Cross River’s 18 LGAs are grouped into 3 senatorial zones or districts:
Southern Senatorial District
Central Senatorial District
Northern Senatorial District
Southern Senatorial District has as its LGAs:
Calabar South
Calabar Municipality
Akamkpa
Akpabuyo
Bakassi
Biase
0dukpani
Central Senatorial District has:
Yakurr
Abi
Boki
Etung
Ikom
0bubra
Northern Senatorial District has:
0goja
Yala
Bekwara
Obudu
Obanlikwu
Cross River
Cross River, a state in southern Nigeria, close to the Atlantic ocean to the South and Cameroon to the East.
Benue State bounds it to the north, and the states of Ebonyi and Abia bound it to the west. It is bound by Akwa Ibom State to the southwest.
Cross River State, richly tropical, is home to peoples with diverse history and culture.
The state occupies a land area of approximately 23,015 sq. km.
Administratively the state is divided into 18 Local Government Areas.
The capital city, Calabar, was a historic trading post for slaves, oil produce and a hub of European activities. The ancient city of Calabar was the seat of colonial administration of the Southern Protectorate from 1884-1914.
The climate is seasonal-tropical with a distinct rainy season (March – November) and dry season (December – February).
At least five distinct ecological zones can be experienced in the state ranging from mangrove and swamp forests towards the coast, tropical rain forests further inland, and savanna woodlands in the northern parts of the states. The highlands of the Obudu Plateau offer montane type vegetation.
Cross River State, with its gentle, warm and courteous people, unique cuisine, elegant and colourful culture, and rich biodiversity is a place to visit.
There are over 20 ethnic groups in the state. The major ethnic groups and languages spoken in the state include Efik, Ejagham, Boki, Yakkur, Yala, Ukelle, Mbembe, Utugwang, Bette, Mbube, Yache and Bakor.
Created: 27 May 1967 Cross River was initially created in 1967 as South-Eastern State
Name In 1976 the state was renamed as Cross River, referring to the River Cross or the River Oyono. The river rises from the Cameroon Mountains and empties itself into the Atlantic Ocean.
Capital: Calabar
Boundaries Cross River State is bounded to the East by the Republic of Cameroon, to the South by Akwa-lbom State and the Atlantic Ocean, to the West by Abia and Ebonyi States and to the North by Benue State.
Rank in land size and population The State is the 19th largest state in Nigeria in terms of size and 28th in terms of population.
Major languages Ejagham and Efik are the major spoken languages in Cross River State.
Efik language The Efik language is widely spoken in Cross River State, and as far as Arochukwu in bordering Abia State.
Capital city The capital is Calabar, one of Nigeria’s cleanest and safest cities. It also has a major seaport.
Local Government Areas There are 18 Local Government Areas (Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Bekwarra, Biase, Boki, Calabar Municipal, Calabar South, Etung, Ikom, Obanliku, Obubra, Obudu, Odukpani, Ogoja, Yakurr, and Yala) in Cross River State that make up three senatorial districts.
Major cities Cross River State major cities are Calabar, Ugep, Ikom, Obudu, and Ogoja.
Major road Only one major (federal) road connects 10 local government areas from the popular Watt Market in Calabar. They are Calabar South, Calabar Municipal, Odukpani, Akamkpa, Biase, Yakurr, Obubra, Ikom, Yala, and Ogoga. The road still goes on to Kastina-Ala in Benue State.
Forests in Boki Local Government Area The rarest animals and plants in Cross River State can be found in forests located in Boki Local Government Area.
Species of butterflies in Akamkpa Local Government Area One of the highest concentration of different species of butterflies in the world can be found in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of the State.
Sparsely settled state With an average population density of about 65 persons per square kilometre, Cross River State is about the most sparsely settled state in Southern Nigeria.
Largest carnival in Africa Cross River State boasts of being the venue for the largest carnival in Africa.
Various annual festivals are the Cross River State Carnival (26-29 December) in Calabar, the Yakurr Leboku Yam festival (28 August) in Ugep and the Calabar Boat Regatta.
Tourism Cross River State is the leading tourism state in Nigeria. Especially the capital, Calabar. Visitors from different parts of Nigeria come to the city in large numbers all year round.
Tourist attractions are, the soaring plateaus of the mountain tops of Obanliku, the ObUdU Mountain Resort, the Rain forests and Mountain walkway canopy of Afi, Waterfalls at Agbokim and Kwa, the monoliths at Ikom, Cross River National Park at Boki, and the Obubra Lake at Obubra.
Others are the Etanpim Cave in Odukpani, the Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar Marina Resort (which houses the Calabar Slave Museum, the Cinema, and a view of the Calabar River where one could take a boat ride around or to Oron in Akwa-lbom State), Calabar Residency Museum, and Mary Slessor Tomb.
Accessibilty Cross River State can be accessed by air through the Margaret Ekpo International Airport at Calabar and the Bebi airstrip at Obanliku; by sea through the Calabar seaport and by road from different parts of the country to other parts of the state.
Crops The main crops can be found in the northern and central parts of the state. These are cassava, yams, rice, plantain, banana, cocoyam, maize, cocoa, rubber, groundnut, and palm produce. While in the south, various kinds of seafood are mostly eaten.
Livestock Major livestock in the State are cattle, goats, and sheep. Rearing activities are mainly undertaken by the Fulani herdsmen, except in Obanliku at the Obudu Cattle Ranch where organized cattle ranching takes place.
Mineral resources Cross River State Mineral resources include limestone, titanium, tin ore, ceramic materials, and hard stone.
Education Tertiary educational institutions include the University of Calabar and the Cross River State University of Technology both in Calabar, the Ibrahim Babangida College of Agriculture in Obubra and Technical College, Ugep.
Famous people Notable people from Calabar include Louis Edet (Nigeria’s first indigenous Inspector General of Police), Etim Henshaw (The Red Devils of Nigeria’s famous football team captain), Margaret Ekpo, Donald Duke, Benedict Ayade, Kate Henshaw Nutall, Florence Ita-Giwa, Victor Ndoma-Egba, Shan George, and others too numerous to mention.
