Obudu Mountain Resort, a once thriving world-class resort in Northern Cross State, is set to rebound with renovations nearing completion.
In a bid to restore the once most-visited resort in Nigeria to its former glory, last year, the Cross River State government picked CIBA Construction Company Limited as the most preferred concessionaires to re-design, redevelop and upscale the resort.
Following the development, CIBA Hospitality Limited undertook the upgrade of the resort in partnership with Marriott International, amid entering into a business relationship for the redevelopment and management of the facility.
Considering the boost the tourism industry received during the heydays of the resort and the need to support its restoration, Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism, led a team on a courtesy visit to the resort to inspect the ongoing renovation undertaken by the new concessionaire.
The Minister, who was accompanied by a high level team that included, Abubakar Ewa, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Cross River State, officials of the resort among others, was at the resort to also assess its current state in alignment with the National Eco/Community Tourism Roadmap of the current administration that is being driven by the Ministry of Tourism.
The roadmap, according to the minister, is to ensure that the Nigerian tourism sector delivers economic benefits, positive social change and profound goodwill to the country.
Speaking on the development, Dami Adepoju, an executive of Marriott International, assured that the partnership with CIBA Hospitality Limited in the remodeling and management of Obudu Mountain Resort would provide an alignment with leisure and business travellers’ behaviours.
On his part, Josiah Samuel, group managing director, CIBA Construction Company Limited, commended the minister for undertaking the tour of the resort, amid strides since assuming office. He assured the minister and the Cross River State government of the company’s commitment to delivery on the project on time and repositioning the resort to stand out as one of the recognizable touch-points in tourism in Africa.
With the ongoing construction of the Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport and the upgrade of the resort at the same time, a growth pole that will open socio-economic activities of the Obudu axis is in the works.
When completed, the resort will serve as a hub for international travellers and tourists who desire to experience nature, serene environment and scenic views that Obudu Mountain Resort offers.
Also, when completed, Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport will provide critical connectivity that will be a significant engine of economic development and catalyst for growth as well as beneficial to the communities in northern Cross River, while industries in Ebonyi, Benue and Taraba states that are reliant on quick transportation, such as logistics, manufacturing, and e-commerce will also come into the mix.
