| Cross River State State nickname: The People's Paradise |
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| Location | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Statistics | ||
| Governor (List) |
Liyel Imoke (PDP) | |
| Date Created | 27 May 1967 | |
| Capital | Calabar | |
| Area | 20,156 km² Ranked 19th |
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| Population 1991 Census 2005 estimate |
Ranked 28th 1,865,604 3,104,446 |
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| GDP (PPP) -Total -Per Capita |
2007 (estimate) $9.29 billion[1] $3,150[1] |
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| ISO 3166-2 | NG-CR | |
Cross River State is a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is at Calabar, and it is named for the Cross River, which passes through the state. Ejagham and Efik are major languages of this state, but traces of the igbo language is also present in its western land borders.
Contents |
History
Cross River State is a coastal state in South Eastern Nigeria, named after the Cross River, which passes through the state. Located in the Niger Delta, Cross River State occupies 20,156 square kilometres. It shares boundaries with Benue State to the north, Enugu and Abia States to the west, to the east by Cameroon Republic and to the south by Akwa-Ibom and the Atlantic Ocean.
Cross River State was created in May 27, 1967 from the former Eastern Region,Nigeria by the General Yakubu Gowon regime. Its name was changed to Cross River State in the 1976 state creation exercise by the then General Murtala Mohammed regime from South Eastern State. The present day Akwa Ibom State was excised from it in the state creation exercise of September 1987 by the then regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Its capital is Calabar. Its major towns are Akamkpa, Akpet Central,Calabar South, Ikom, Obubra, Odukpani, Ogoja, Ugep, Obudu, Obanliku and Akpabuyo.
The state has been governed by lots of previous Governors and Administrators which included Udoakaha.J.Esuene,Paul Omu,Tunde Elegbede,Clement Isong,Donald Etiebet,Daniel Archibong,Ibim Princewill, Ernest Atta, Clement Ebri,Ibrahim Kefas,Gregory Agboneni,Umar Faoruk Ahmed,Christopher Osondu and Donald Duke.The present governor Liyel Imoke has been the state governor since May 29 2007-July 14 2008 and from August 26 2008 to date.
Demographics
The state is ethnically diverse, including Efik, Bekwara, Igbo and Ejagham inhabitants. Cross River State and Akwa Ibom are sister states both being the old Calabar Kingdom. Most of the inhabitants of Cross River are Christian.
Administrative divisions
Cross River State is divided into 18 Local Government Areas. They are:
Festivals
In line with the objectives of the former Governor of the state Mr. Donald Duke to mix business with pleasure, there are many festivals. These festivals bring in tourists from far and wide into the state to enjoy themselves and also do business in the state. These festivals include The Cross River State Christmas Festival,which promises to be an event that will rival any festival events in Africa, with over 30 days of endless fun, carnival, games, cultural display, art exhibition, pageant and music performance. t\This year's Christmas event and Carnival promise to be the best. The official website http://www.crossriverfestival.com:-
- The Cross River State Christmas Festival - 1 December to 31 December yearly The official website http://www.crossriverfestival.com
- The Cross River State Carnival Float - 26 December yearly The official website http://www.crossriverfestival.com and http://www.calabarcarnival.com
- The Ugep Leboku Yam festival - 28 August yearly
- The Calabar Boat Regata The official website http://www.crossriverfestival.com
Tourism in Cross River State
From the soaring plateaus of the mountain tops of Obudu to the Rain forests of Afi, from the Waterfalls of Agbokim and Kwa to the spiralling ox-bow Calabar River which provides sights and images of the Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar Marina, Calabar Residency Museum and the Calabar Slave Park along its course, there is always a thrilling adventure awaiting the eco-tourist visiting Cross River State.
Other tourist attractions are the Ikom Monoliths (a series of volcanic-stone monoliths constructed anytime between 2500 BC and 1 AD),the Mary Slessor Tomb,Calabar Drill Monkey Sanctuary, Cross River National Park, Afi Mountain walkway canopy, Kwa falls,Agbokim waterfalls, Tinapa Business Resort and the annual Calabar Carnival that takes place during the Xmas period.
Cross River State can be accessed by air through the Margaret Ekpo International Airport at Calabar. There are daily flights to Calabar from Lagos and Abuja serviced by airlines such as Virgin Nigeria, Arik Airlines and Aero Contractors. Aero Contractors also have flights to the Bebi airstrip at Obudu for trips to the Obudu Mountain Resort.
- Tourism in Cross River State http://www.crossriverforum.org/tourism.html
- Hotels in Cross River State http://www.crossriverforum.org/hotels.html
See also
References
- ^ a b "C-GIDD (Canback Global Income Distribution Database)". Canback Dangel. http://www.cgidd.com. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
External links
- Cross River State Government Homepage
- Cross River State ... People's paradise
- Cross River State Festival Website
- Cross River Forum..Tourism and Investment website
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Coordinates: 5°45′N 8°30′E / 5.75°N 8.5°E
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