About Cross River
Explore Cross River State
Quick Facts — Cross River
| Official name | Cross River |
| Capital city | Calabar |
| Slogan / Motto | The People's Paradise |
| Geo-political zone | South South |
| Local govt areas | 18 LGAs → |
| Population (census) | 3,930,000 |
| Population density | 195 / km² |
| Total area | 20,156 km² |
| First governor | Brigadier Udoakaha Esuene |
| 2026 budget | ₦961.6B → |
Frequently Asked Questions — Cross River
Government Structure
Current Officials
Economy of Cross River
Demographics & Geography
Culture & Tourism in Cross River
Local Government Areas in Cross River
18 LGAs
Known for palm oil, cocoa and timber. The Abi people have rich cultural heritage.
Home to Cross River National Park, one of the most biodiverse forests in Africa.
Coastal LGA near Calabar, known for fishing, palm oil and the expanding Greater Calabar metropolis.
Disputed peninsula returned from Cameroon in 2008. Known for offshore fishing and oil exploration.
Known for the Bekwarra people cultural heritage, yam farming and iron smelting tradition.
Known for palm oil, cassava and fishing along the Cross River.
Dense forest LGA bordering Cameroon, known for palm oil, timber and gorilla conservation.
Heart of Calabar city. Home to Mary Slessors grave, slave history museum and carnival headquarters.
Contains the main port and commercial areas of Calabar. Known for the Calabar Carnival.
Forest LGA bordering Cameroon, known for palm oil, timber and the Etung people cultural heritage.
Major commercial LGA on the Cross River, known for the Iko Esai monkey sanctuary and cross-border trade.
Known for the Bette-Obudu people and the cattle ranch plateau. Home to the Obudu Mountain Resort.
Known for palm oil, cocoa and the Agoi people. Important agricultural LGA in central Cross River.
Famous for the Obudu Mountain Resort and Cattle Ranch, one of Nigerias top tourist destinations.
Peri-urban LGA around Calabar. Known for palm oil, cassava and expanding residential communities.
Major commercial city in northern Cross River. Known for the Yala people, cocoa and cross-border trade.
Known for the Ugep people, palm oil and cassava. Home to Cross River State University campus at Ugep.
Largest LGA in Cross River by area. Known for yam, cocoa and timber. The Yala people border Benue and Ebonyi.
History of Cross River State
Cross River State Budget 2026
The 2026 budget for Cross River State under Governor Bassey Edet Otu totals ₦961.6B. The budget details include capital expenditure, recurrent expenditure, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), federal allocation (FAAC) and sector allocations covering education, health, infrastructure, security and agriculture.
See full budget details, sector allocations and year-on-year comparison →Compare State Budgets
See how Cross River State compares to all 36 states and FCT Abuja.
📄 Nigeria State Budgets — All 37 States →