By Kelvin Obambon
The Cross River State Government has successfully revitalized the long-abandoned Marina Resort in Calabar, securing a massive private-sector investment worth over N5 billion.
The project, driven by the Blake Group (BLEEC), transforms the historic waterfront facility into an all-inclusive, multidimensional entertainment hub featuring a 24-hour music serenade, a club, a bistro, grills, a cinema, swimming pools, a bakery, and accommodation spaces.
Speaking during an assessment tour of the facility on Thursday, the Managing Director of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Prince Ekpenyong Ojoi, described the development as a monumental endorsement of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration by the private sector.
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“This is a beautiful edifice, and the first of its kind in Cross River State,” Ojoi said. “It’s a statement clearly telling the world that Cross River is safe, and money is safe with Prince Otu.”
He recounted that the idea was birthed in 2023 following his appointment, when he met with the investor in Abuja and convinced him to replicate his successful entertainment model along the Calabar waterfront. The resulting project is expected to trigger a massive economic chain reaction in the state, including the consumption of over 3,000 fish daily from local fish farmers.
“Tourism is like a cobweb. It drags everything with it,” Ojoi explained. “So you are going to have about 400 Cross Riverians working here, first and foremost. During the construction of this site, we had over 100 Cross Riverians in this Bayside, earning N5,000 a day for over seven months. There’s going to be a chain of economy that will create and improve our economy in the state.”
Also speaking on the project’s impact, the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, stated that the project, which is currently 80% completed, represents a milestone achievement under the current administration. He highlighted that the site had previously fallen into total neglect.
“We had this facility totally abandoned and neglected. Snakes became landlords here, and today there is fresh air. There is investment,” Akiba stated. “For any investor to head towards Cross River and sink billions is a confirmation that Cross River is safe.”
He emphasized that the state government is deliberately investing across various sectors to boost tourism, including providing funding support to hoteliers to expand accommodation capacity. The SA noted that the use of locally produced furniture and local labour during construction underscored the administration’s commitment to sustainable local economic growth.
With the 2025 Carnival Calabar having recently generated significant economic circulation, the government is confident that the newly revived Marina Resort will serve as a premier destination for global visitors, driving tax revenues and creating long-term training grounds for local youths in the creative arts.
The governor’s top aide reassured the business community that all private investments in Cross River would remain fully secure and protected.
Present during the tour was the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Edem Darlington.
