BY EHIGIMETOR IGBAUGBA
Donald Duke, a former Governor of Cross River, once described the Obudu Mountain Resort as the “best piece of real estate in the country”.
Obudu Mountain Resort, a popular destination for tourists, is located in Obudu Plateau in the Northern part of Cross River.
The resort, also known as Obudu Cattle Ranch, has a rich history dating back to 1949, when Scottish rancher, Mr Mark Cogley, first explored the mountain ranges.
Credited with being the brain behind the modernisation of the resort, Duke said apart from enjoying good weather, Obudu was one of the largest tropical forests in West Africa.
“It has some unique wildlife animals that can only be found in the state. “What is needed is a public-spirited person who had all it takes to restore the lost hope,’’ he said.
Nestled in the scenic mountains of Cross River, the resort was once a shining star of Nigerian tourism; it was indeed Nigeria’s most popular and sort after luxurious resorts.
The resort is known for its scenic beauty and various recreational activities. Key features of the Mountain Resort include a cable car, a canopy walkway, and a waterfall.
The resort also offers accommodation, a swimming pool, a gym, tennis courts, and a golf course.
A six-minute cable car ride provides access to the resort, which is situated 1,576 meters above sea level, while a 100 – meter long walkway suspended above the ground offers a unique perspective of the landscape.
The ranch has a waterfall with a pool, and other waterfalls are available for exploration. More so, there is a natural pool that provides a refreshing dip amidst the natural surroundings.
According to the Cross River Government, the ranch has the capacity to attract N1.5 billion monthly to the state’s coffers when fully functional.
A socio-critic once has this to say about the resort, “I can’t find the right words to capture the beauty of Obudu Cattle Ranch.
“All I can say is, if you reside in Nigeria, never go through life without seeing this place at least once in your lifetime; otherwise, your spirit will not forgive you when you die.”
Lyord Ndoma, a resident of Calabar, said that traffic on the road to the resort was so much that the administration of Donald Duke had to construct an airstrip in Obudu for the purpose of easy connectivity.
“Duke took the resort to the international standard; presidents of African countries were coming to do their vacation at the ranch.
“The then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, held several retreats with federal council members at the ranch, same with President Goodluck Jonathan.
“For the politicians and individuals, the ranch became a destination for everybody; it was like our own Camp David Ndoma said it broke his heart each time he was asked to speak on the present state of the ranch.
He said what was at a time the pride of Nigeria and Africa was allowed to rot away by successive governments who took over from Duke.
“It came to a height in the first two years of Gov. Ben Ayade Government; I noticed the ranch started depreciating.
“The facilities started falling apart; in fact, I wept; it got to a point that the roofs were leaking and what pains me most is that the ranch is located in the northern part of Crossover state, which is Ayade’s senatorial district.
“When people came in and saw that the facility was falling apart, they were heartbroken; it became an embarrassment,” he said.
Observers say the ranch that was built with the dream of transforming the nation’s tourism sector and attracted thousands of local and international visitors, especially during the early 2000s, now lies nearly abandoned and a ghost of its former glory.
They say poor maintenance, political neglect, infrastructure decay, and lack of sustainable investment turned this potential goldmine into a forgotten relic.
Cable cars no longer glide, with the structures falling apart and facilities vandalised; not even the window panes were spared.
Meanwhile, the present administration led by Gov. Bassey Otu said it did not require rocket science to reposition the ranch.
The governor announced in late 2024, that as part of effort to reposition the state tourism ecosystem, the ranch was receiving the government’s priority attention.
As part of the solution to fixing the place, the Otu led administration revoked the 25-year concession agreement granted to CIBA Construction Company Limited for managing the Obudu Cattle Ranch.
The agreement with the concessionaire was entered into by the immediate past administration of the state led by Ayade.
According to the governor, the company neglected key development obligations, particularly those outlined in Sections 5.0, 6.0, and 14.0(b) of the agreement.
“These violations include the failure to invest in the renovation of the resort’s hotel and other essential components.
“In spite of multiple breaches, CIBA continued to fall short, prompting the Cross River Government to terminate the agreement with immediate effect,” he said.
In revoking the concession, the governor directed the Special Adviser and Chief Executive Officer, Obudu Mountain Resort, Sunday Michael, alongside other key stakeholders, to implement measures to revamp the facility.
Recently, the government said it has concluded plans to commence the reconstruction of the iconic resort as part of effort to solidify the state’s position as a hub for eco-tourism in Nigeria.
According to Michael, the project is aimed to revitalise and reposition the resort as a premier destination for eco-tourism.
He said that the redesign of the iconic ranch was ready for the reconstruction to commence.
“The redesigned Obudu Ranch Resort promises to offer world-class facilities and amenities, showcasing the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of Cross River.
“The project is expected to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and increase the state’s revenue base.
“This project is a testament to Otu’s commitment to developing Cross River State’s tourism potential.
“We are excited to welcome visitors from across the globe to experience the breathtaking beauty of Obudu Ranch Resort.”
Michael said that as part of the revitalisation process, a chunk of the N18 billion recently approved by the government for some tourist attractions in the state will be channelled towards the ranch.
“We have begun repairs of the international conference centre, the international restaurant, the spa, the mini golf course, and other amenities we have begun putting in place.
“Of course, we also want to announce to you, and to the world that the cable car is being looked into; within the period of next three, four months, we’ll have the cable car back.
“We all know that the ranch will be a big economy booster to the economy of Cross River. “The ranch has the capability of generating over N1.5 billion naira in accommodation alone every month; so you see what that will do to the government and the economy of Cross River,’’ he said.
On his part, Dr Erasmus Ekpang, Commissioner for information, announced that the resort had the capacity to create 300 to 500 jobs when fully operational.
He, however, said that the mountain resort presently had 200 workers from all the segments that made up the place.
Ekpang said that 130 workers out of the present 200, was inherited from the Ayade led administration, but pay rolled by the Otu administration.
“However, when rehabilitation work is completed and the resort is fully operational, it has the capacity to create between 300 to 500 employments, both on a full-time and casual basis.”
On the issue of sustainability, the commissioner said that was in the front burner of the current administration to avoid a repeat of the previous relapse.
“As a premier tourism, hospitality and leisure resort in this part of Africa, the present administration of Otu has variously recommitted his determination to restore the lost glory of the Obudu mountain resort.
“In this regard, the government revoked the concession agreement with CIBA Construction Ltd and is now focusing on total rehabilitation of the entire facilities in the ranch and brings it back to international standard.
“Once that is completed, the government will decide on how the ranch will be managed in a sustainable manner to guarantee huge return on investment and boost internally generated revenue,’’ he said.
To address the challenge of sustainability, stakeholders say the government should bring the resort back to international standard by fixing the facilities and signing an agreement with a hospitality firm to run it.
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