NIGERIA: Port city of Calabar plans facilities to rival world leading shopping and recreation centers

Record ID: 234790

  • Title: NIGERIA: Port city of Calabar plans facilities to rival world leading shopping and recreation centers
  • Date: 7th January 2009
  • Summary: TRADITIONAL DANCERS
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Economic News,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADXDXAWXZ6J7ECVLL5SBT0P7MW
  • Story Text: Nigeria's port city of Calabar development to rival world's major shopping and recreation centres, the governor of Cross River State has said.
    Calabar in Cross River State, which is part of the the turbulent oil rich Niger Delta region, has continued to enjoy relative peace and economic growth over the years.
    It's oil-producing neighbours however, have witnessed little or no economic and social development over the years, and instead have witnessed a surge in crime and militancy.
    Over 200 foreigners have been kidnapped by gangs and militants.
    Violence and sabotaged oil facilities have cut a fifth of Nigeria's production to two million barrels a day.

    "In terms of infrastructure, I think we try to maintain probably the best kept infrastructure in any capital city of Nigeria in Calabar. And we continue to develop that and to build on that. We also have the within us a number of other facilities. We have the port, we have the have the airport, which we are now working with the Federal Government to further develop,"
    said Liyel Imoke, the Cross River State governor. "I think for us being here with the proximity to the oil belt, we provide an excellent place for development and for growth, and for investment. And for us we see that opportunity now. A lot of investors are looking this way and that is why we are developing additional infrastructure, including the energy city and a few other programs," he added.
    Nigeria's inadequate infrastructure have been blamed on former military rulers who made little or no effort to improve the situation.
    Cross River State is investing in a gas-run turbine power plant to generate electricity. Gas, which is currently being flared in neighbouring states, will also be utilised. Imoke says new roads and water treatment plants are also being constructed.

    "Cross River State is serene, it's beautiful, it's peaceful, it's hospitable, it's people are hospitable, it's as investor friendly as you can find anywhere in the world. It presents excellent opportunities for investors and everyone who wants to come in here either to relax, enjoy, have fun. Or if you want to come in to do business, set up shop, it's the best place to be and it's in the Niger Delta," said Imoke.
    Calabar's ambition to become the shopping and leisure hub of West Africa is invested in the construction of a USD 350 million dollar complex known as Tinapa.
    The Tinapa Complex comprises, a five star hotel, a several large shopping malls, several modern film studios and other leisure facilities.
    The plan is divert some of the millions of US dollars that Africans spend each year in places like Dubai.
    Critics of the project have called it a "white elephant", claiming that it's been stunted by corruption.
    But Imoke argues that Tinapa was merely held back by legal issues which have now been cleared in order for the complex to open in 2009.

    "Approval for the regulatory of the framework for Tinapa, that was the challenge. Thankfully the Federal Government has given us approval and we are waiting for that to be gazetted," he said. "Once it's gazetted, then certainly, Tinapa will become fully operational. So we think by middle of next year (2009), we should start to populate Tinapa."
    Similar complexes are planned for Senegal and also for Accra in Ghana.

    CONSTRUCTION
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