibilities, and opportunities. In traditional African societies, libation is poured to honour the ancestors, who remained spiritually active in the lives of the living”.

    In Nigeria and particularly Obubra been my ancestral land, libation, as narrated by my grandmother and father is poured to honour our ancestors. It is a way to consecrate the dead and to raise their spiritual souls. It’s a means of remembering those who have passed: grandmothers and grandfathers, mother and fathers, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, husband and wives, siblings, and of course, friends. Thus, libation is a fundamental part of their daily activities then. (Though done occasionally this days) For in actively remembering our grandparents and parents as well as other loved ones, we ensure that they are not forgotten, that their lives had meaning, and that they live through us still living on earth. “We call upon our ancestors far and near, Fathers of our fathers, mothers of our mothers, to bear witness to what we have done, and by their example, to continue to inspire us to make progress, and achieve morally and socially at our highest potential. We pour this libation to bring into our midst their venerable spirit, radiating their great wisdom, courage, dedication, and unflinching commitment to live ethical and productive lives. It is in honour of them that we pour this libation, Calling their names is a way of bringing them into spiritual existence. And in remembering the lessons they taught us, the love they gave us, and the example they lived by, that we may live better lives”. The ancient Egyptian precept says: to do that of value is eternity. A person (our parents and love ones) who is call forth by his or her works is not forgotten.

    Given the significance of pouring libation, the question is: why do we tend to regard pouring of libation as a “sin” or “abomination”? Some may consider this piece to mean dogmatism. Yes it might be regarded as dogma but evidence abounds to support its purpose. Truth be told, a lot of people go through several life difficulties because they neglect the pouring of libation, though quite unknown to them. Cases abound where pastors refer their members to go back to their ancestral lands for cleansing and pouring of libation to get rid of some certain life difficulties. This piece is meant to illuminate as many that are still wallowing in such slumber of neglecting the African tradition. I implore you to be pragmatic for once. The African tradition need not to die, it is our responsibilities to awaken the tradition. Wake up my African brothers, great enthusiast of our great tradition I admonish you.

    As a rising advocate of the African tradition, I like to summarize this piece by stressing further that there is need to reawaken the African tradition of pouring libation, our tradition need not to die, it’s our identity, it’s our symbol, our cultural heritage vested with abundant spiritual benefits and others. To this end, I like to state lucidly that am not unmindful of the fact that this piece may be vulnerable to attract widespread criticisms, but like I stated earlier, I address only great minds and enthusiast of the  African tradition, and they must willing to consider these with genuine conviction in order to reap its dividends. Other religious enthusiast may as usual hold unapproachable, for it is undoubtedly true that they are always detrimental to the truth.

    Long Live Nigeria
    Long Live Africa
    Long live our Great Tradition
    God bless the Mbembe Tradition
    God bless the African Tradition

    ~ThankGod G. Inyang

  • Cross River State Very Safe As US Declares 20 Unsafe States In NIGERIAN

    United States government has listed 20 of Nigeria’s 36 states as unsafe and asked its citizens living in the country to stay away from them.

    Among the 20, it cited Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as a complete no-go area as “the ability of the US Mission to provide assistance to US citizens” in those states remains severely limited.

    Members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect recently renewed attackes in Borno State, while Fulani herdsmen have scaled up killing of villagers and farmers in Adamawa State.

    The travel warning, published on Wednesday, replaced an earlier one dated February 5, 2016.

    In addition to the three frontline states, the Department of State also “recommends against all but essential travel to the following states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks: Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

    “The Department also warns against travel in the Gulf of Guinea, because of the threat of piracy” the advisory published online added.

    It added that based on safety and security risk assessments, the embassy maintains restrictions for travel by U.S. officials to the states listed above; officials must receive advance clearance by the U.S. Mission for any travel to those states.

    The statement particularly urged vigilance around government security facilities; churches, mosques, and other places of worship; locations where large crowds may gather, such as hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants, markets, shopping malls; and other areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.

    “Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups, and U.S. citizens may encounter police and military checkpoints, additional security, and possible road blocks throughout the country.

    “Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been displaced as a result of violence in the north.”

    The State Department noted that kidnappings remained a security concern throughout Nigeria, as criminal elements across the country orchestrated kidnappings for ransom; Islamic extremists, operating predominantly in the North, also have been known to conduct kidnappings. Criminals or militants have abducted foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, from off-shore and land-based oil facilities, residential compounds, airports, and public roadways.

    “Separatist groups have staged demonstrations in Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, and Rivers states, some of which have turned violent.

    “Militant groups have destroyed oil production infrastructure in Bayelsa and Delta states.

    “U.S citizens are advised to avoid the areas of these states where these incidents have occurred.

    “Attacks by pirates off the coast of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea have increased substantially in recent years.

    “Armed gangs have boarded both commercial and private vessels to rob travelers.

    “The Nigerian Navy has limited capacity to respond to criminal acts at sea,” it concluded.


    ~Emmanuel Ulayi 

  • Nigeria’s First Aso Rock lives on in Calabar (Photos)

    The structures that housed the offices of Lord Lugard and other early administrators and colonial officials of Nigeria are still intact in Calabar, the Cross River capital. You can still see the massive offices that served as Nigeria’s first ‘Aso Rock’, where both the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria were administered from before it was amalgamated by the same Lord Lugard in 1914.

    Materials used in erecting the structure, were all brought in from Britain, with the experts to build it. The one-storey edifice was built in 1884 in Old Calabar. Now called Old Residency, it was originally known as the Government House, and it accommodated the early British administrators of the Niger coast territories.

    The Old Residency is situated between the residence of today’s chief judge of Cross River State, that of the deputy governor, and with presidential lodge in front. The building, in 1950, also served as ministerial guest house. After the Nigerian Civil War, the Old Residency accommodated offices of the then new South Eastern State of Nigeria.

    The building was declared a national monument in 1959 and has been renovated over time by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in 1986.

    Credit is given to Dr. Ekpo O. Eyo, the first Nigerian who became director of antiquities of the commission and later director general in 1968 till 1986 by which time the place was open to the public. He influenced the retention and upgrade of the Old Residency to present national status. The pioneer surveyor of antiquities at the commission, a Briton, was Mr Kenneth C. Murray from 1943 to 1968.

    Curator of the museum, Mrs Anna Effiom said the first man that occupied it was one Consul Hewett, who now has a street named after him in Calabar. She said the Old Residency is now used as a national museum, adding that after Hewett, many other colonial administrators and key government functionaries had offices and lived there with their families.

    Today, the museum is a tourists site, attracting thousands of visitors who wants to sight the the items and machineries used in the colonial era.

    Also, there is a restaurant and wine bar at the museum where local and English delicacies are prepared; while the wine bar serve the coolest drink in the city.

    History lives in Nigeria’s first Aso Rock, the old Residency Calabar.

    If you are thinking of tourism, think Cross River State.


    ~George Odok Jnr