Calabar Is Safe, Ready To Host Nuga 2026, Says Governor Otu

Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has said  Calabar is prepared and harmless to big the 2026 variation of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA).

Governor Otu gave the assurance during an inspection circuit of facilities astatine the UJ Esuene Stadium with a delegation from NUGA and the absorption of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), which won the hosting rights.

The politician described Calabar arsenic a youth-friendly, peaceful, conducive, and welcoming metropolis with a serene, greenish situation perfect for hosting nationalist and planetary sporting events.

“The tract we are lasting connected contiguous has produced immoderate of Nigeria’s top shot icons, including Uwenm Ekarika, Etim Essien, and John Okon, among others. The archetypal nationalist shot squad skipper was a Calabar man, who led the squad to England for competitory matches,” Otu said.

Expressing gratitude for NUGA’s instrumentality to Calabar aft 35 years, Governor Otu said helium was assured the lawsuit would beryllium a monolithic occurrence nether Papa Dorncklaimz Enamhe’s enactment arsenic Executive Secretary of the NUGA 2026 Local Organising Committee.

He besides highlighted Calabar’s heavy humanities transportation to sports, noting that it was the archetypal metropolis successful Nigeria wherever shot was played.

“Papa Dorncklaimz Enamhe is known for his dedication and committedness to immoderate work entrusted to him. I person nary uncertainty helium volition present excellently connected this nationalist assignment,” the politician added.

Governor Otu besides reaffirmed his administration’s committedness to sports development, noting that the authorities authorities has importantly promoted sporting activities successful the past 2 years and restored its pridefulness successful Cross River State.

Papa Dorncklaimz added that Uwem Ekarika, Etim Esin, and John Okon, whom the Governor mentioned, played for Rovers and the National team, adding that shot was archetypal played successful Calabar.

He stated that Calabar has the greenest stadium successful Nigeria, the champion hoops court, and a world-class Olympic-size swimming pool, among different things.

“A Cross Riverian was the archetypal skipper of the National team.

A Cross Riverian was the skipper of the archetypal planetary circuit of Nigerians to the UK. Calabar is location to array tennis with world-class champions. Calabar is location to the biggest carnival successful Africa, wherever youths tin interact properly. Unical hosting NUGA aft the 35th is immense for the state,” helium said.

Other officials contiguous during the inspection circuit included the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Agnes Atsu; Senior Special Adviser to the Governor connected Special Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, Executive Secretary of NUGA 2026, Papa Dorncklaimz Enamhe, Mrs Opeoluwa Adeyemo-Anjorin, Chief Executive Officer, and Ugochukwu Osuji, Chief Growth Officer, among others.