Calabar Convention Centre

A major milestone was reached in the construction of the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC) on July 24, this year that sets a remarkable guide for major building projects in Nigeria, writes Bennett Oghifo

The heavy propping system used to support this stunning architectural landmark was recently removed to reveal a massive structure that remained suspended without columns or any other visible means of support.
There were gasps from onlookers as some 1,500 tons of concrete and steel remained in place as the supports were all removed in a slow, painstaking process. The weight is equivalent to 50 trucks loaded with cement, making it an outstanding feat of structural engineering.

The Project Manager of CICC, Mr. Reginald Longdon, stated that no building of this kind currently exists in the West African region and commended contractors, Bouygues Construction for their achievement in the making of this world-class facility.
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke, was clearly delighted to witness the latest chapter of his vision unfolding. During a small celebration on site to congratulate the project team, he lauded the Danish architects Henning Larsen for their bold design and Bouygues for making it a reality, especially for the way it capitalised on the ambience of the stunning natural environment. He further remarked that the convention centre, much like similar venues around the world, will be a catalyst for economic growth in the state, as it will attract tens of thousands of delegates from all over Nigeria and around the world.
One of the experts charged with the task of making this architectural history in Nigeria was Vincent Legros, Senior Methods Engineer of Bouygues Construction, who came from France to ensure the propping work was done properly. After eight years of working on projects in South Africa, Qatar, China, USA, France and the UK, he is yet to see anything like the CICC, describing it as a spectacular and technically challenging building. “I hope this building will be deeply appreciated because nothing around will match this edifice. It is like a diamond in the forest, unique and very precious.”
Finishing work on the building has commenced with floors and rendering of walls.

The installation of roofing struts has also begun on all three blocks. According to the Cost Controller for the project, Laure Schmeltz, construction work is continuing around the clock to ensure that the building is completed on schedule for February 2015 and within budget. She also described the building as ‘amazing’.
Several members of the Cross River State Executive Council attended the event, including Commissioner for Youth & Sports, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, Special Adviser for Mortgage Finance & Estate Development, Mr. Edward Ogon and Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr Nzan Ogbe, who also serves as Project Director for the development.
CICC is set in Summit Hills, a 367 hectare development which includes a 200-bed hotel, recreational facilities, golf course, nature reserve, specialist hospital and a variety of residential units.

The Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC) is a landmark, purpose-built facility.
The CICC is located in a free trade zone (FTZ) and as such, exhibitors and conference organisers are exempted from paying VAT, WHT and other national and state levied taxes on transactions within the FTZ.
Specifically, the government said, “The CICC offers the market an almost unlimited scale capability to host a wide range of events, from intimate business meetings and workshops to large audience product launches, press conferences, congresses, exhibitions and conventions.”
Governor Imoke at an interactive session held recently stated that the state- of- the- art, multi-functional convention centre would host events for national and global audiences, comprising business, government and international associations.
He said that Nigeria has a vibrant and rapidly growing economy that requires facilities such as the CICC, stating that “the CICC has been years in planning, carefully researched and ultimately designed to answer the needs of a demanding market.”
He said the CICC complements the existing Tinapa Business Resort and the new ‘live, work, play’ Summit Hills mixed-use development.

Summit Hills is an innovative, mixed-use lifestyle development that combines convention, recreation, arts, culture, housing and healthcare facilities all within an exclusive and idyllic location bounding the Tinapa Business Resort and Calabar Free Trade Zone.
This extensive real estate project aligns with the vision of Cross River Governor Liyel Imoke “to build an economic engine that creates jobs, increases economic potential and builds on the strength of Cross River State.”
He stated that CICC offers the market an almost unlimited scale capability to host a wide range of events; from intimate business meetings and workshops to large audience product launches, press conferences, congresses, exhibitions and conventions.
He said the scale and flexibility of the venue offered the freedom to design an event that would impress the audience and enhance the stature of the client. “This is coupled with a skilled and well-equipped technical, catering and support team.”
According to him, the CICC aims to earn the reputation as one of Africa’s most enticing meetings, conferences and exhibition venues.
He stated that since “Nigeria’s economy was the largest in Africa, with a dynamic and exciting business culture and an aggressive developmental agenda, it therefore makes sense that Nigeria plays an increasingly important role in the international business events market.”
He said in 2010, the government of Cross River state identified the unmet need of a professional and accessible convention facility and took a strategic investment decision to make the idea a reality.
He stated that from February 2015, Calabar is destined to become West Africa’s business meeting and event destination of choice.
The presentation focused on the unique advantages the facility brings to the Nigerian events market and the numerous advantages it has over the established conference venues in Lagos and Abuja.

www.thisdaylive.com/articles/calabar-convention-centre-achieves-architectural-first-for-nigeria/185757/

Access roads

MONO RAIL

RENDERS

Beautiful vegetation around the centre, hope it is maintained.

H

Oh calabar!!!,my calabar!!!
Proudly crossriverian

phlamingboy:
Proudly crossriverian

you can say that again. Even with all its Oil Wells cornered, Cross River still making things happen since 1752!!!!

Very beautiful.

Goddex: Massive project like this with a monorail going on in Calabar and no one is making noise about it.

Imagine if this were happening in one of those louthmouthed supporters of APC states

Reason why sometimes it's not about who makes the loudest noice. Cross river has one of the lowest allocation but that does not stop the fresh air from reaching them. Imagine if the heard the kind of allocation Akwa Ibom is enjoying!

brb

more

Goddex: Massive project like this with a monorail going on in Calabar and no one is making noise about it.

Imagine if this were happening in one of those louthmouthed supporters of APC states

calabar is used to projects like this and so it's not a big deal to them.
It's the least developed states that celebrates a 2 story building and streets lights as sign of progress.

F117A: calabar is used to projects like this and so it's not a big deal to them.
It's the least developed states that celebrates a 2 story building and streets lights as sign of progress.

you should see the STUPID 'ebola prevention center'. A village bungalow wrapped in waterproof bags. pictorial and governor tour. Calabar is building what looks like the most architecturally supreme building in africa, 0 noise.

Ikengawo:
you should see the STUPID 'ebola prevention center'. A village bungalow wrapped in waterproof bags. pictorial and governor tour. Calabar is building what looks like the most architecturally supreme building in africa, 0 noise.

oh well,what can i say?
That is their definition of progress.
It's not my state, so i don't care.

Love the people of Cross River even though am Igbo.

Another Tinapa in the making....

Talk about hard learners....

aresa: Another Tinapa in the making....

Talk about hard learners....

enter the village bungalwo wrapped with cellophane.

tit:

enter the village bungalwo wrapped with cellophane.

Funny enough, I find you shallow and ignorant clowns very amusing...

This is the kind of project we should be seeing from all corners of the country. I just hope most of all these loud mouthed leaders who doesn't care about the growth of their state would just turn a new leaf and make their states look presentable to mankind.

with more edifices like this, we'll be indeed heading somewhere globally.

If this were Okorocha's state now, there would have been paid editorial in all the dailies month long to show all facets of this project.

kudos to Imoke for building such a monument and making no noise about it.

what can I say, if it is Ochendo he will advertise it on CNN

iamodenigbo1: what can I say, if it is Ochendo he will advertise it on CNN

^^^The problem i have with him is that he doesn't seem to know his left from his right concerning having a vision on how to place Abia on a sound economic footing.....he's just too mediocre and local for the job! By now Abia ought to have surpassed states like Cross River that have no oyel and no 'Aba'!

The so called legacy projects he's finally gotten round to executing at best resemble something a committed LGA chairman would do!

IGBOSON1:

^^^The problem i have with him is that he doesn't seem to know his left from his right concerning having a vision on how to place Abia on a sound economic footing.....he's just too mediocre and local for the job! By now Abia ought to have surpassed states like Cross River that have no oyel and no 'Aba'!

The so called legacy projects he's finally gotten round to executing at best resemble something a committed LGA chairman would do!

that man doesnt deserve be be an LG chairman,at most commissioner for domestic duties,or supervising counsellor

Amya: with more edifices like this, we'll be indeed heading somewhere globally.

If this were Okorocha's state now, there would have been paid editorial in all the dailies month long to show all facets of this project.

kudos to Imoke for building such a monument and making no noise about it.

I think the loud mouth states are 1. Abia 2. Akwa Ibom 3. Rivers 4. Imo 5. Delta 6. Edo 7. Lagos.

Shouting on top of their voices for doing normal and simple things.

Make dem come see wetin pple suppose celebrate.

Kudos Imoke

Though I'm from Anambra state, I admire the structural developments in cities like Calabar and Uyo.. but jejely we'll get there (from what my governor is doing already). I like Calabar town.

This looks like a massive waste of money, objectively speaking.

It's not about building massive structures, but having plans in place to make the project economically viable.

Besides does calabar really need a conference centre of this size?

There are more pressing issues that need to be addressed before building a structure few locals will ever visit.

Amya: with more edifices like this, we'll be indeed heading somewhere globally.

If this were Okorocha's state now, there would have been paid editorial in all the dailies month long to show all facets of this project.

kudos to Imoke for building such a monument and making no noise about it.

I'm here because you mentioned Okorocha. Cross River has some of the poorest people in Nigeria and is in fact the most indebted State after Lagos and Kaduna closely followed by Akwa-Ibom. There is no basis for comparison between legendary Okorocha who has completed 250 schools in 3 years, used his security vote to provide free education to university level and has already built a conference centre, the best diagnostic centre in Nigeria today and building 27 international standard hospitals in all LGAs.

Wake me up when Imoke builds only 50 schools and just 10 hospitals and 7 years is already gone as against Okorocha's 3 years. The only Governor comparable with Okorocha is Amaechi who has built 500 schools and 23 hospitals.

^and the loud mouthed fool just arrived