Akwa Ibom Isong-ooo!

Whenever Tourism is discussed, the abundant evidence of Tourism potentials of Akwa Ibom State lead to the conclusion that, here is a pleasure and leisure latent pasture.

Imagine a community at the bank of the Atlantic Ocean where there is sea-brewed fresh breeze sifted through unpolluted foliage of dense mangrove forest to savour, or an amazing stretch of over 45 kilometres sand bank that transverses many riverine communities, or an ocean shore to cruise at ebb tide and the rhythmic music of the waves, providing tourists with exotic tourist sites.

Ibom Hall
The Ibom Hall located at the central part of Uyo represents another architectural milestone of the State. It consists of a recreational area, a 700 capacity conference room, an art gallery that holds an exquisite collection of most of the indigenous works of art.

The ground on which this edifice stands is a picture of aesthetic splendour. Lined side by side with greenish laws, garden and beautiful ornamental flowers, it provides a serene environment that will leave a tourist at peace with nature.

Ibom Plaza
The Ibom Plaza is built on the former “Independent Square” where the British Union Jack Flag was finally lowered after Nigeria gained her independence. It stands at the heart of Uyo, the State’s capital city. The Plaza is a compendium of recreational facilities, built to provide a first-class relaxation centre for the culturally vibrant people of Akwa Ibom State.

It consists of a sitting arena modeled in line with the gothic Greco-Roman arena with a giant elevated screen for football and sports enthusiasts beamed through satellite. Its luminous fountains are breathtaking.

The beautiful landscape lined with flowers and pines gives the Plaza an exotic outlook. A complete resort of unimaginable beauty, the Ibom Plaza accommodates shopping Malls, a medical centre, bustling business centres, parking lots, game centres, art shops and eating centres for families and friends to spend their leisure.

The Plaza also serves as a venue for important State and private functions like marriage receptions among others. Simply put, Ibom Plaza is a tourist Paradise, sitting in this beautiful and culturally rich land of promise.

Motor Park
The Uyo Model Park located at Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo City is the entry point into the State capital. It is modeled as a mini travelers resort to serve the transport need of visitors to the City.

It consists of well-landscaped part-ways lined up side-by-side with beautiful and exotic ornamental flowers which gives the park user an indescribable feeling of being at peace with nature. The park contains a security post, welfare department, administrative office, shopping stalls, Transport Union Office and a Mobile Court.

Ibeno Beach
Situated in Ibeno Local Government Area of the State, the Ibeno Beach is reputed to be the longest sand beach in West Africa covering about 2 kilometres stretch of beach line. It is a beach that forms a part of the West African border with the Atlantic Ocean.

It is a sight to behold, with white sand dunes which is unaffected by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. It is both gentle and turbulent depending on the season of the year. At flow tide, the waters can recede as far as 100metres from the beach and can reach unimaginable elevation of 30 metres above sea level before it strikes the beach.

The beauty of this beach is the fact that the sands of the beach itself have been stable over the years without receding with the tide of the water. Ibeno beach presents a nature’s gift, not only as a home for fishing but a relaxation spot for tourists.

Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort
The Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort is located at the bank of the Nwaniba River. Recently built and managed by Le Meridien, it is built to provide a tourist haven. Located very close to the newly constructed International Airport, the resort can also be approached by road, a four-lane avenue bordered by lawns, pines, flowers and beautiful street lights, the structure is a five star hotel with all the trappings associated with world class hotels.

Built on an expansive plot of land, the marble-walled edifice contains lobbies, conference rooms, continental and intercontinental bars and restaurants, naturally set dining alcoves, studio rooms, presidential and ambassadorial suites, detached chalets and apartments and a 1000KVA generating power plant to guarantee uninterrupted power supply to thee resort.

The beauty and splendour of the resort is complimented by an 18-hole golf course reputed to be the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Also attached to this golf course is a Marina Club House with two lawn tennis courts, a polo field, squash house and games fields.

The Nwaniba River at the end of the golf course, formerly a slave route contains a jetty constructed on the site for shipment of slaves during the slave trade era. There is also the former headquarters of John Holt Company, the merchant British company that traded in Palm oil and Kernel in the pre-colonial period as is evident in their warehouses which still stand, its main Lodge and Official quarters at the site.

The Nwaniba River presents a bee-hive of fishing activities as fishermen in their boats give the resort tranquility and serenity.

The Ikwo River, a tributary of the Atlantic Ocean very close to the Ibeno beach at the border between Eket and Ikot Abasi, presents a scintillating and beautiful natural landscape with a slopping view.

The construction of this 400 metres long bridge across the Ikwo River is surrounded by a myth which has it that the river was once the home of a once powerful water spirit who guaranteed the safety of users of the water-way. However, an attempt made to construct a bridge across the river by the Europeans angered the water spirit which was said to have thwarted the attempt . It was said that whenever a pillar to support the bridge was erected, the spirit forces would appear by night in form of water crabs as large as cranes. After going round the pillars, they collapsed afterwards.

The cycle continued for a long time till frustration set in on the part of the bridge builders. However, the cycle came to an end when one morning, the white man who was the head of the construction team came to the edge of the river, after summoning his men and giving them instructions, he deliberately walked into the river and disappeared. By this singular act, it was believed that he sacrificed himself to the water spirit, appeasing it by his mysterious disappearance into the water. Thereafter, the rest of the men successfully constructed the bridge across Ikwo River.

Itu Bridge
The Itu Bridge is found at the boundary between Itu and Calabar Cross River State. The River itself is a natural port site with a busy and thriving fishing market. The significance of the bridge stems from the fact that it is a spot where all the rivers in Akwa Ibom State converge before joining the Atlantic Ocean.

In recognition of its strategic and natural scenery, the Akwa Ibom State government in collaboration with the Nigerian Tourism and Development Corporation (NTDC) has earmarked it as a tourism designate. It is also a site for Akwa Ibom boat regatta and other water sports competition to be conducted annually.

TOURISM POTENTIALS OF AKWA IBOM STATE
The strategic location of Akwa Ibom State in the warm-weather tropical zone and sandwiched in between States like Cross River State; an ancient regional economic, educational and administrative centre with historical links, which serve as a sea route to neighbouring Cameroon Republic and Equatorial Guinea, with a free export zone, tourist and business resorts like the Obudu Cattle Ranch, Qua Falls, Kanyan and Cross River National Park. Abia State with its cultural, military and colonial history museums, Rivers State with its Oil fields and by the fact Akwa Ibom State is located in the Niger Delta with its old slave ports, and at a day’s distance journey, makes Akwa Ibom a virgin Tourist haven for prospective investors.

The tourism industry in Akwa Ibom State promises an unlimited investment potential. The state has rich tourist sites that are eagerly awaiting investors to cash-in. The state boast of road networks that crisscross the entire landscape of the state. The state government is on the verge of completing its international Airport near Oron. In addition to Mobil, the state boasts of a vibrant State Tourism Board that is providing the enabling environment for investors. This is evident in the recent completion the of the largest resort at the Nwaniba river which boasts of the largest golf course in Africa and a five Star Ibom Resort Hotel being managed by Le Meridian, a global player in the hotel industry. In spite of these giant strides, there is need for more of such resorts to take advantage of the bustling tourist interest in the ‘land of Promise’.

With resort-type beaches such as the Ibeno Beach, Qua River water-side, the water front area of the Oron River adjacent to the Museum with its humid and temperate climate, the ancient trading beach at Okopedi, Itu; the tropical oil palm scenery of the Ibagwa river valley, the Ibaka fishing settlement site James Town, Uta Ewa fishing settlement, Ibaka beach, Obuabu Blue River and the Consular beach at Ikot Abasi are all resorts waiting to be fully developed and exploited.

Beside these scintillating resort sites, the State’s historical sites demand urgent development. Such sites include; the oil Palm produce ware-houses and the UAC Company agents residence; the Mary Slessor Cairn site on top of the Okoyong hill, there is the ancient tree grove at Afaha Offiong in Nsit Ibom; the Slave trading ware houses at Ikot Abasi, Itu, the building where the amalgamation treaty was signed by Lord Frederick Lugard in 1914 at Ikot Abasi, the old Presbyterian Church at Itu, built under the supervision of Mary Slessor; the Itu hill walk-way that also has the first telephone line and Post office, among others. The amazing mixture of traditionalism and modernity provides an awakening, a window to another virile and colourful glimpse of African humanity and its cultural and natural environment. As an Ibibio myth says,” challenging demands and rewarding opportunities await those who dare to reach out for the priceless jewel on the python’s head”. This aptly describes what Akwa Ibom presents to an Investor.