Cross River (state)

Cross River
State
Kwa Falls, a waterfall along the Kwa River
Nickname(s): The People's Paradise
Location of Cross River State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 5°45′N 8°30′E / 5.750°N 8.500°E / 5.750; 8.500Coordinates: 5°45′N 8°30′E / 5.750°N 8.500°E / 5.750; 8.500
Country	Nigeria
Geopolitical Zone	South South
Date created	27 May 1967
Capital	Calabar
Government
• Governor (List)	Benedict Ayade (PDP)
• Deputy Governor	Ivara Esu
• Senators	Gershom Bassey Rose Okoji Oko John Enoh
Area
• Total	20,156 km2 (7,782 sq mi)
Area rank	19th of 36
Population (2016)
• Total	3,737,517
• Rank	28th of 36
• Density	190/km2 (480/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
• Year	2007
• Total	$15.56 billion
• Per capita	$5,150
Time zone	WAT (UTC+01)
ISO 3166 code	NG-CR

Cross River is a state in South South Nigeria, bordering Cameroon to the east. Its capital is Calabar, and name derived from the Cross River (Oyono), which passes through the state. Boki, Ejagham and Efik are major languages of this state.

Cross River State is a coastal state in South South Nigeria, named after the Cross River, which passes through the state. Located in the Niger Delta, Cross River State occupies 20,156 square kilometers. It shares boundaries with Benue State to the north, Ebonyi and Abia States to the west, to the east by Cameroon Republic and to the south by Akwa-Ibom and the Atlantic Ocean.

The South-South State was created on May 27,1967 from the former Eastern Region, Nigeria by the General Yakubu Gowon regime. Its name was changed to Cross River State in the 1976 state creation exercise by the then General Murtala Mohammed regime from South Eastern State. The present day Akwa Ibom State was excised from it in the state creation exercise of September 1987 by the then regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. Its capital is Calabar. Its major towns are Akamkpa, Biase, Calabar South, Ikom, Obubra, Odukpani, Ogoja, Ugep, Obudu, Obanliku, Akpabuyo, Ofutop, Iso-bendghe, Danare and Boki