Pay As You Lodge: Government Officials Barred From Free Accommodation At Obudu Ranch

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has placed a ban on free accommodation at the Obudu Ranch Resort for political appointees and other government officials. The governor made this announcement during a post-mountain race press conference at the plateau, saying henceforth, any government official wishing to lodge at the famous resort must be prepared to pick his or her feeding and accommodation bills. According to him, the government’s decision became imperative to enable tourists have access to the mountain race championship because the number of visitors has always been checked by the number of government officials who are accommodated within the resort. “I do not mind getting accommodated at Obudu town or nearby Ogoja to enable tourists from within and outside the country be accommodated in the resort,” he said. On the economic value of the championship, the governor explained that it had made tremendous social and economic impact and had created value for the young ones who participate while its greatest asset is the promotion of mountain race. On the status of the Obudu Mountain Resort, the governor reasoned that like in East Africa, it should have been taken over by the federal government and classified a national heritage, and that a partnership with federal government could assist combat its challenges like that of the access road. The governor revealed that the state had spent N1.5 billion to install facilities at the Bebi Airstrip to enhance hitch-free air travel, and that similar equipment are found only in Lagos and Abuja airports, but unfortunately the domestic traffic to the ranch has not yet hit its peak. He however noted that the United Nations and its agencies, government of other states, etc organise workshops there