Cross River has signed a 25-year concession with Living Curation Real Estate Limited to redevelop its Obudu Ranch Resort, a mountaintop tourism facility, into a world-class.
However, experts versed in tourism sector say the resort requires more than N200 billion to rebuild its facilities, which have been left to rot since 2015; most of these have outmoded from international tourism offerings.
Now renamed Obudu Ranch Resort from initial Obudu Cattle Ranch, the concession agreement will see Living Curation Real Estate Limited redevelop the resort and other tourism assets through a public-private partnership.
The deal will support the comprehensive rehabilitation of the esort, Utanga Safari Lodge and the Bebi Airstrip, potentially reposition them into world-class tourism destinations capable of attracting local and international visitors.
Cross River attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Ededem Ani, described the concession as a major milestone in Governor Bassey Otu’s plan to revive the state’s tourism sector. He said the partnership reflects the government’s commitment to attracting private investment into strategic tourism assets.
“The concession is expected to transform these iconic tourism assets into a world-class tourism, hospitality, scientific eco-tourism and conservation destination, in line with the governor’s vision to restore the state’s position as Nigeria’s leading tourism destination,” Ani said.
He added that under the terms of the agreement, the concession will run for 25 years, after which the rehabilitated facilities will revert to the state government.
The project covers the redevelopment of Obudu Ranch Resort, Utanga Safari Lodge and the Bebi Airstrip, with the facilities reverting to the state government at the end of the concession period.
The government says the project is expected to stimulate economic activity in host communities through fresh investment, job creation and increased business opportunities. It added that women in the host communities are expected to be among the major beneficiaries of the initiative.
The concession is expected to create employment opportunities during the redevelopment and operational phases.
The project also aims to promote scientific eco-tourism, environmental conservation and sustainable economic development.
The concessionaire, Living Curation Real Estate Limited said it is committed to delivering a world-class tourism and hospitality destination in line with the state’s vision.
The government says it is confident that the partnership would help restore the state’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading tourism destinations.
In March 2025, the state government terminated the previous concession agreement with CIBA Construction Company Limited over alleged breach of its contractual obligations. The government said CIBA failed to carry out key investments required under the agreement, including the renovation of the resort’s hotel and critical infrastructure.
The concession, originally signed in 2017, was revoked after the government said the company failed to remedy repeated contractual breaches despite several opportunities.
The previous agreement had also been structured as a public-private partnership to modernise and operate the resort.
The new concession marks another attempt by the state government to revive one of Nigeria’s most iconic tourism destinations through private sector investment.
Obudu Ranch Resort, formerly Obudu Cattle Ranch, was established in 1951 by Scottish rancher M. McCaughley and is one of Nigeria’s best-known mountaintop tourism destinations.
The resort gained international recognition during the administration of former Governor Donald Duke, when major investments worth over N10 billion were built there: chalets, the cable car system, water parks, forest canopy walkway near the tourist enclave, among other infrastructure.
Poor maintenance and limited investment contributed to the resort’s massive deterioration, leading to decline in visitor numbers over the years.
The latest concession forms part of the state’s efforts to restore the resort’s infrastructure and reposition it as a leading tourism destination for domestic and international visitors.
