Governor Bassey Edet Otu on Thursday, took supply of two new Bombardier CRJ1000 plane, a regional jet, designed to hold as much as 100 passengers in a daring step towards repositioning Cross River State as a premier vacation spot in Nigeria’s tourism and funding map,
The acquisition of the brand new plane reaffirms the governor’s administration’s dedication to revitalizing the state’s aviation infrastructure and enhancing socioeconomic mobility.
The historic reception ceremony passed off on the Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport in Abuja, the place Governor Otu, flanked by his spouse, Eyoanwan Otu; Edem Duke, former Minister of Tradition and Tourism; and different dignitaries, described the acquisition as “a long-overdue leap into the way forward for seamless connectivity and financial transformation for our pricey state.”
The official commissioning of the brand new plane by the Ministry of Aviation is scheduled for August 12, 2025. With the brand new plane, Governor Otu stated, the state just isn’t solely addressing the perennial frustration of flight delays and cancellations skilled by vacationers to and from Calabar, but additionally laying a robust basis for Cross River’s aviation renaissance. “For too lengthy,” he stated, “our individuals and guests alike have endured the hardship of air journey disruptions. As we speak marks the start of the top of that period.”
The brand new acquisition, in accordance Imah Eno Utum, to the Commissioner for Aviation, has dropped at 4 the variety of plane owned by the state authorities. Whereas the 2 plane, Boeing 747 earlier acquired by the quick previous authorities of Senator Ben Ayade are being operated by Aero Contractors, the newly procured Bombardier CRJ1000 could be operated by Valuejet Airline, pending when the state authorities secures an Air operational Certification to function as an impartial airline.
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The Governor emphasised that dependable air transportation is pivotal to the success of the state’s tourism-driven financial blueprint. “These plane are greater than machines—they’re catalysts of commerce, bridges of tradition, and vessels of hope,” he declared. “With Carnival Calabar, Obudu Ranch Resort, and our ecotourism property beckoning the world, accessibility must not ever be a hindrance once more.”
Past tourism, the initiative is anticipated to spice up investor confidence and appeal to enterprise pursuits into the state. Governor Otu famous that “no economic system thrives in isolation. Traders need assurance of clean logistics. These plane will guarantee Cross River is not on the periphery of financial conversations.”
Former Minister Edem Duke hailed the initiative as a “game-changing intervention,” describing it as a testomony to Governor Otu’s visionary management.
He famous that this singular transfer would dramatically alter the notion of Calabar as a troublesome vacation spot, thereby opening up new alternatives in hospitality, conferences, agriculture, and export.
Because the plane touched down, the symbolism was not misplaced on observers: a state as soon as restricted by distance was now poised to take flight—actually and figuratively. Governor Otu concluded with a tone of assurance, “That is only the start. Our Individuals First agenda just isn’t mere rhetoric. It’s an unfolding promise—and Cross River is rising.”
