Cross River State
Cross River is a state in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone.
- Capital
- Calabar
- Population
- 4.3M
- Total area
- 21,073 km²
- LGAs
- 18
- House Reps (total)
- 8
- IGR (2024)
- ₦47.0B
- Capital
- Calabar
- Population
- 4.3M
- 2023 estimate
- Land area
- 21,073 km²
- LGAs
- 18
- Senate seats
- 3
- IGR (2024)
- ₦47.0B
- internally generated revenue
Sub-national administrative units
Local government areas (17)
17 constitutional tier-3 units
Geopolitical synthesis
Cross River in the federation
Cross River is a state in Nigeria's South South geopolitical zone.
Bordering territories & maritime boundaries
- Land bordersAbia, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Ebonyi
- Southern littoralAtlantic Ocean
- International borderRepublic of Benin
Quick facts
- Date created
- 1967
- Known as
- The People's Paradise
- Population
- ~4,300,000
- Climate classification
- Tropical Wet & Dry (Aw)
- LGAs
- 18
- Distance to Abuja
- 358 km
Languages, stories and places to explore
Languages spoken
Major cities
Calabar · Ogoja · Ikom
What to explore · learn
Cross River's nickname points to its rainforest tourism assets — Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River National Park, and the Calabar Carnival.
Calabar hosts a December carnival billed as Africa's biggest street party, drawing large domestic and diaspora crowds.
Dec · annualCalabarCalabar was a major Atlantic-era Efik trading port from the 17th century, historically significant in both palm-oil trade and the transatlantic slave trade.
Ekpe is the Efik institution of governance and secret society, with branches among the Ibibio and Igbo of neighbouring states.
CalabarThe Yakurr (Yako) people mark the new yam with the three-week Leboku, which honours the earth goddess and ancestors and includes a parade of engaged maidens. Its international edition is held at Ugep.
Aug/Sep · annualUgepIdomiEkoriHundreds of carved stone monoliths around Ikom and Etung are among the region's best-known archaeological and artistic remains.
Ikom
Cultural groups & homelands
Northern Cross River (Ogoja, Bekwarra, Boki, Yala, Obudu)
6 LGAsBoki, Bekwarra, Yala, Bette and Ogoja communities of northern Cross River State.
Efik and Calabar area
5 LGAsEfik and related communities of the Calabar estuary, an Atlantic trading society governed through the Ekpe society.
Ekoi (Ejagham)
4 LGAsEkoi (Ejagham) communities of the central Cross River forest belt, including the Ikom monolith area.
Yakurr, Abi and Biase
3 LGAsYakö (Yakurr), Abi and Biase communities of southern-central Cross River State.
Major celebrations
- Dec · annualCalabar
- Aug/Sep · annualUgep · Idomi · Ekori
Cultural institutions
Ekpe is the Efik institution of governance and secret society, with branches among the Ibibio and Igbo of neighbouring states.
Calabar
Metro areas
Calabar Metropolis
Cross River State's capital, a historic Efik trading port and one of Nigeria's oldest points of contact with European traders.