Idara Jerome, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Government has identified major investments in hospitality, culture, transportation and entertainment as the foundation of its drive to establish the state as a leading tourism destination, with the ARISE Palm Resort, Ibom International Hotel and Convention Centre and Oron Maritime Infrastructure among the flagship projects.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Anietie Nseowo Udofia, stated this during a media briefing on the achievements of the Umo Eno administration, saying the government had recorded significant progress in implementing the tourism components of the ARISE Agenda.
“A lot has been achieved in this sector in the last three years,” Udofia said, adding that the ministry’s performance was being measured against the ten focal points of the administration’s economic blueprint.
He described the ARISE Palm Resort as the administration’s “signature project”, saying it represented “a powerful achievement of His Excellency, changing an erosion-prone area to a world-class tourism facility.” The resort hosted the state banquet on September 23 and is expected to be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu later this month.
Udofia listed the Ibom International Hotel and Convention Centre as another major project, saying the twin facilities “will soon be completed and commissioned.” He said the Governor had invited the President of the Senate to unveil and commission the projects later in the year.
The commissioner disclosed that government had continued to approve more than ₦900 million annually for the maintenance of tourism facilities, including the ARISE Palm Resort Golf Course, Ibom Hotel Golf Course, Unity Park, Ibom Plaza and Ikot Ekpene Plaza. He noted that Ibom Plaza had undergone renovation and was recommissioned last December.
He said Unity Park was undergoing further development with expanded walkways, an Ibom Kitchen, additional toilet facilities and a sub-power station, while the Ibibio Museum within the park was also being renovated.
“We needed to complement the facilities at the Unity Park with the kitchen,” Udofia said, explaining that visitors would be able to combine recreation and museum visits with access to food and other facilities.
On the Oron Maritime Infrastructure Project, the commissioner said it combined transportation and tourism, with ferry services expected to connect Uyo and Calabar. He added that government had approved the remodelling and reconstruction of the Oron Museum to complement the maritime facilities.
Udofia also disclosed that the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort was undergoing comprehensive renovation in two phases covering electrical works and furnishing. He said the hotel had been shut down for the exercise, while the golf course remained operational.
The commissioner said government had established a full-fledged Tourism Commission through legislation, while also engaging consultants, private-sector organisations and a Destination Management Organisation to drive the Destination Akwa Ibom project.
He said the strategy included identifying and preserving tourist sites, producing a travelogue, strengthening hotel regulation, developing creative skills and reviving the State Council for Arts and Culture.
Udofia said the government’s investment in tourism also extended to the ARISE Youth Development Centre, Ibom Air, Ibom International Hospital and Ibom Model Farm, which he described as components of the wider tourism ecosystem.
“Tourism is felt in all aspects: health, education, youth development, infrastructure put together,” he said, stressing that aviation remained particularly important to bringing visitors into the state.
Turning to the 2026 Ibom Christmas Unplugged, Udofia announced that the festival would run from December 1 to January 1, 2027, under the theme “A Taste of Akwa Ibom: Our Food, Culture and Heritage.” New features include Ibom Kitchen, Mbopo Akwa Ibom, local government days, choir auditions and auditions for indigenous artistes.
He disclosed that about 4,900 people secured work during last year’s festival in areas including construction of kiosks, cleaning, security and gate operations, describing the employment impact as significant to the local economy.
Udofia said the state was also planning further tourism developments, including the remodelling of the Bridge of No Return, Ibom Creative Village, Mary Slessor Cairn, a tourism ecosystem around the Blue River in Ukanafun, a city centre at Ibom Plaza and development of Ibeno Beach through private-sector partnership.
Responding to concerns about the crowd recorded during last year’s Christmas Unplugged, he said government had expanded walkways and was improving access and parking arrangements around Unity Park to accommodate larger numbers.
On cultural practices considered harmful, Udofia said the Council for Arts and Culture was already advocating changes to some traditional practices, particularly those relating to burial and marital rights.
He also clarified that the Ibom Hotel golf course had not been closed despite the hotel renovation, saying, “You can play your golf at Ibom Hotel, and you can also play at the ARISE Palm Resort.”
On the tourism implications of the state’s broader infrastructure programme, Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said the administration was deliberately building what he described as “a tourism economy” by linking hospitality with aviation, healthcare and maritime transportation.
Umanah said the proposed 350-bed Ibom International Hospital and the Medical City were designed to support medical tourism, while Ibom Air would provide an essential aviation link for visitors. He also cited the Oron project’s tourism jetty, museum and other facilities as part of the tourism ecosystem.
He said the environmental transformation behind the ARISE Palm Resort should not be overlooked, noting that “over 73 hectares of gullies of despair was reclaimed and then a tourism asset is put on that place.”
Responding to concerns over flooding around the Palm Resort, Umanah said the Governor had directed the redesign of the Uyo flood management master plan and the acquisition of structures obstructing drainage channels in Osongama and other areas to improve flood management.
He also said Unity Park remained substantially green despite the additional infrastructure, explaining that the amphitheatre, kitchen, walkways and other facilities occupied only portions of the park and were intended to enhance its use.
Umanah said Nigeria’s tourism market, which he put at about ₦7.2 trillion, presented an opportunity for Akwa Ibom to increase its share by developing the infrastructure and services required to attract visitors and stimulate economic activity.
