Tinapa Free Zone and Resort, Calabar which is widely regarded as Africa’s Premier Business Resort and the only retail and tourism based Free Zone in Nigeria, is dying. Tinapa is generally regarded as the major single investment of a state government in the country. It is a multi billion naira investment of the Cross Rivers state. At a time, no other Free Zone offered as much service as Tinapa in the West and Central African sub-region. But the resort is now a ghost of itself.

The pre-built retail and wholesale accommodation measuring about 65,000m2 earmarked for letting as stores and warehouses in four composed emporia of about 10,000m2 each, with several line shops, are now virtually empty as those business outfits occupying have closed their businesses and relocated from there. The open exhibition area for trade exhibitions and other events that was hitherto busy, is now very dusty. An indication that it has not been used for long.

The entertainment strip which  comprise spaces for a Casino, an eight-screen digital Cinema, vintage international standard restaurants, a night club and pubs have all closed to business. The artificial tidal lake that feeds from the Calabar river, which used to flow beautifully into the Atlantic Ocean, which serves as a tourist’s attraction, was quiet and deserted at the time this reporter called. Water sport, an activity that includes fishing, that was an all day event, was no longer happening.

Tinapa’s man-made beach where leisure events were being held, is now deserted. The two hundred and forty two (242) room international three star hotel named “Tinapa Lakeside Hotel” being operated by the African Sun Hotels, South Africa, one of Africa’s leading hospitality managers still exists,  but with very low patronage. The movie production studio commonly referred to as “Studio Tinapa” or “Nollywood,” believed to be the most modern film production studio in Nigeria, is not in use.

The full scale shipping operations commenced by Tinapa in September, 2009 with the introduction of MB Batic star-ship carrier, that has the capacity of moving 4,500 to 36,000 metric tons cargo/container vessels, is now totally grounded, and the ship has since withdrawn its services from Tinapa.

However, the Water Park and Leisure land,  comprising a collection of children and adult size pools, water slides, a wave pool-surfers delight, a lazy river as well as a bar and restaurant , was bubbling at the time this reporter visited. But a security man around the area told this reporter that it was because of the Easter break that the children came. He said the last time the place was used was during Christmas.

Perhaps, what is not physically affected by the dilapidation of structures in Tinapa, is the good internal and external road network that ensures quick access to the adjourning manufacturing based Calabar Free Trade Zone, the Calabar Port, the Margaret Ekpo international airport , as well as the Cross River State major highway,  leading to neighboring states within the region.

But the Assistant General Manager (AGM) operations of Tinapa, Mr. Francis Ekom said the resort had taken off fully at the onset. He said most of the companies that mobilized to Tinapa could not operate fully, because of the delay in enacting the enabling law. He said because Tinapa is not only a resort but also an export processing zone, there was the need to enact laws providing for proper operations.

“These laws are enacted by the National Assembly and you know it takes a long time before the laws are enacted because of the long procedure. The delay in the enactment of the relevant laws was what made some of the investors and companies that started doing business here pack out of the place. So many of them that we started with, have actually left. But now that all the necessary laws have been enacted and are in practice, a lot of them have indicated interest to return.

“There are new investors that were not even here the first time, that have indicated interest to do business with us, and are in the process of moving down here. We are picking up now and in due course, everything will be in place far better than it was before. Our only problem was the issue of enacting the enabling laws. That has already been done. We have no problem with that again. You can see that activities are taking off fully now,” he said.


One of the people seen doing business in Tinapa, Chief Emeka Cletus said despite the good roads that exist in the resort, Tinapa does not have an independent transport system, which  can ease the problems of having access to and a transport system within the resort. He said that has been one of the areas that requires immediate attention.

“Government and the resort do not have to spend money to provide the required transport system. They can always open opportunities for private investors in that aspect. Because Tinapa is located at the outskirts of Calabar, it is difficult for anyone that is not mobile to access it. Even when you arrive the resort, it is also very difficult to move from one part of Tinapa to the other, because the place is very big and wide. There is need to have dedicated taxis and buses , that will be transporting people to and from the town,  and some Keke NAPEP that will be shuttling within Tinapa.

“Former Governor of the state, Donald Duke who conceived the idea and built Tinapa, had the vision of making Cross Rivers state not only a tourists’ attraction state, but also a major trade center where one can do business of international status. Duke got the idea of Tinapa from Dubai, and he was able to build Tinapa to world standard. It is painful to note that for years now, activities are at a standstill and nothing is happening at Tinapa,” he said.

The close proximity of Tinapa to the Calabar Free Trade Zone, as well as the Calabar Sea and Air Ports, presents opportunities for manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers to expand their activities due to increased trade. The Cross River State Government, initial promoter of the Zone, has executed a loan agreement for the construction of a monorail connecting Tinapa to the airport, to further improve accessibility.

Chief Cletus said government has made adequate arrangements for uninterrupted power supply at the resort, by making available dependable and independent power source. He also said government has provided integrated information and communication technology infrastructure,  to ensure that investors are able to maximize time, as well as operate efficiently and effectively with the aid of information technology.


A shop keeper at Tinapa, Emeke Nwafor said he made sales of N4,500 within the past two months from a set of tourists that spent a night at the resort. “They bought Ankara cloth from me. There is very low patronage here. People don’t like coming here because it is far, and there is no activity around. But the place has very good location, because of its nearness to the Free Trade zone where most of the manufacturers operate from,” he said.

Some of the children seen playing around said they were there with their parents for the Easter break, and admitted that they were actually enjoying the different playing apparatus provided at the resort. Little Kenny who said he is a primary 3 pupil at a primary school in Calabar, said he would love to be at Tinapa every day to play at  the kids garden. But the artificial Tinapa lake which used to be one of the most attractive places in the resort, was deserted at the time this reporter visited.




http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18523:tinapa-is-dying&catid=24:star-feature

Eyah.

Donald Duke's money syphon apparatus.
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