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Ukorebi Esien | August 24, 2026
UGEP — Leaders of the Yakurr Nation in Cross River State have appealed to Governor Bassey Edet Otu to extend the signal of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) to Ugep and other parts of Yakurr Local Government Area to enhance access to government information and promote the area’s cultural and tourism potentials.
The appeal was made on Monday during the 21st edition of the Leboku International New Yam Festival at the Yakurr Peace Stadium, Ugep.
Speaking on behalf of the Obol Lopon of Ugep, the Publicity Secretary of the Obol Lopon Advisory Council (OLAC), Comrade Azikiwe Williams, said inadequate CRBC coverage had deprived residents of access to government programmes and other important information broadcast from Calabar.
Williams said the request for improved coverage had been made previously, stressing that Yakurr needed a stronger state broadcasting presence to bridge the information gap between the government and rural communities.
“This is the second time we are demanding that the signal of Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, CRBC, the state broadcasting station in Calabar, be extended to reach Yakurr,” he said.
According to him, the existing radio wavelength does not adequately cover the area, making it difficult for residents to follow government programmes and public-interest broadcasts.
“As it were, the radio wavelength does not cover Yakurr and we are denied the opportunity of listening and viewing government programmes,” Williams said.
He urged the state government to consider establishing a broadcasting station or relay facility in Yakurr, saying improved coverage would allow residents to receive timely information on government policies, programmes and opportunities.
The traditional institution also linked the demand to the need to promote Yakurr’s rich cultural heritage and tourism assets, particularly as the state government seeks to position culture and tourism as drivers of economic development.
Williams said stronger broadcast coverage would provide a platform for showcasing Yakurr’s cultural traditions, festivals, music, dance, heritage sites and other attractions to a wider audience.
The appeal came as Yakurr hosted the 2026 edition of Leboku, which has evolved from a traditional harvest thanksgiving into an international cultural and tourism event.
The festival, held under the theme, “Rooted in Culture, Growing in Prosperity,” attracted stakeholders and visitors to Ugep.
Governor Otu, represented by the Deputy Governor, Rtd. Hon. Peter Odey, described Leboku as an important platform for promoting cultural identity, agriculture, tourism and economic development.
The governor also pledged N50 million for the renovation of the Ugep Peace Stadium, while condemning the recent communal conflict involving Ugep and Idomi communities.
Otu warned that continued communal violence could undermine tourism and economic development in Yakurr, adding that the government would not hesitate to withdraw recognition from traditional rulers whose domains experience a breakdown of peace.
Meanwhile, the OLAC commended the Otu administration for road and other infrastructure projects in Yakurr but called for more development across the local government area.
Williams specifically urged the government to extend infrastructure to communities where agricultural and solid mineral resources are produced and extracted.
The council also appealed for the upgrading of the Ugep Peace Stadium and the provision of a standby generating set.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Obi Ayuk Offor, said the state government remained committed to developing Leboku into a major international tourism attraction.
Offor encouraged visitors to explore Yakurr beyond the festival, citing its waterfalls, natural landscapes, heritage sites, traditional arts, music and dance as tourism assets capable of contributing to the state’s economy.
Yakurr leaders maintained that expanding CRBC coverage would complement these efforts by providing the government with a more effective platform to communicate with residents while giving the area greater visibility for its cultural and tourism attractions.
They subsequently pledged their continued support for the Otu administration and urged the governor to give favourable consideration to the request for improved broadcasting infrastructure in Yakurr.
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