CRSG Remodels Cultural Centre For Iconic Appeal

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – If assurances are anything to go by, then the Cross River State Cultural Centre Complex will, in the next 15 months, wear the look of an iconic edifice following the ongoing massive remodelling and reconstruction work approved by Governor Bassey Edet Otu

With three months already gone in the 18-month expected date of delivery, the Ashbury Sunderland Infrastructure Development Limited construction firm handling the contract assures the Complex, located on the famous Mary Slessor Avenue, will have a state-of-the-art look when the job is completed.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Firm, High Chief Edem Duke, disclosed that the contract for remodeling the edifice, constructed over 50 years ago by the Military administration of late Brigadier Udoakaha Jacob Esuene (rtd), was awarded by the State about three months ago.

He told journalists that the State government deemed it important to upgrade the facility in keeping with the status of Cross River State as a tourism destination in the country, adding that reconstruction work is already 30 percent completed

High Chief Duke further said a Complex of such magnitude, located along the popular Calabar Carnival route, deserves an iconic status to attract the attention of tourists, visitors, and event planners, which would ultimately generate income to boost the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base

According to High Chief Duke, who is a former Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, upon completion, the edifice would be adorned with artistic embellishments and world world-class aquarium to enhance leisure and recreational activities

The inspection visit by newsmen was organized to facilitate on-the-spot assessment of development projects undertaken by the Governor Otu-led administration in the State

In a related development, the State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Erasmus Ekpang, also led journalists to the State Library Complex, which was vandalized during the #EndSARS protest.

Ekpang stated that the Complex is now almost 95 percent completed, with state-of-the-art facilities provided to promote reading culture and research among the people.