Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to upgrade facilities and improve operations at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, ahead of the 2026 African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference.
Otu made the call on Wednesday when the governing board of FAAN, led by its Chairman, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, paid a courtesy visit to him in Calabar.
The governor said Cross River’s growing profile as a tourism, investment and diplomatic destination required corresponding improvements in its aviation infrastructure.
The sixth AfSNET Investment Conference is scheduled to take place in Calabar from November 12 to 14, 2026.
Otu said visitors from about 19 African countries were expected in the state, while the overall number of guests associated with the forthcoming engagements could rise to approximately 2,000.
He said the anticipated increase in passenger traffic made it necessary for FAAN and the state government to immediately begin preparations to ensure that the airport could handle the expected volume of passengers and dignitaries.
“We need to scale up our facilities and operations because we are expecting a lot of people,” the governor said.
Otu particularly called for the immediate activation and upgrading of the airport’s VIP International Lounge.
“We need the VIP International Lounge to be activated and upgraded,” he said, adding that the facility should meet international standards because of the calibre of visitors expected in the state.
The governor described the airport as the gateway to Cross River and an important component of the state’s tourism and investment infrastructure.
“For us, the airport is the gateway to Cross River,” he said.
According to Otu, the first impression visitors receive upon arrival could influence their perception of the state, making it necessary for the airport to reflect Cross River’s tourism ambitions and reputation for hospitality.
He also called for stronger security arrangements at the airport, urging closer cooperation between FAAN, the Nigerian Air Force and other relevant security agencies.
Otu said the expected arrival of international visitors and dignitaries required adequate measures to protect passengers, guests and critical aviation infrastructure.
He further urged stakeholders to resolve challenges affecting ongoing airport-related projects and ensure that they were completed within the required timeframe.
“We need to look at whatever challenges we have and address them immediately,” the governor said.
The FAAN board chairman, Ganduje, assured the governor of the authority’s readiness to collaborate with the Cross River Government to improve airport operations and passenger experience.
The former Kano State governor was in Cross River as part of a facility tour and engagement with state authorities.
The airport upgrade request comes as Cross River intensifies preparations to host AfSNET 2026, a major investment and economic diplomacy gathering expected to bring together policymakers, investors and development partners.
The state has increasingly positioned tourism, investment and aviation infrastructure as key components of its economic-development strategy.
With the conference date fixed for November, Otu wants FAAN and other stakeholders to accelerate preparations and ensure that the airport can provide an efficient and welcoming entry point for visitors arriving in Cross River.
The governor’s broader objective is to ensure that improved aviation infrastructure supports not only the successful hosting of AfSNET but also the state’s longer-term ambitions in tourism, trade and investment.
