Duke Commissions Project to Boost Tourism
From Amby Uneze in Calabar
The Cross River State government has restated its commitment to providing necessary infrastructure that will boost the economic development of the state.
Speaking while commissioning the rural electrification project at the Bebi Air Strip in Obanliku Local Government Area, the state governor, Donald Duke, disclosed that with the commissioning of the project, activities at the Obudu Ranch Resort would be heightened, adding that when all the additional facilities earmarked for the resort are operational it will attract one million tourists annually.
According to him, the resort is of great importance to everyone in the state because of its significance and relevance to tourism, expressing that the air strip is equally a great asset which was started by the state government as well as extended and fenced by the state government.
Mr. Duke said that with the facilities at the air strip fully in place it will become one of the busiest airports in the country in a year's time, adding that a study conducted on the ranch by KPMG had shown that about one million people will be visiting the resort annually.
The governor, who came in on a Capital Airline flight from Abuja, said that activities at the ranch resort will create a spill over effect on the adjoining areas with the provision of electricity and other infrastructure, saying that by mid-next year, planes will be landing at the air strip at every 30 minutes.
Governor Duke gave glory to the Almighty God for the means and know-how to execute the project and facilities while commending the future generation that they will continue from where the present government stops.
A spokesman of the Bebi community and a onetime chairman of old Obudu Local Government area, Mr. Pius Awa commended the state governor, Mr. Donald Duke for undertaking an electrification revolution in the state, adding that they had resolved to take charge and protect the electrification project as well as facilities at the air strip.
Awa further added that in appreciation of what the governor had done in the community, its indigenes decided to call the governor "Mr. Donald David" which meant that they had conferred on him the citizenship of the area with authority to own land and economic trees in Bebi, assuring that the Bebi village will very soon overtake Uyanga modern village.
High point of the commissioning was the presentation of a sword souvenir to Governor Duke by the Bebi community as a boost to overcome all obstacles towards the development of the state.
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