Cross River Conducts Test Flight As Obudu Ranch Revival Takes Off

By ETETE EKONG

A successful test flight at the Bebi Airstrip in Obanliku Local Government Area has provided a fresh signal of Cross River State Government’s renewed effort to restore the Obudu Mountain Resort to its position as one of Nigeria’s leading tourism destinations.

The test flight, conducted on Thursday, comes as the state prepares for a major rehabilitation and reconstruction programme that will temporarily shut down the resort and several of its associated facilities from 1st September.

Sunday Michael, Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Obudu Ranch, said the successful exercise at the airstrip represented an important step in the government’s broader plan to reposition the tourism asset and improve access to the mountainous resort.

A New Push to Restore Obudu’s Tourism Appeal

For decades, Obudu Ranch, also known as the Obudu Mountain Resort and formerly called Obudu Cattle Ranch, has occupied a special place in Nigeria’s tourism landscape.

Its cool climate, mountainous environment and distinctive scenery made it one of the country’s best-known leisure destinations and a major attraction for visitors seeking an alternative to Nigeria’s more familiar urban tourism centres.

However, the resort and some of its critical infrastructure have faced significant challenges over the years.

The Bebi Airstrip, which provides an important potential access route to the resort, experienced prolonged closures and flight suspensions following safety concerns, regulatory issues and the withdrawal of essential services by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria over outstanding debts.

The successful test flight is therefore being viewed as more than a routine aviation exercise.

For the state government, it represents an early indication that the infrastructure required to reconnect Obudu more effectively to visitors may be returning.

Michael said the exercise formed part of wider preparations for a comprehensive intervention involving the resort and its supporting facilities.

Bebi Airstrip Returns to the Revival Agenda

Accessibility has remained one of the major challenges facing tourism development at Obudu.

The resort’s remote location and mountainous terrain have made road travel an important consideration for many potential visitors. The availability of reliable air access could therefore significantly improve the resort’s attractiveness to tourists, investors and organised tourism operators.

A functioning airstrip could reduce travel difficulties and make the destination more accessible from major Nigerian cities.

According to Michael, the government’s expectation is that the rehabilitation of the Bebi Airstrip will eventually support improved access to the resort when commercial flight operations resume.

The test flight has consequently become an important symbol of the broader tourism redevelopment plan.

However, sustained commercial aviation operations will depend on the completion of rehabilitation work and compliance with all necessary aviation safety and regulatory requirements.

Resort, Waterpark & Safari Lodge to Close

The planned intervention will involve the temporary closure of the wider resort complex from 1st September.

Facilities expected to be affected include the Obudu Mountain Resort, the Waterpark, the Safari Lodge and the Bebi Airstrip.

The shutdown is intended to allow for what the state government has described as extensive rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Officials said the intervention would focus on modernising facilities, improving infrastructure and upgrading the overall visitor experience.

The objective, according to the government, is to develop a tourism destination capable of competing more effectively within Nigeria and attracting wider international interest.

For a resort whose reputation was built largely on its natural landscape, the redevelopment effort presents an opportunity to combine its environmental advantages with modern hospitality and tourism infrastructure.

Tourism as an Economic Strategy

Beyond leisure and recreation, the Cross River Government sees the planned rehabilitation as part of a wider economic strategy.

Tourism has increasingly been identified by the state as a sector with the potential to create jobs, attract investment and diversify government revenue.

The redevelopment of Obudu is expected to stimulate economic activity across several sectors.

Hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, tour operators and local businesses could benefit from increased visitor traffic if the resort successfully regains its position as a major tourism destination.

The surrounding communities could also experience increased demand for local services and products.

For Cross River, the success of the project could therefore have implications beyond the resort itself.

A revived Obudu tourism economy could strengthen the state’s wider efforts to promote hospitality, recreation and investment.

A 25-Year Concession & a New Development Model

The rehabilitation programme follows the recent concessioning of the resort to Living Curation Real Estate Limited for 25 years.

The concession agreement forms part of the state’s plan to adopt a more structured approach to the management and long-term development of one of its most valuable tourism assets.

Government officials have said the agreement involves the holistic rehabilitation and development of the resort.

The arrangement places the future of Obudu within a model that combines government ownership and policy direction with private-sector participation in the redevelopment and operation of the facility.

The success of the model will ultimately depend on how effectively the rehabilitation is executed and how the resort is maintained after the redevelopment programme.

The Challenge of Turning Plans Into a Lasting Revival

The test flight at Bebi Airstrip has generated optimism, but the larger task remains the successful reconstruction of the resort and the restoration of sustainable tourism operations.

For Obudu to compete as a world-class destination, the rehabilitation will need to address issues beyond the physical appearance of the facilities.

Reliable access, safety, maintenance, hospitality standards and consistent visitor services will all be critical.

The restoration of air access could become particularly important.

A reliable aviation link would make Obudu easier to reach and could support the development of organised tourism packages and corporate events.

It could also encourage private investment in hospitality and related businesses.

Looking Beyond the Closure

The temporary closure beginning September 1 will mark the start of another major chapter in the history of the resort.

While the shutdown may temporarily remove the destination from the tourism market, the government believes the intervention will create the foundation for a stronger return.

Michael expressed appreciation to stakeholders and residents for their continued support and confidence in the Obudu tourism project.

He said visitors would be welcomed back after the rehabilitation with improved facilities and an enhanced tourism experience.

For Cross River, the successful test flight has offered an early image of the future it hopes to build.

The aircraft that landed at Bebi Airstrip may have completed only a test operation, but for a resort seeking a new beginning, the exercise has become symbolic of a broader ambition.

After years of operational difficulties, closures and declining activity, the state is attempting to put Obudu back on the tourism map.

The real test, however, will come after the rehabilitation: whether the renewed investment, improved infrastructure and proposed management model can transform the famous mountain resort into a sustainable tourism destination capable of attracting visitors for years to come.