View source for Cross River State

{{Short description|State of Nigeria}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name                            = Cross River
| official_name                   = State of Cross River
| type                            = [[States of Nigeria|State]]
| image_flag                      = Cross River State Flag.svg
| flag_alt                        = Flag of Cross River State
| image_seal                      = Coat_of_arms_state_Cross_River.jpg
| seal_alt                        = Seal of Cross River State
| nickname                        = [[List of Nigerian state nicknames|The People's Paradise]]<br />({{langx|fr|Le paradis des gens}})
| image_map                       = Nigeria - Cross River.svg
| map_alt                         = 
| map_caption                     = Location of Cross River State in Nigeria
| coordinates                     = {{coord|5|45|N|8|30|E|region:NG_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint                   = 
| coordinates_footnotes           = 
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|Nigeria}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[Geopolitical Zones in Nigeria|Geopolitical Zone]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[South South]]
| established_title               = [[List of Nigerian states by date of statehood|Date created]]
| established_date                = 27 May 1967
| seat_type                       = [[List of Nigerian state capitals|Capital]]
| seat                            = [[Calabar]]
| government_footnotes            =

| governing_body                  = Government of Cross River State
| leader_party                    = [[All Progressive Congress|APC]]
| leader_title                    = [[Governor of Cross River State|Governor]]
| leader_name                     = [[Bassey Otu]]
| leader_title1                   = {{nowrap|Deputy Governor}}
| leader_name1                    = [[Peter Odey]] ([[All Progressives Congress (Nigeria)|APC]])
| leader_title2           = Legislature
| leader_name2            = [[Cross River State House of Assembly]]
| leader_title3           = [[Senate of Nigeria|Senators]]
| leader_name3            = {{Nowrap|[[Cross River Central Senatorial District|C]]: [[Eteng Jonah Williams]] ([[People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)|APC]])}}<br />{{Nowrap|N: [[Agom Jarigbe]] ([[People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)|PDP]])}}<br />{{Nowrap|[[Cross River South Senatorial District|S]]: [[Asuquo Ekpenyong]] ([[People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)|APC]])}}
| leader_title4           = [[Nigerian House of Representatives|Representatives]]
| leader_name4            = [[Nigerian National Assembly delegation from Cross River|List]]
| unit_pref                       = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 20,156
| area_rank                       = [[List of Nigerian states by area|19th of 36]]
| area_note                       = 
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_m                     = 
| population_footnotes            = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Cross River State: Subdivision |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/nigeria/admin/NGA009__cross_river/|access-date=2024-02-05 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>
| population_total                = 4,406,200
| population_as_of                = 2022
| population_rank                 = [[List of Nigerian states by population|28th of 36]]
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_note                 = 
| demographics_type1              = [[List of Nigerian states by GDP|GDP (PPP)]]
| demographics1_footnotes         = 
| demographics1_title1            = Year
| demographics1_info1             = 2021
| demographics1_title2            = Total
| demographics1_info2             = $26.33&nbsp;billion<ref name="C-GIDD GDP">{{cite web |date=2022-10-13 |editor-last=Okeowo |editor-first=Gabriel |editor2-last=Fatoba |editor2-first=Iyanuoluwa |title=State of States 2022 Edition |url=https://yourbudgit.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-State-of-states_Official.pdf |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Budgit.org |publisher=BudgIT |publication-date=2022-10-13}}</ref><br />[[List of Nigerian states by GDP|14th of 36]]
| demographics1_title3            = Per capita
| demographics1_info3             = $5,892<ref name="C-GIDD GDP"/><br />[[List of Nigerian states by GDP|14th of 36]]
| timezone1                       = [[West Africa Time|WAT]]
| utc_offset1                     = +01
| postal_code_type                = postal code
| postal_code                     = 540001
| area_code_type                  = Dialing Code
| area_code                       = +234
| iso_code                        = [[ISO 3166-2:NG|NG-CR]]
| blank_name_sec1                 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022)
| blank_info_sec1                 = 0.675<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><br />{{color|#fc0|medium}} · [[List of Nigerian states by Human Development Index|5th of 37]]
| website                         = [https://crossriverstate.gov.ng/]
| footnotes                       = 
}}
'''Cross River State''' is a [[States of Nigeria|state]] in the [[South South (Nigeria)|South-South geopolitical zone]] of [[Nigeria]]. Named for the [[Cross River (Nigeria)|Cross River]], the state was formed from the eastern part of the [[Eastern Region, Nigeria|Eastern Region]] on 27 May 1967. The state has its capital as [[Calabar]] and is bordered to the north by [[Benue State]], to the west by [[Ebonyi State]] and [[Abia State]], and to the southwest by [[Akwa Ibom State]] while its eastern border forms part of the national [[Cameroon-Nigeria border|border with]] [[Cameroon]]. Originally known as the '''South-Eastern State''' before being renamed in 1976, Cross River state formerly included the area that is now [[Akwa Ibom State]], which became a distinct state in 1987.<ref name="pulse.ng">{{cite web |title=This is how the 36 states were created |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/nigerian-states-this-is-how-the-36-states-were-created/mdtnq3e |website=Pulse.ng |date=24 October 2017 |access-date=15 December 2021}}</ref>

Of the [[States of Nigeria|36 states]], Cross River is the [[List of Nigerian states by area|nineteenth largest in area]] and [[List of Nigerian states by population|27th most populous]] with an estimated population of over 3.8 million as of 2016.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Population 2006-2016 |url=https://nigerianstat.gov.ng/elibrary/read/474 |website=[[National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria|National Bureau of Statistics]] |access-date=14 December 2021}}</ref> Geographically, the state is mainly divided between the [[Guinean forest–savanna mosaic]] in the far north and the [[Cross–Sanaga–Bioko coastal forests]] in the majority of the interior of the state. The smaller [[List of ecoregions in Nigeria|ecoregions]] are the [[Central African mangroves]] in the coastal far south and a part of the [[Montane ecosystems|montane]] [[Cameroonian Highlands forests]] in the extreme northeast. The most major geographical feature is the state's namesake, the [[Cross River (Nigeria)|Cross River]] which bisects Cross River State's interior before forming much of the state's western border and flowing into the Cross River Estuary. Other important rivers are the [[Calabar River|Calabar]] and [[Great Kwa River|Great Kwa]] rivers which flow from the inland [[Oban Hills]] before flanking the city of [[Calabar]] and flowing into the Cross River Estuary as well. In the forested interior of the state are several biodiverse [[Protected areas of Nigeria|protected areas]] including the [[Cross River National Park]], [[Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary]], and [[Mbe Mountains Community Forest]]. These wildlife reserves contain populations of [[Preuss's red colobus]], [[African forest buffalo]], [[bat hawk]], [[tree pangolin]], [[grey-necked rockfowl]], and [[West African slender-snouted crocodile]] along with some of Nigeria's last remaining [[Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee]], [[Drill (animal)|drill]], [[African forest elephant]], and [[Cross River gorilla]] populations.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=Cross River National Park (Oban Division) |url=https://nigeria.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Cross-River-NP-Oban.aspx |website=[[Wildlife Conservation Society|WCS]] Nigeria |access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cross River National Park (Okwangwo Division) |url=https://nigeria.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Cross-River-NP-Okwangwo.aspx |website=[[Wildlife Conservation Society|WCS]] Nigeria |access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary |url=https://nigeria.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Afi-Mountain-Wildlife-Sanctuary.aspx |website=[[Wildlife Conservation Society|WCS]] Nigeria |access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mbe Mountains |url=https://nigeria.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Mbe-Mountains.aspx |website=[[Wildlife Conservation Society|WCS]] Nigeria |access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>

Demographically, Cross River State is inhabited by several ethnic groups, primarily the [[Efik people|Efik]] of the riverside south and [[Calabar]]; the [[Ekoi people|Ekoi (Ejagham)]] of the inland south; the [[Akunakuna]], [[Boki people|Boki]], [[Bahumono]], and [[Yakö people|Yakö (Yakurr)]] of the [[Cross River Central Senatorial District|central region]]; and the [[Bekwarra]], [[Bette people|Bette]], [[Igede]], the Mbube people and [[Ukelle people (Nigeria)|Ukelle (Kukele)]] of the northern region. In the pre-colonial period, what is now Cross River State was divided between its ethnic groups with some joining the [[Aro Confederacy]] while the Efik founded the [[Duke Town|Akwa Akpa (Old Calabar)]] city-state. The latter become a British protectorate in 1884 as the capital of the [[Oil Rivers Protectorate]] but it was not until the early 1900s that the British actually gained formal control of the entire area. Around the same time, the protectorate (now renamed the [[Niger Coast Protectorate]]) was incorporated into the [[Southern Nigeria Protectorate]] which later merged into [[British Nigeria]].<ref name=Britannica1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle = Calabar |volume = 4 |page = 962}}</ref> After the merger, much of modern-day Cross River became a centre of anti-colonial resistance during the [[Women's War]] and trade through the international seaport at [[Calabar]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Calabar |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Calabar |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>

After independence in 1960, the area of now-Cross River was a part of the post-independence [[Eastern Region, Nigeria|Eastern Region]] until 1967 when the region was split and the area became part of the [[South-Eastern State, Nigeria|South-Eastern State]]. Less than two months afterwards, the [[Igbo people|Igbo]]-majority former Eastern Region attempted to secede as the state of [[Biafra]]; in the three-year long [[Nigerian Civil War]], Calabar and its port was hard fought over in [[Operation Tiger Claw]] while people from Cross River were persecuted by [[Biafra]]n forces as they were mainly non-Igbo.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Omaka |first1=Arua Oko |title=The Forgotten Victims: Ethnic Minorities in the Nigeria-Biafra War, 1967-1970 |journal=Journal of Retracing Africa |date=17 February 2014 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=25–40 |url=https://encompass.eku.edu/jora/vol1/iss1/2/ |access-date=15 December 2021}}</ref> At the war's end and the reunification of Nigeria, the [[South-Eastern State, Nigeria|South-Eastern State]] was reformed until 1976 when it was renamed Cross River State. Eleven years later, Cross River State was divided with western Cross River being broken off to form the new [[Akwa Ibom State]].<ref>{{cite web |title=This is how the 36 states were created |url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/nigerian-states-this-is-how-the-36-states-were-created/mdtnq3e |website=Pulse.ng |access-date=15 December 2021}}</ref> The state formerly contained the oil-producing [[Bakassi peninsula|Bakassi Peninsula]], but it was ceded to [[Cameroon]] under the terms of the [[Greentree Agreement]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4789647.stm|title=Nigeria hands Bakassi to Cameroon|date=14 August 2006|access-date=15 December 2021|work=BBC News|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106005117/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4789647.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

As an agricultural state, the Cross River's economy partially relies on crops, such as [[cocoyam]], [[Hevea brasiliensis|rubber]], [[oil palm]], [[Yam (vegetable)|yam]], [[Theobroma cacao|cocoa]], [[cashews]], and [[Cooking banana|plantain]] crops, along with fishing. Key minor industries involve tourism in and around the wildlife reserves along with the historic [[Ikom Monoliths]] site, [[Calabar Carnival]], and [[Obudu Mountain Resort]]. Cross River state has the [[List of Nigerian states by Human Development Index#2019|joint-thirteenth highest]] [[Human Development Index]] in the country and numerous institutions of tertiary education.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=The Resources Of Cross River State – Cross River Investment Promotion Bureau (CRIPB) |url=https://ipb.cr.gov.ng/the-resources-of-cross-river-state/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Human Development Indices |url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/ |website=Global Data Lab |access-date=15 December 2021}}</ref>

== History ==
Cross River as a south-south state was created on 27 May 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.<ref name="books.google.co.uk">{{cite book |author=Benjamin Obi Nwabueze |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6jrE5CBhl0C&q=creation+of+state+in+south+east+nigeria+without+cross-river&pg=PA222 |title=A Constitutional History of Nigeria |date=1982 |publisher=C. Hurst and Co LTD, UK |isbn=9780905838793}}</ref>{{rp|222}}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]].<ref name=":1"/> The struggle for a new state creation started in 1980 in the reign of president Shehu Shagari where Senator [[Joseph Oqua Ansa]] (Mon) the senator representing Calabar senatorial district then was at the helm of affairs. Its capital is Calabar. Its major towns are [[Akamkpa|Calabar Municipality, Akamkpa]], [[Biase]], [[Calabar South]], [[Ikom]], [[Igede]], [[Obubra]], [[Odukpani]], [[Ogoja]], [[Bekwarra]], [[Ugep]], [[Obudu]], [[Obanliku]], [[Akpabuyo]], Ofutop, Iso-bendghe, Danare, [[Boki, Nigeria|Boki]], [[Yala, Nigeria|Yala]], Bendeghe Ekiem, Etomi, [[Ediba]], [[Itigidi]], [[Ugep]], Ukpe and [[Ukelle]].<ref name=":2"/>

The state has many governors and administrators including Udoakaha J. Esuene, [[Paul Omu]], Tunde Elegbede, [[Clement Isong]], Donald Etiebet, [[Dan Archibong|Daniel Archibong]], Ibim Princewill, [[Ernest Attah]], Clement Ebri, Ibrahim Kefas, Gregory Agboneni, Umar Faoruk Ahmed, Christopher Osondu, [[Donald Duke]], [[Liyel Imoke]] and [[Benedict Ayade]]. The current Governor is [[Bassey Otu|Bassey Edet Otu]], who was sworn into office on 29 May 2023. He was elected for a four-year term in office under the platform of [[All Progressives Congress|All Progressive Congress (APC).]]

==Geography==
Cross River State derives its name from the Cross River, which passes through the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Map - Cross River State - MAP[N]ALL.COM |url=http://mapnall.com/en/Map-Cross-River-State_1104602.html |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=mapnall.com}}</ref> It is a coastal state located in the [[Niger Delta]] region, and occupies 20,156 square kilometers. It shares boundaries with [[Benue State|Benue state]] to the north for 188&nbsp;km (117 miles), [[Ebonyi State|Ebonyi]] and [[Abia State|Abia]] states to the west for 198&nbsp;km (123 miles) and about 52&nbsp;km respectively (partly across Cross River), to the east by [[Sud-Ouest Province, Cameroon|Sud-Ouest Province]] in [[Cameroon]] for about 290&nbsp;km (181 miles), partly across the Sankwala Mountains and the Akwayafe River, and to the south by [[Akwa Ibom State|Akwa-Ibom]] for about 114&nbsp;km (71 miles) mostly across Cross River and the [[Atlantic Ocean]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Andem|first1=A. B|last2=Udofia|first2=U. U|last3=Okorafor|first3=K. A|last4=George|first4=U. U|date=2013-08-11|title=Bioaccumulation of some Heavy Metals and Total Hydrocarbon (THC) in the Tissues of Periwinkle (Tympanotonus Fuscatus Var Radula) in the Intertidal Regions of Qua Iboe River Basin, Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria|journal=Greener Journal of Biological Sciences|volume=3|issue=7|pages=258–264|doi=10.15580/gjbs.2013.7.072913762|issn=2276-7762|doi-access=free}}</ref> The state is made up of 18 Local Government Area [[Council]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Member Countries {{!}} COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION AFRICA REGION |url=https://www.cpaafricaregion.or.tz/member-countries/79#:~:text=The%20capital%20of%20Cross%20River,,%20Ogoja,%20Yakurr%20and%20Yala. |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=www.cpaafricaregion.or.tz}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Like few other Nigerian states, the climate of Cross River state is [[Tropics|tropical]]. Not only this, the state is also characterized by [[Humidity|relative humidity]]. The [[Global temperature record|average temperature]] of the state is between 15°C and 30°C. However, this climatic condition is different in locations within the Cross River state such as the high plateau of [[Obudu]], which has a record of a fall in temperature between 4°C and 10°C, as a result of the high [[altitude]] of this area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kekerete.tripod.com/CRSG/about.html#:~:text=The+climate+within+Cross+River,annual+rainfall+between+1300+%E2%80%93+3000mm.|title=Cross River State: About CRS|website=kekerete.tripod.com|accessdate=16 February 2025}}</ref> The capital city of the State, Calabar, has a significant record of [[rainfall]] within the year, while the dry season has less significant effect in the state due to the depth of rainfall experienced. Based on the records presented by the Climate Data of the state, the annual rainfall of Cross River state is 3306mm (130.2 inches).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/africa/nigeria/cross-river-348/|title=Climate Cross River: Temperature, climate graph, Climate table for Cross River|website=en.climate-data.org|accessdate=16 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ekpe |first=Dr Itita A. |date=2018-01-01 |title=IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON ARTISANAL FISHERIES IN CROSS RIVER ESTUARY, SOUTHERN NIGERIA |url=https://www.academia.edu/40617961 |journal=Unical Graduate School}}</ref>

==Demographics==

The State is composed of several ethnic groups,<ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Tribes in Cross River State Nigeria {{!}} AllNigeriaInfo|date=21 January 2018 |url=https://allnigeriainfo.ng/tribes-in-cross-river/|access-date=2021-08-08|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cross River {{!}} state, Nigeria|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Cross-River-state-Nigeria|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> which include the [[Efik people|Efik]], the [[Ekoi people|Ejagham]], [[Yakö people|Yakurr]], [[Bahumono]], Bette, Yala, [[Igede]], [[Ukelle]] and the Bekwarra among others. There are four major languages spoken in the state: English, the common language, Efik, Bekwarra, and Ejagham. The [[Efik language]] is widely spoken in Cross River State, especially in Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Akampkpa, Biase, and Odukpani Local Government Areas.  The [[Ejagham language]] is also a widely spoken language in Cross River State.

The Efik-speaking people live mainly in the Southern senatorial districts of Cross River, or as it is commonly referred to, the Greater Calabar district, which includes Calabar Municipality, Calabar South, Bakassi, Biase, Akpabuyo, Odukpani, and Akamkpa LGAs. There is also the Qua community in Calabar, which speaks Ejagham. The main Ejagham group occupies mostly the Greater Calabar areas of Calabar Municipality, Odukpani, Biase, and Akamkpa sections of Cross River State.<ref name="auto"/>

There are also the [[Yakurr]] /Agoi/[[Bahumono]] ethnic groups in Yakurr and Abi LGA, while the Mbembe are predominantly found in Obubra LGA. Further up the core northern part of the state are several sub-dialectical groups, among which are Etung, Olulumo, Ofutop, Nkim/Nkum, Abanajum, Nseke and [[Boki people|Boki]] in both Ikom, Etung and Boki LGAs. Also, the Yala/Yache, Igede, Ukelle, Ekajuk, Mbube, Bette, Bekwarra, and Utukwang people are found in Ogoja, Yala, Obudu, Obanliku, and Bekwarra LGAs. The Yala is a subgroup of the Idoma nation, part of the Yala LGA's subgroups are the Igede-speaking people believed to have migrated from the Oju part of Benue State, who migrated from Ora, in Edo North.{{fact|date=May 2024}}

In Cross River North, Bekwarra is one of the most widely spoken languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cross River State |url=https://www.crossriverhub.com/about-cross-river-state/ |access-date=2022-08-30 |website=Cross River Hub |language=en-US}}</ref> It is understood by other tribes in the district. This language along with Efik and Ejagham is used for news broadcast on the state-owned radio and TV stations.{{fact|date=May 2024}}

Cross River State epitomizes the nation's linguistic and cultural plurality and it is important to note that, in spite of the diversity of dialects, all the Indigenous languages in the state have common linguistic roots as Niger-Congo languages. Finally, the State serves as the venue of the largest carnival in [[Africa.com|Africa.]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=25 Interesting Facts About Cross River State|date=17 July 2020|url=https://www.thehistoryville.com/cross-river-states-interesting-facts/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-14|title=Cross River State History, LGA & Senatorial Districts|url=https://www.aziza.com.ng/read/2019/10/cross-river-state-history-and-there-local-government/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Aziza Goodnews|language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:Kwafalls.jpg|thumb|Kwa falls, a waterfall along the [[Great Kwa River|Kwa River]]]]

==Local Government Areas==
{{See also|List of villages in Cross River State}}

Cross River State consists of eighteen (18) [[Local government areas of Nigeria|Local Government Areas]]. They are:

{{div col|colwidth=10em}}
* [[Abi, Cross River|Abi]]
* [[Akamkpa]]
* [[Akpabuyo]]
* [[Bekwarra]]
* [[Bakassi]]
* [[Biase]]
* [[Boki, Nigeria|Boki]]
* [[Calabar Municipal]]
* [[Calabar South]]
* [[Etung]]
* [[Ikom]]
* [[Obanliku]]
* [[Obubra]]
* [[Obudu]]
* [[Odukpani]]
* [[Ogoja]]
* [[Yakurr]]
* [[Yala, Nigeria|Yala]]
{{div col end}}

== Religion ==
The majority of Cross Riverians are predominantly Christian with minorities practicing different ethnic indigenous religions.<br>
The Catholic Church includes the Archdiocese of Calabar (1934) with 51 parishes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dclbr.html|title=Calabar (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|accessdate=16 February 2025}}</ref> under Archbishop Joseph Effiong Ekuwem (2013)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bekuwem.html|title=Archbishop Joseph Effiong Ekuwem [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|accessdate=16 February 2025}}</ref> and the suffragan diocese of Ogoja (1938)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dogoj.html|title=Ogoja (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|accessdate=16 February 2025}}</ref> with 79 parishes under Bishop Donatus Edet Akpan (2017).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bakpan.html|title=Bishop Donatus Edet Akpan [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|accessdate=16 February 2025}}</ref>
The Anglican Province of the Niger Delta includes the Diocese of Calabar led by Bishop Nneoyi O. Egbe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anglican-nig.org/our-provinces/ecclesiastical-province-of-niger-delta/|title=Province of Niger Delta &#124; Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)|date=26 March 2020|accessdate=16 February 2025}}</ref>

==Languages==
Languages of Cross River State listed by LGA includes :<ref name=e22>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/country/NG|title=Nigeria|work=Ethnologue|edition=22|access-date=2020-01-10}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! LGA !! Languages
|-
| Abi ||[[Gwune language|Agwagwune]]; [[humono language|Humono]]; [[Igbo language|Igbo]]
|-
| Akamkpa ||[[Agoi language|Agoi]]; [[Bakpinka language|Bakpinka]]; [[Uyanga language|Doko-Uyanga]]; [[Efik language|Efik]]; [[Lubila language|Lubila]]; [[Nkukoli language|Nkukoli]]; [[Akpet language|Ukpet-Ehom]]; Ejagham; [[Kiong language|Kiong]]; [[Dorop language|Korop]]; [[Ubaghara language|Ubaghara]]; [[Ukwa language|Ukwa]]; [[Umon language|Umon]]
|-
| Bekwarra ||[[Bekwarra language|Bekwarra]]; [[Tiv language|Tiv]]; [[Putukwam language|Utugwang-Irungene-Afrike]]
|-
| Biase ||[[Gwune language|Agwagwune]]; [[Efik language|Efik]]; [[Ubaghara language|Ubaghara]]; [[Ukwa language|Ukwa]];[[Umon language|Umon]]
|-
| Boki ||[[Bete-Bendi language|Bete-Bendi]]; [[Bokyi language|Bokyi]]
|-
| Calabar ||[[Efik language|Efik]];  [[Jagham language|Ejagham]]
|-
| Ikom ||  [[Jagham language|Ejagham]]; [[Abanyom language|Abanyom]]; Bukpe; [[Futop language|Efutop]]; [[Mbembe language|Mbembe]],; [[Nde-Nsele-Nta language|Nde-Nsele-Nta]]; [[Ndoe language|Ndoe]]; [[Nkukoli language|Nkukoli]]; [[Nnam language|Nnam]]; [[Ikom language|Olulumo-Ikom]]; Yala
|-
| Obanliku ||[[Bete-Bendi language|Bete-Bendi]]; [[Evant language|Evant]]; [[Iceve-Maci language|Iceve-Maci]]; [[Obanliku language|Obanliku]]; [[Otank language|Otank]]; Tiv
|-
| Obubra || Agoi; [[Humono language|Hohumono]]; [[Igbo language|Igbo]], Legbo; [[Nyima language|Lenyima]]; [[Yigha language|Leyigha]]; Lokaa; Mbembe; [[Nkukoli language|Nkukoli]]; Yala
|-
| Obudu || Bete-Bendi; Bukpe; [[Bumaji language|Bumaji]]; Elege; Tiv; [[Ubang language|Ubang]]; [[Putukwam language|Utugwang-Irungene-Afrike]]; 
|-
| Odukpani || [[Efik language|Efik]]; Ejagham; Kiong;
|-
| Ogoja || Ekajuk; Igede; Kukele; Mbe; Nkem-Nkum; Nnam; [[Igbo language|Igbo]]; Utugwang-Irungene-Afrike; Uzekwe; 
|-
| Yakurr || Lokaah, Lokoi, Loseka, Loyima
|-
| Yala || Tiv; Mbembe; Igede; Yace; Yala; Kukelle
|-
| Akpabuyo || [[Efik; Ekoi]]
|- 
| Bakassi || [[Efik language|Efik]]
|}

Other languages spoken in Cross State are Eki, Ibibio, Ilue, Ito, and Okobo.<ref name=e22/><ref>{{Cite book|last=Williamson|first=Kay|title=Languages of Niger Delta|year=1968|pages=124–130}}</ref>

==Festivals==
[[File:Dance Troupe from Cross River State.jpg|thumb|Dance Troupe at Cross River State]]
Festivals held in Cross River state include:

*The Cross River State Christmas Festival – 1 December to 31 December annually<ref>{{Cite web|title=Be part of the famous Cross River State Christmas Festival - Nigeria|url=http://www.nigeria-direct.com/activity/be-part-of-the-famous-cross-river-state-christmas-festival#:~:text=It%20is%20a%20spectacular%20occasion,and%20celebrate%20its%20African%20heritage.|access-date=2021-12-15|website=www.nigeria-direct.com}}</ref>
*The Cross River State Carnival Float – 26 and 27 December yearly
*The Yakurr Leboku Yam festival – 28 August annually
*The Calabar Boat Regata
*Anong Bahumono Festival which is held 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 Eta<ref>{{Cite web|title=Festivals and Carnivals in Rivers State:: Nigeria Information & Guide|url=https://www.nigeriagalleria.com/Nigeria/States_Nigeria/Rivers/Festivals-Carnivals-Rivers-State.html|access-date=2022-02-09|website=www.nigeriagalleria.com}}</ref>
*[[Ediba]] Bahumono Festival which is held in [[Ediba]] Village every last [[Saturday]] in the month of July
*Bekwarra, Obudu, Obanliku, Igede New yam festival which is held every 1st Saturday of September every year.

==Tourism==
[[File:Boshi extension, Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park.3.jpg|thumb|Cross River National Park]]

From the soaring plateaus of the mountain tops of [[Obanliku]] to the Rain forests of Afi, from the [[Agbokim Waterfalls|Waterfalls of Agbokim]] and [[Great Kwa River|Kwa]] to the spiraling ox-bow [[Calabar River]] which provides sights and images of the [[Tinapa Resort|Tinapa Business Resort]], [[Marina Resort]], Calabar Residency Museum and the Calabar Slave Park along its course, there is always a thrilling adventure awaiting the eco-tourist visiting Cross River State.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-09|title=10 top things to see and do in Cross River state|url=https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/10-top-things-to-see-and-do-in-cross-river-state/0txh2rg|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref>

Other tourist attractions are the [[Ikom Monoliths]] (a series of volcanic-stone monoliths of unknown age), the [[Mary Slessor]] Tomb, Calabar Drill Monkey Sanctuary, [[Cross River National Park]], [[Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary|Afi Mountain]] walkway canopy, Kwa Falls, Agbokim waterfalls, Tinapa Business Resort, Mono railway and the annual [[Calabar Carnival]] that takes place during the [[Christmas]] period.

Cross River State can be accessed by air through the [[Margaret Ekpo International Airport]] at Calabar. There are daily flights to Calabar from Lagos and Abuja serviced by airlines such as [[Air Peace|Air peace]] Airlines, [[Ibom Air]] Airlines, and recently [[Cally Air]], operated by Aero Contractors which worked for about 5 months in 2021 and at the start of 2022, it stopped operation.

The Cross River state-owned airline, Cally Air, might have run aground after two years of operations and operational debt in excess of N900 million to its technical partner, Aero Contractors.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-05-30 |title=Controversy over Cally Air assets, N900 million debt to Aero Contractors |url=https://guardian.ng/business-services/controversy-over-cally-air-assets-n900-million-debt-to-aero-contractors/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education==

Education started with mother tongue education. Presently, a lot of schools in the state for educative learning in the society.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Williamson|first=Key|title=The Rivers Readers project in Nigeria in Bamgbose. A.ed. mother tongue education; the west African experience.|publisher=UNESCO press|year=1976}}</ref> The Tertiary educational institutions in the State includes:

* [[University of Calabar]], 
* [[University of Cross River State]] (UNICROSS)
* College of Health Technology, [[Calabar]]
* CRS College of Nursing Sciences, Calabar
* [[Ibrahim Babangida College of Agriculture]], [[Obubra]]
* University of Education and Entrepreneurial Studies, Cross River State located, [[Akamkpa]] 
* Federal College of Education, [[Obudu]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fceobudu.edu.ng/ |title=Home |website=fceobudu.edu.ng}}</ref> 
* Polytechnic Ugep, [[Yakurr Local Government Area|Yakurr]]
* [[Arthur Javis University|Arthur Jarvis University]], [[Akpabuyo]]<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.nbte.gov.ng/institutions.html
 |title=Institutions
 |publisher=National Board for Technical Education
 |access-date=2010-03-20
 |archive-date=15 December 2017
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215044312/http://www.nbte.gov.ng/institutions.html
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

==Transportation==
Federal highways 
* [[A4 highway (Nigeria)|A4]] north from Calabar via Ikom and Ogoja to Benue State,
* [[A343 highway (Nigeria)|A343]] (as part of TAH8: [[Trans-African Highway 8]] Lagos-Mombasa) west from A4 at Mbok Junction as the Ngulya Mbok Rd and Iyahe Rd to Ebonyi State as the Ogoja-Abakaliki Rd, 
* A4-1 west from A4 at Odukpani Junction as the Ndom Nkim Esuk Odot Rd west across [[Cross River (Nigeria)|Cross River]] at Ayadeghe to [[Akwa Ibom State|Akwa Ibom]].

Two roads to [[Cameroon]]: 
* [[Trans-African Highway 8]] from A4 at Ikum via Mfum at Ekok to N6 to [[Mamfe|Mamfé]].
* The Calabar-Ikom road from Ekang to Otu.

Other major roads include:
* the Oju-Alebo Rd north from [[A343 highway (Nigeria)|A343]] at Iyahe to [[Benue State]] as the Iyahe-Ewango-Oju Rd,
* the Ikum Wula Rd northeast from [[A4 highway (Nigeria)|A4]] at Ikom as the Obudu-Ikom Rd to Obudu, 
* the Ranch Rd east from Obudu as the Vande Ikya-Abanliko Rd and the Akanliko-Ngale Rd, 
* the Amachi-Ndeokpai Rd west from A4 at Ndeokpai across [[Cross River (Nigeria)|Cross River]] by ferry at Ikot Okpora to [[Abia State]] at Ewe as the Arochukwu-Akampa-Odukpani-Calabar Rd.

Waterways:

[[Calabar]] is a major port, with navigable waterways on Cross River.

Airports:
[[Margaret Ekpo International Airport]] at Calabar (1983), and [[Bebi Airstrip]].

==Politics==
The state government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the [[Cross River State House of Assembly|state house of assembly]]. The capital city of the state is [[Calabar]].<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Oguntola |first=Tunde |date=2022-09-27 |title=2023: Next President, Govs Must Get Two-thirds Spread, Says INEC |url=https://leadership.ng/2023-next-president-govs-must-get-two-thirds-spread-says-inec/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Electoral system===

The governor of each state is selected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two -third of the State local government Areas. If no candidate passes threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government Areas.<ref name="auto1"/>

==See also==
*[[Akwa Akpa]]
*[[Cross River language]]
*[[Tinapa Resort]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscatinline}}
* {{official|http://www.crossriverstate.gov.ng/ }}
* [http://crossriverwatch.com/?p=25473 Cross River State Ministry Of Health Reviews Strategic Health Plan]

{{Cross River State}}
{{CrossRiverStateGovernors}}
{{Nigeria states}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Nigeria}}

[[Category:Cross River State| ]]
[[Category:States of Nigeria]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1967]]