From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has decried the poor state of facilities at Obudu Ranch Resort, promising to give it a facelift with additional aesthetics.
Otu, who made the disclosure at the weekend during the tour of the northern senatorial district of the state, described the Ranch as one of Nigeria’s wonders and promised to refashion it and return it to its pride of place as a major tourism destination in the country.
He said: “What I have come to meet here is a bit devastating. We have to get the Ranch back to the level it was with additional aesthetics as soon as possible.
“I am fully aware of the plight of the former staff as well as the union disagreement due to non-payment of their salaries. We will sort that out once the personnel audit is completed.
“Whether we like it or not, the people who are working here must be accommodated and be carried along in the scheme of things if we must get it back to life again,” the governor stated.
At the Obudu-German Specialist Hospital, the Governor who led a contingent of consultants and high-profile Cross Riverians to the facility in the Obudu local governor area, described it as a masterpiece that will promote medical tourism in Nigeria through quality healthcare services.
He further described the strategic and state-of-the-art hospital as one of the best legacies his predecessor, Prof Ben Ayade, left behind, and which Cross Riverians will continue to be proud of.
“It is one of the best facilities that can be found anywhere around the world today. As we speak, our people have started patronizing the facility which is offering world-class medical services. We will remain grateful to our immediate past governor for his foresight and love for the wellbeing of our people.
“We have started discussion already with relevant Federal Government agencies and I want to believe that not too long from now, the roads will be rehabilitated so that Nigerians can have unhindered access to this all-important facility.
“Don’t forget that we are also constructing a world-class cargo airport here in Obudu which my dear brother Ayade started including the Canadian International School. All these facilities will not only service the Obudu Ranch resort but will grant more elites access to the hospital,” Otu stated
The governor promised to address the power situation in the area, which may threaten the existence of these facilities.