RismadarVoice Reporters
September 26, 2026
The Akwa Ibom State Government says it is intensifying investments in tourism and hospitality as part of efforts to position the state as a major international destination for leisure, business and investment.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Anieti Udofia, disclosed this in Uyo during a ministerial press briefing organised as part of activities marking the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.
Udofia said the administration had committed resources to several major projects, including the ARISE Palm Resort, Ibom Tropicana Hotel, the 5,000-capacity International Convention Centre along Udo Udoma Avenue and the rehabilitation of Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort in Nwaniba.
He also listed investments in the Ibom Hotel brand in Lagos and Abuja as part of efforts to expand the state’s hospitality presence beyond Akwa Ibom.
According to him, the projects are intended to strengthen the tourism ecosystem and create opportunities across hospitality, entertainment, leisure and investment.
Udofia disclosed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio would commission the International Convention Centre and the hotel project at the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Complex.
He said the government was also rehabilitating Ibom Plaza and developing additional facilities at Unity Park ahead of the 2026 Ibom Christmas Unplugged.
Other projects include the Oron Maritime Infrastructure project and rehabilitation of the Oron Museum.
The commissioner disclosed that the Ibom Icon Hotel at Nwaniba had been temporarily closed to allow rehabilitation work to begin.
Udofia said the transformation of the former Akwa Ibom Hotels and Tourism Board into the Akwa Ibom State Hotels and Tourism Development Commission was designed to strengthen regulation and development of the hospitality sector.
He added that the government was working with private investors as part of its strategy to develop tourism infrastructure and attract investment.
The State Council for Arts and Culture is also being revived to strengthen the promotion of Akwa Ibom’s cultural heritage and tourism assets.
Udofia identified other initiatives with potential tourism benefits, including plans to acquire additional aircraft for Ibom Air, the Ibom International Hospital for medical tourism, the Ibom Model Farm for agro-tourism and ARISE Youth Development Centres.
He stressed that peace and security remained critical to attracting visitors and investment, adding that the government was committed to maintaining a conducive environment for tourism and business.
On the Ibom Kitchen initiative at the Christmas Village, Udofia said it was conceived to showcase Akwa Ibom’s cuisine, culture and heritage.
The 2026 Ibom Christmas Unplugged is also expected to feature an Ibom Celebrity Night, providing a platform for prominent Akwa Ibom indigenes living outside the state to reconnect with their home.
According to the commissioner, the government ultimately intends to make the annual Christmas celebration financially self-sustaining.
He said about 4,900 people worked across different sectors during the 2025 edition, with businesses, vendors, artisans and entertainers benefiting from activities surrounding the event.
Udofia also listed the planned renovation and remodelling of the Amalgamation House and Bridge of No Return, alongside the proposed development of Ibeno Beach through private-sector partnership, among upcoming tourism projects.
Commissioner for Information, Rt Hon Aniekan Umanah, said tourism remained part of the administration’s economic diversification strategy under the ARISE Agenda.
Umanah said the strategy extended beyond conventional hospitality to medical tourism, maritime transportation, cultural tourism and other related economic activities.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Hotels and Tourism Development Commission, Mrs Ime Udo, disclosed that 904 hospitality establishments had so far been captured by the commission.
