Besides the extensive and highly fertile soil, the state holds the purest and largest reserve of limestone in the country, and is home to the historic city of Calabar.

It was from Cross River state that Akwa Ibom was created in 1987. Cross Rivers is a coastal territory in the Southern part of Nigeria, known for its ever-green vegetation all year round. The major languages spoken in the state are Ejagham, Efik and English. Despite the diversity of dialects, all the ethnic groups in the state have a common linguistic root, Bantu.

  • The state is one of the most richly endowed agricultural lands in Nigeria. It is predominantly agricultural, producing crops such as cassava, banana, coco-yam, maize, cocoa, rubber, groundnut and palm. Rubber and oil palm plantations generate export commodities. Forestry accounts for about 22.4% of the total land areas, hence forestry products rank next  after agriculture.
  • Forestry accounts for about 22.4% of the total land areas, hence forestry products rank next after agriculture.
  • Mineral resources include limestone, titanium, tin ore and hard stone, baking yeast (palm wine).
  • Industrial materials such as crushed rock, sand, gravel and limestone are already being produced from the state. Cross River holds the purest and largest reserve of limestone in the country.
  • The state government places emphasis on both tourism and fish farming as a measure to diversify its economy. Regarding tourism, the state is home to several centres of attraction, from Obudu Cattle Ranch, at the border with Cameroon, to the National Museum in the old Residency Building. The 32 day Calabar festival draws tourists from all over the world.
  • The Cross River National Park contains the last remaining rain forest in Nigeria, which is being preserved with the help of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. It has a herd of forest elephants, the white-faced monkey, leopards and lowland gorillas, besides over a thousand other animal species. It will be integrated with the Agbokim waterfalls, the Nkarasi Monoliths and other adjoining attractions, for exotic tourism experience.
  • On the other hand, Calabar beach is ranked by a swamp and can only be reached by boat or canoe, leaving it practically uninhabited save for a solitary fisherman’s hut.
  • The city of Calabar has a modern airport, accessible from any part of the country.

CAPITAL:

Calabar
Population: 3.2 Million AREA: 20,156 km2 CREATION:
1967

Local Gvernment Area (LGA) in cross river state

The Efik speaking people live mainly in the Calabar South LGAs, and also in Bakassi, Akpabuyo, and Odukpani in parts of Akamkpa LGAs. There is also the Qua community in Calabar, which speaks Ejagham. The main Ejagham group occupies mostly the northern sections of the State. The other groups north of Calabar are known as the Ekoi’s. The Ekoi’s are the people of Biase in Biase LGA, part of Akampka LGA (i.e Oban) and the Bahumono in Abi LGA.

There is also the Yakurr/Agoi ethnic group in Yakur LGA, while the Mbembe are predominantly found in Obubra LGA. Further up the core northern part of the state are several sub-dialectical groups, among which are Etung, Olulumo, Ofutop, Nkim/Nkum, Abanajum, Nseke and Boki in both Ikom, Etung abd Boki LGAs. Also, the Yala/Yache, Ukelle, E k a j u k a , M b u b e , B e e , Bekwarra and Utugwanga people are found in Ogoja, Yala, Obudu and Obanliku LGAs.

Cross River State

Cross River has eighteen (18) Local Government Areas which are:

  • Abi ·Calabar South
  • Yala
  • Akamkpa
  • Etung
  • Yakurr
  • 0Akpabuyo
  • Ikom
  • Bakassi
  • Obanliku
  • Bekwara
  • Obudu
  • Biase
  • Odubra
  • Boki
  • Odukpani
  • Calabar
  • Muncipality
  • Ogoja