Cross River State (The Nation’s Paradise)
Executive Governor
H.E. Senator (Prof) Benedict Ayade
Deputy Governor
Prof. Ivara Ejemot Esu
Created: It was created in 3 February 1976.
Capital: Calabar.
Major Cities: Akamkpa, Biase, Calabar South, Ikom, Obubra, Odukpani, Ogoja, Ugep, Obudu, Obanliku, Akpabuyo, Ofutop, Iso-bendghe, and Boji.
Geographic Profile: The State is between latitudes and 5 degree 32 and 4 degree 27 North and longitude 7 degree 50 and 9 degree 28 East; Situated within the tropics and shares a common boundary with the Republic of Cameroon in the East, Benue State in the North, Abia and Anambra State in the West Eboyi State in the North West and Akwa Ibom State in the South.
Economic Profile: Cross River State is Nigeria’s premier tourism destination. The hotels and restaurants sector accounts for 5.9 percent of state GDP and this rapid growth is expected to continue as there is an increasing trend for seasonal domestic holidays amongst the upper and middle classes in Nigeria. The State’s month-long Christmas Festival and Carnival Calabar (http://www.carnivalcalabar.com) in December is successfully attracting large numbers of local and foreign visitors.
Ethnic Profile: The state is composed of three major ethnic groups namely: the Efik, Ejagham and Bekwarra.
Occupation: Agriculture and fishing is one of their major occupation.
Local government Areas (18 LGAs): Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwara, Ogoja and Yala Boki, IKom,Etung,Obubra, Abi and Yakurr,Biase, Akankpa, Odukpani, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakasi.
Raw Materials Distribution in Cross River State
| S/N | LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA | MINERAL RAW MATERIALS | AGRO RAW MATERIALS |
| 1 | ABI | Salt, Limestone | Palm Produce, Cassava, Poultry, Maize, Forestry, Fruits, Vegetables, Rice |
| 2 | AKAMKPA | Limestone, Coal, Manganese, Ilmenite, Gold, Quartz, Glass sand, Tourmaline | Timber, Palm Produce, Poultry, Forestry, Fruits, Vegetables, Rubber, Raffia Palm, Gmelina |
| 3 | AKPABUYO | Petroleum, Natural Gas | Palm Produce, Cassava, Raffia Palm, Timber, Poultry, Forestry, Fruits, Kolanut, Fishery |
| 4 | BAKASSI | Petroleum, Kaolin | Fishery, Raffia Palm, Forestry, Beniseed |
| 5 | BEKWARRA | Maize, Cassava, Groundnut, Palm Produce, Yam, Beniseed | |
| 6 | BIASE | Tin Ore | Fruits, Vegetable, Plantain, Banana, Timber, Forestry, Raffia Palm |
| 7 | BOKI | Mica, Ilmenite |
Plantain, Banana, Fruits, Vegetable, Livestock, Palm Produce, Raffia Palm, Cocoa, Poultry, Timber, Forestry , Cane Ropes, Coffee. |
| 8 | CALABAR MUNICIPAL | Sharp Sand, Kaolin, Limestone, Clay | Fishery, Raffia Palm, Cassava, Palm Produce, Rubber, Vegetable |
| 9 | CALABAR SOUTH | Sharp Sand, Clay, Spring Water | Fishery, Vegetable, Cassava, Palm Produce, Raffia Palm |
| 10 | ETUNG | Salt | Plantain, Banana, Cocoa, Fruits, Timber, Forestry , Palm Produce, Maize, Livestock, Cassava, Cane Ropes, Coffee |
| 11 | IKOM | Quartz, Glass Sand |
Plantain, Banana, Cocoa, Fruits, Timber, Forest Produce, Livestock, Yam, Poultry, Palm Produce, Gmelina, Rubber, Maize, Coffee. |
| 12 | OBANLIKU | Talc, Mica, Ilmenite, Granite, Spring Water |
Maize, Poultry, Livestock, Timber, Forestry, Palm Produce, Yam, Beniseed, Groundnut, Kolanut, Cassava, Rice, Plantain, Banana. |
| 13 | OBUBRA | Lead/Zinc, Salt, Tin Ore, Geothite, Quartz, Muscovite, Pure Quartz, Limestone, Clay | Fruits, Rice, Yam, Palm Produce, Poultry, Cassava, Timber, Forestry , Maize, Cocoa |
| 14 | OBUDU | Kaolin, Quartz, Glass Sand, Gold, Tin Ore, Mica, Ilmenite, Talc | Poultry, Livestock, Yam, Palm Produce, Beniseed, Kolanut, Groundnut, Maize, Millet, Plantain, Banana |
| 15 | ODUKPANI | Limestone | Fishery, Plantain, Banana, Fruits, Vegetable, Timber, Rubber, Palm Produce, Raffia Palm, Cassava, Maize, Kolanut |
| 16 | OGOJA | Tin Ore, Clay | Maize, Millet, Cassava, Poultry, Livestock, Sugarcane, Yam, Rice, Groundnut, Beniseed, Palm Produce |
| 17 | YAKURR | Uranium | Fruits, Rice, Rubber, Palm Produce, Poultry, Timber, Forestry, Cassava, Maize |
| 18 | YALA | Baryte, Lead/Zinc, Salt |
Maize, Millet, Cassava, Palm Produce, Poultry, Livestock, Yam, Rice, Sugarcane, Fruits, Beniseed |
