Cross River State has conducted a successful test flight at the Bebi Airstrip, marking a critical technical milestone in the government’s effort to restore air access to the Obudu Mountain Resort.
The test flight serves as a verification of the airstrip’s operational readiness following extensive rehabilitation works. The facility is the primary gateway for high-end tourists and investors visiting the resort, which has struggled with declining accessibility in recent years.
The development was first reported by Nairametrics, noting that the flight is part of a broader strategy to revive the ranch’s commercial viability.
For several years, the degradation of the Bebi Airstrip forced visitors to rely almost exclusively on road transport from Calabar. The journey to the highland resort is notoriously long and arduous, a factor that significantly deterred international tourists and corporate retreats, which are the resort’s most profitable segments.
The current administration’s focus on the airstrip is intended to remove this logistical bottleneck. By restoring the air link, the state aims to reposition the Obudu Mountain Resort as a premium destination capable of attracting higher spending per visitor.
Restoring Connectivity to Drive Tourism Investment
The rehabilitation of the airstrip is not an isolated project but part of a comprehensive plan to fix the resort’s decaying infrastructure. This includes the restoration of cable cars, hotel facilities, and road networks within the ranch.
From a commercial perspective, the return of scheduled flights to Bebi would lower the barrier to entry for luxury travel agencies and international tour operators. The ability to fly directly into the vicinity of the resort fundamentally changes the value proposition for the destination.
The economic ripple effect is expected to extend beyond the resort itself. Local SMEs, including transport providers, artisanal vendors, and hospitality services in the surrounding communities, depend heavily on the volume of traffic the resort generates.
However, a successful test flight is only the first step. For the airstrip to resume full commercial operations, it must undergo a rigorous certification process. This involves safety audits and operational approvals from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
These audits typically cover runway strength, navigation aids, fire-fighting capabilities, and security protocols. The state government must ensure that the facility meets the stringent standards set by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the NCAA to avoid further delays in certification.
The revival of Obudu is seen as a strategic move to diversify the state’s internal revenue streams. Historically, Cross River has looked to tourism as a primary economic driver to reduce its dependence on monthly federal allocations.
The government’s ability to maintain this infrastructure will be a key test of its long-term economic policy. Previous administrations have faced criticism for launching ambitious tourism projects only to allow them to deteriorate due to poor maintenance budgets.
The next phase of the process involves formal engagement with domestic airlines to establish flight schedules and pricing models that make the route sustainable for operators while remaining attractive to travellers.
The state government is now awaiting the final regulatory sign-off from aviation authorities before officially announcing the resumption of commercial flights to the Bebi Airstrip.
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