Tinapa Business Resort’s Return Marks a New Era for Tourism in Cross River State, Nigeria

Published on December 7, 2025

In the early 2000s, Tinapa Business Resort & Free Zone in Calabar, Cross River State, was one of the most ambitious and transformative projects in the country. The Tinapa integrated business, tourism and leisure, and featured a film studio, a water park, and several hotels and shops. On April 2, 2007, under President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and then Governor Donald Duke, the Tinapa resort was to be the economic center of the state, a model for the rest of west africa, and a place where all three industries could thrive.

The Tinapa resort and free trade zone was also intended to be a center for economic and job growth for the surrounding communities; trade, tourism and investments were a potential catalyst for the region. In the bid to attract foreign investment and potential patrons for the facilities. The Tinapa building complex was advertised to potential tourism and investor business patrons. The hoped view was communicated extremely well, if sponsors and patrons could be secured, a potential flow of tourism and trade activity could be generated.

Over the years, the Tinapa spread to include a center for business tourism. In the Tinapa developed expectations of closed useful and beneficial trade and sustenance. The potential alternative of the oil dependent economy generated trade sustenance. Over the years, the Tinapa developed as an oil dependent economy streamlined resort. Tinapa was a developed streamlining of business tourism. Development expectations were a result of oil dependent economy. However, eventually Tinapa business resort ran into economic issues.

Challenges and Decline: The Struggle for Survival

Despite the initial excitement, Tinapa’s trajectory was not without its challenges. The resort’s core business model relied heavily on duty-free operations, which were crippled by federal Customs regulations that stifled the flow of goods meant to be traded freely within the facility. Bureaucratic delays and restrictions on free trade diminished Tinapa’s ability to attract the necessary international commerce, which had been central to its success.

Without the anticipated revenue from international trade, Tinapa’s retail and commercial sectors began to suffer. Shops closed, investors pulled out, and the once-bustling waterpark and entertainment complexes saw a drastic decline in visitors. The financial pressures mounted, and the Cross River State Government found itself unable to maintain the sprawling infrastructure of the resort. What was once a symbol of progress and promise quickly turned into an emblem of unrealized potential.

By 2011, after multiple failed revival attempts, Tinapa Business Resort fell into financial distress and was ultimately placed under the management of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to recover debts. During this period, legal complexities and ownership disputes also hindered the resort’s full recovery, leaving the property in a state of limbo for several years.

The Ambiguity of Ownership and Legal Struggles

The takeover by AMCON raised questions about the true ownership of the resort. Although Cross River State remained the primary stakeholder, legal and operational issues clouded the facility’s management. This uncertainty discouraged potential investors and hampered efforts to breathe new life into the business resort. The once-glittering estate, once filled with promise, became an abandoned symbol of what could have been.

As a result, successive Cross River State Governments attempted to negotiate with AMCON, seeking to resolve the ownership confusion. But for years, these efforts were fruitless. Tinapa continued to operate under a cloud of ambiguity, unable to reach its full potential due to legal entanglements and financial strain. For many, the resort seemed like an untapped asset—too valuable to abandon, yet too constrained to function effectively.

A New Beginning: Tinapa’s Repossession in 2025

On November 7, 2025, a major turning point occurred for Tinapa and Cross River State. After years of legal battles and negotiations, the Cross River State Government officially repossessed the resort from AMCON, ending the uncertainty surrounding its ownership. This historic repossession marked the beginning of what many are calling Tinapa’s rebirth—a fresh start for a property once deemed a financial failure.

Governor Bassey Otu expressed optimism about the future of Tinapa during the official repossession event. He emphasized that the resort’s recovery would not only reinvigorate Cross River’s economy but also signal the state’s transformation into a competitive player in West Africa’s tourism and trade sectors. In his remarks, Governor Otu described Tinapa as “an enabler of socio-economic transformation,” highlighting the resort’s potential to drive investment, tourism, and job creation in the region.

The repossession of Tinapa is seen by many as a symbol of resilience—a story of setbacks, determination, and eventual triumph. Local residents and business owners are excited about the prospects of Tinapa’s revival, with many viewing it as a turning point in the state’s economic trajectory. As a significant asset in the region, the restoration of Tinapa to state control is viewed as a gateway to revitalizing the local economy and opening up new opportunities for both local and international investors.

Impact on Tourism: A New Dawn for Cross River State

The repossession of Tinapa holds immense potential for the tourism sector in Cross River State. As one of Nigeria’s most ambitious tourism and business projects, Tinapa has always been intended to serve as a major tourism hub. The combination of luxury accommodations, entertainment complexes, and the massive waterpark makes Tinapa a prime destination for both domestic and international tourists.

With renewed state ownership, Tinapa can now operate more effectively, attracting both tourists and business investors. The strategic location near the Calabar Free Trade Zone makes it an ideal spot for duty-free shopping and international trade, which could attract significant commercial traffic once the regulatory hurdles are addressed. Tinapa’s vast infrastructure, which includes conference halls, event spaces, and retail outlets, is well-positioned to host major international and local events, further boosting tourism to the region.

A Brighter Future for Cross River’s Economy

The revival of Tinapa is expected to have a ripple effect throughout Cross River State’s economy. The resort’s potential to generate jobs, stimulate business, and promote tourism offers a significant boost to the region’s development. Cross Riverians are particularly excited about the prospect of job creation, as Tinapa’s operational revival will require a wide range of services, including hospitality, retail, entertainment, and logistics.

Moreover, the focus on tourism development aligns with the state’s broader efforts to diversify its economy, moving away from oil dependency and focusing more on sustainable tourism and trade. Tinapa’s restoration, as an economic engine, has the potential to position Cross River State as a premier tourist and business destination in West Africa.

Tinapa’s Role in Cross River’s Economic Transformation

The confiscation of Tinapa Business Resort marks an important point in Cross River State history. It signifies the renewal of one of the state’s most important infrastructure investments and the start of a new chapter in the state’s transformation. Tinapa has the potential to be an economic driver and a hub for tourism and investments for the region with the right management and financing.

Hope remains in the state’s progress Tinapa’s renewal and the new Cross River State tourism promotion and economic development collaboration. Cross River State will be a beacon of hope for resilience.