FACTS

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Capital - Calabar

 

Motto - Home of Peace

 

Population (2016) - 3,737,517

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Area: 20,156 sq km

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Local Government Areas

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        18

 

Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Bekwarra, Biase, Boki, Calabar Municipal, 

Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Obanliku, Obubra, Obudu, Odukpani, Ogoja, 

Yakuur, Yala

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GEOGRAPHY

 

Festivals:

• The Cross River State Christmas Festival – annually

• The Cross River State Carnival Float – annually

• The Yakurr Leboku Yam festival –annually

• The Calabar Boat Regata

• Anong Bahumono Festival which holds in Anong Village, during which different cultural dances are showcased, including Ikpobin (acclaimed to be the most entertaining dance in the state), Ekoi, Obam, Emukei and Etangala Dances

• Obanliku New Yam Festival - annually

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PEOPLE

 

Main ethnic groups:  Efik, Ejagham, Bekwarra

Languages: Efik, Boki

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IMPORTANT SITES

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The soaring plateaus of the mountain tops of Obanliku, the Rain forests of Afi,  the Waterfalls of Agbokim and Kwa , the spiralling ox-bow Calabar River which provides sights and images of the Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar Marina, Calabar Residency Museum and the Calabar Slave Park along its course ,the Ikom Monoliths (a series of volcanic-stone monoliths of unknown age), the Mary Slessor Tomb, Calabar Drill Monkey Sanctuary, Cross River National Park.

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QUICK HISTORY

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Cross River State was created on May 27, 1967 from the former Eastern Region, Nigeria by the General Yakubu Gowon regime. Its name was changed to Cross River State in the 1976 state creation exercise by the then General Murtala Mohammed regime from South Eastern State.

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The present day Akwa Ibom State was excised from it in the state creation exercise of September 1987 by the then regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

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Cross River is a coastal state in southeastern Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is at Calabar, and it is named for the Cross River, which passes through the state.

The state was created in 1967 from part of the former Eastern Region, and was known as the 'South-Eastern State until 1976 when it adopted its present name. The state originally included what is now Akwa Ibom State.

Cross River State is located in Nigeria's Delta region. It is bounded on the North by Benue State, on the South by Akwa Ibom State, on the East by Cameroun Republic and on the West by Anambra and Imo States.

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FAMOUS NIGERIANS

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THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS

 

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