The Cross River State Government has conducted a successful test flight at the Bebi Airstrip in Obanliku Local Government Area, in what officials describe as a major step towards restoring air access to the Obudu Mountain Resort.
The test flight, conducted on Thursday, was disclosed on Saturday by the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Obudu Ranch, Sunday Michael, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.
Michael said the successful test flight was part of preparations for the comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Obudu Ranch Resort and its associated facilities.
According to him, the development is aimed at repositioning the iconic tourism destination and restoring it to its former status as one of Nigeria's foremost tourist attractions.
The Bebi Airstrip has remained largely inactive for years following safety concerns, regulatory issues and the withdrawal of essential services by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) over unpaid debts.
The latest development is expected to improve accessibility to the mountain resort when commercial flight operations eventually resume.
The state government is also preparing for a major redevelopment of the entire resort. Michael said the resort complex, including the Obudu Mountain Resort, Waterpark, Safari Lodge and Bebi Airstrip, would be temporarily closed from September 1, 2026, to allow for the planned rehabilitation.
The intervention is expected to cover modernisation of facilities, improvement of access infrastructure and upgrades aimed at creating a tourism destination capable of competing with major destinations in Nigeria and beyond.
The development follows the state's recent concession of the Obudu Ranch Resort for 25 years to Living Curation Real Estate Limited, with the government saying the arrangement is intended to facilitate the holistic rehabilitation and development of the tourism asset.
For communities in Obanliku and the wider northern Cross River tourism corridor, the revival of Bebi Airstrip could significantly ease access to the resort and potentially stimulate tourism-related businesses, employment and investment.
The state government has also linked the broader Obudu project to its efforts to expand tourism and diversify the state's economy.
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