Otu’s Obudu Ranch revival targets Cross River’s year-round tourism
The Cross River State Government is repositioning the Obudu Ranch Resort as a year-round tourism and investment destination through a concession arrangement aimed at rehabilitating the iconic facility and upgrading its supporting infrastructure.
The initiative, led by Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, followed more than a year of negotiations with Living Curation Real Estate Limited, which has been selected to finance, rehabilitate, modernise, operate and maintain the resort for an agreed concession period.
Fred Abua
The Cross River State Government is repositioning the Obudu Ranch Resort as a year-round tourism and investment destination through a concession arrangement aimed at rehabilitating the iconic facility and upgrading its supporting infrastructure.
The initiative, led by Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, followed more than a year of negotiations with Living Curation Real Estate Limited, which has been selected to finance, rehabilitate, modernise, operate and maintain the resort for an agreed concession period.
The government says the arrangement is intended to revive the resort while preserving public ownership and ensuring that host communities in Obanliku benefit from the investment.
Once rehabilitation is completed, the Obudu Ranch Resort is expected to offer improved accommodation and hospitality facilities, upgraded internal infrastructure, a rehabilitated cable car and new tourist attractions.
The broader objective is to expand Cross River’s tourism economy beyond the traditional seasonal concentration around Calabar by creating a destination capable of attracting visitors throughout the year.
The resort also has potential to host international conferences, corporate retreats and other high-profile events. The recent geographical and cultural tour of defence attaches from Australia, Pakistan and other countries, hosted by the Defence Intelligence Agency at the resort, underscored its capacity to accommodate international engagements.
Beyond the resort, the state government plans to rehabilitate the Bebi Airstrip to improve access to the Obudu area and support increased tourism and investment activity.
The Utanga Safari Lodge is also expected to be redeveloped as a flora and fauna conservation centre, with a focus on wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection, environmental education and ecological tourism.
These projects could create opportunities for local businesses and workers, including farmers, artisans, traders and transport operators, while increasing economic activity across Obanliku, Obudu and other parts of Cross River.
The government has stressed that the concession is not a sale of the public assets. The Obudu Ranch Resort, Bebi Airstrip and Utanga Safari Lodge remain owned by the Cross River State Government.
Under the arrangement, the private partner has the right to finance, rehabilitate, operate and maintain the facilities for the agreed period. The assets, including improvements made during the concession, will revert fully to the state at the end of the agreement.
A Project Advisory Committee, with community liaison officers among its members, is expected to monitor implementation and help protect the public interest.
At a stakeholders’ engagement in Sankwalla, Obanliku Local Government Area, the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, urged traditional rulers, community leaders, women, young people and other residents to support the project.
Odey said the administration remained committed to engaging the host communities throughout the process and addressing legitimate concerns through recognised traditional institutions, community liaison representatives and government channels.
The concessionaire has also outlined plans extending beyond the rehabilitation of the resort.
Speaking for Living Curation Real Estate Limited, the company’s representative and team lead, Col. Amit Ghosh, said the firm had operated in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector for about 20 years and had been active in Akamkpa Local Government Area for about four and a half years.
Ghosh said the company intended to develop Utanga Safari into a conservation and scientific research centre focused on protecting and breeding endangered African species.
He also said the company planned to rehabilitate public health centres in the area within three months.
If successfully implemented, the combined projects could strengthen tourism, conservation, transport, hospitality and other economic activities in northern Cross River.
The ongoing development of the Obudu Cargo Airport is also expected to improve access to the area and create additional opportunities for trade, tourism and investment.
For the Otu administration, the revival of the Obudu Ranch is therefore part of a wider attempt to use existing public assets and private investment to diversify Cross River’s economy.
The challenge now is to translate the plans into visible improvements while ensuring transparency, effective oversight and meaningful participation by host communities. If that is achieved, the Obudu Ranch could once again become a major attraction for visitors while helping Cross River build a tourism economy that operates beyond the December peak.
